I'm looking to add an external flash unit to my Canon EOS 5. I really want to use bounce and swivel flash for portraits and candids of family and friends, and I would also like to play with diffusers like the Sto-Fen Omnibounce, off-camera cords, etc.

I have considered the Canon 380EX, but it appears to be a totally automatic unit, and I would like to have some manual control over the flash. The 540EZ has the capabilities I'm looking for, but i was wondering if anyone has experience with using 3rd party flashes like the Sunpac 4000 AF or other brands. Specifically, do you lose any functionality when using non-Canon flashes on EOS cameras? Are there other compatability problems I should be aware of? Can anyone recommend a less expensive alternative to the 540EZ? Any input would be appreciated.

-- Mike Dunsmore (mkdunsmore@earthlink.net), January 15, 1999

Answers

I own a 540EZ and a store-brand equivalent of a SunPak Auto 444D. The 3rd party flash has a module that will allow me to use the flash on either my older Nikon camera or my EOS cameras which makes it a good backup. The SunPak clone works fine for standard TTL flash (not A-TTL flash) and flash compensation driven by the EOS camera. If (or when) you upgrade or backup your EOS 5 with a system that makes use of the Canon E-TTL flash system (EOS 3 or Elan II), you will not have this optimal capability with the 3rd-party flash. In my own case, I find I always grab the 540EZ and have just purchased a 550EX for my EOS 3. In retrospect, my attempt to save money by purchasing a 3rd-party flash resulted in my spending more money because I wasn't happy with the limitations of the less expensive 3rd-party flash. This may be another case (like lenses) where you get what you pay for in performance and compatibility with the EOS bodies.

-- William Castleman (WCastleman@compuserve.com), January 15, 1999.

I used to own the 380EX for my ElanIIE and I got rid of it because it's just not powerful enough. I bought the 540EZ in its place and I love this flash. My brother in law has the Sunpak 4000AF and he uses it with his ElanII. I have played with it several times and the pictures turned out pretty good. I don't think that there's any compatibility issue with the 4000AF and EOS (at least not with the Elan). However, I still like my 540ez more because of the raw power it can deliver.

-- nguyen (nguyentnt@hotmail.com), January 15, 1999.

I bought a eos 33, and I'm having some problems with an older Regula flash that was bought ten years ago for my eos 1000. The additional focus light doens't work. Another problem is this : when I have the flash mounted but in the off-position, the camera doens't shoot : it opens the shutter, and is blocked until you put it off and than on again. Can anyone help me about these problems ?

-- Catry F (fcatry@compaqnet.be), May 26, 2001.