How is 430??

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Canon EOS FAQ forum : One Thread

I'm wondering if I should get a 430, or just save more and go for the 540. I'm shooting with an A2. does anyone have either/both with suggestions?/ Thanks

-- Adam Goring (adam.goring@edu.sait.ab.ca), November 08, 2001

Answers

I have an EOS 5 and a 430EZ, and they work fine together. Some people argue that other than the extra power, the 430EZ is infact better than the 540EZ because it emits a preflash when in bounce mode. But really, either will work fine...just look at the features and see if one has something you desperately want which the other does not.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), November 08, 2001.

I don't know if the preflash in bounce mode (ie: the fact it's using A-TTL over TTL) is a particular advantage, but yes - the 430EZ does it and the 540 EZ doesn't.

The power difference is fairly minimal between the two models. The 540EZ has a flash exposure confirmation light which the 430EZ lacks. I wish it had this. You can't adjust metric/imperial modes on the 430 EZ and there's no wide angle adjustment. The 540EZ can zoom out longer...

Anyway. I'm repeating myself from my summary/review:

http://www.teladesign.com/photo/430ez.html

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), November 08, 2001.


Oh, one other thing. In my review I note that: "If you have a camera with multiple focusing points the 540EZ is better since it’s got a wider AF assist light beam compared to the 430EZ."

This won't affect you since the A2, like the 10s, won't activate the flash unit's onboard AF assist light. This was an intentional design feature, but frankly it comes off more as a flaw to me than anything.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), November 08, 2001.


I used a good flash meter and checked the power difference between a couple of 540EZ's and a couple of 430EZ's and found that there was less that 0.2 stops between them. I don't think that's enough to bother with.

To me, the main advantage the 540EZ has is the wide diffuser that's built in. It doesn't work as good as advertised, but it is handy.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 09, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ