380EX out of production

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The local dealer told me that 380EX is out of production and the only way to get it is a used one. Is it true. Canon now only manufactures 220, 420 and 550EX.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), March 13, 2002

Answers

The 420EX replaces the 380EX, being a very similar unit, the only differences being slightly more power in the 420EX and it has a swivel head, which the 380EX lacked.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.

One other critical difference between the 380EX and the 420EX is that the latter can serve as a slave flash unit when used in a wireless E- TTL setup.

I don't think there's anything to be gained by going for a 380EX.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), March 13, 2002.


I agree with NK - apart from the price advantage of buying a used 380EX over a 420EX, I see no reason to get a 380EX. I upgraded my 380EX to a 420EX when I bought an Elan 7e. The 420EX also fixes the dumb AF assist light on the 380EX (the 380EX' light only covers the central AF point, even though the 380EX was designed to work with the Elan II which has three AF points); the 420EX' light covers all seven points on the Elan 7 or Rebel 2k.

-- Steve Dunn (steved@ussinc.com), March 13, 2002.

thanks all of you. actually, i am not a photographer. i like photography and want to develop a hobby. secondly, i have a 28-135mm lens and a EOS 300 body. i can't use the built-in flash all the time though i don't use flash very regularly. i wanted to go for an external flash. even 220EX could have served. but i a second hand 380EX is cheaper than a new 220EX (though a SH 220EX will be quite cheaper than a SH 380EX). secondly, 380EX has a much higher reach. thats the only reason.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), March 13, 2002.

The 380EX is still listed as current on Canon's web site: http://www.usa.canon.com/camcambin/cameras/speedlite/index.html

-- Dave Herzstein (dherzstein@juno.com), March 13, 2002.


Sajeev, like it or not, you're a photographer! :-)

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), March 13, 2002.

true. i am not photographer. but that doesn't mean that i should not shoot. in future if i am able to afford expensive equipments i won't look back. but to start with this is what i can afford.

anyway, thanks all of you for you feedback.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), March 14, 2002.


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