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71 Reviews
A Very Good Flash
The positive is that it is a powerful, dedicated flash and will work hand-in-glove with your Canon digital slr. The downside is that it is big. However, if you want to use flash creatively with your Canon (not just redden a few eyes in your pictures) then this really is the best flash for you.
This flash will tilt and swivel allowing you to bounce your flash off just about anything, even a wall behind you if you want. It will work directly with your Canon to provide E-TTL flash, allowing your camera to make the necessary adjustments to ensure you get a good shot. If you are a more advanced photographer, it gives you plenty of options, all the way to using it manually, to create the exact lighting effect you want. It has a zoom head that will zoom from 24mm out to 105mm to provide the light you need for those focal ranges. With the built in diffuser attached you can also provide flash coverage for a 17mm wide angle lens. However, you should be aware that this flash is calculating the flash power at these focal ranges for 35mm, so this flash will be providing more flash coverage then necessary for those with APS-C digital cameras.
It is a little pricey, even on E-Bay, but it is generally worth it to ensure worry free flash with your Canon camera.Read full review...
A Very Good Flash
The positive is that it is a powerful, dedicated flash and will work hand-in-glove with your Canon digital slr. The downside is that it is big. However, if you want to use flash creatively with your Canon (not just redden a few eyes in your pictures) then this really is the best flash for you.
This flash will tilt and swivel allowing you to bounce your flash off just about anything, even a wall behind you if you want. It will work directly with your Canon to provide E-TTL flash, allowing your camera to make the necessary adjustments to ensure you get a good shot. If you are a more advanced photographer, it gives you plenty of options, all the way to using it manually, to create the exact lighting effect you want. It has a zoom head that will zoom from 24mm out to 105mm to provide the light you need for those focal ranges. With the built in diffuser attached you can also provide flash coverage for a 17mm wide angle lens. However, you should be aware that this flash is calculating the flash power at these focal ranges for 35mm, so this flash will be providing more flash coverage then necessary for those with APS-C digital cameras.
It is a little pricey, even on E-Bay, but it is generally worth it to ensure worry free flash with your Canon camera.Read full review...
A Very Good Flash
The positive is that it is a powerful, dedicated flash and will work hand-in-glove with your Canon digital slr. The downside is that it is big. However, if you want to use flash creatively with your Canon (not just redden a few eyes in your pictures) then this really is the best flash for you.
This flash will tilt and swivel allowing you to bounce your flash off just about anything, even a wall behind you if you want. It will work directly with your Canon to provide E-TTL flash, allowing your camera to make the necessary adjustments to ensure you get a good shot. If you are a more advanced photographer, it gives you plenty of options, all the way to using it manually, to create the exact lighting effect you want. It has a zoom head that will zoom from 24mm out to 105mm to provide the light you need for those focal ranges. With the built in diffuser attached you can also provide flash coverage for a 17mm wide angle lens. However, you should be aware that this flash is calculating the flash power at these focal ranges for 35mm, so this flash will be providing more flash coverage then necessary for those with APS-C digital cameras.
It is a little pricey, even on E-Bay, but it is generally worth it to ensure worry free flash with your Canon camera.Read full review...
Beats 3rd party flashes
I'm buying a second 550ex for off-camera flash photography. I tried a Nissin i866, but it will not work on a lengthy off-camera cord from FlashZebra. My 550ex does. The 580ex II is just too expensive, and another 430ex II would cost about the same as a used 550ex. The 430ex II is nice because it is smaller if you want to carry it around on top of your camera and don't need a master flash. The 550ex is larger than the 430 or 580, but I'm using it off camera, anyway. With 2 masters I have a backup if one goes down. The only thing I found odd is that the + and - buttons seem backward to me (+ on the left, - on the right). This is opposite of the 430ex II. Also, the Nissin had some nice features like "My ETTL" and the fact that the master was on a separate group from A,B and C, effectively giving you 4 groups.Read full review...
Beats 3rd party flashes
I'm buying a second 550ex for off-camera flash photography. I tried a Nissin i866, but it will not work on a lengthy off-camera cord from FlashZebra. My 550ex does. The 580ex II is just too expensive, and another 430ex II would cost about the same as a used 550ex. The 430ex II is nice because it is smaller if you want to carry it around on top of your camera and don't need a master flash. The 550ex is larger than the 430 or 580, but I'm using it off camera, anyway. With 2 masters I have a backup if one goes down. The only thing I found odd is that the + and - buttons seem backward to me (+ on the left, - on the right). This is opposite of the 430ex II. Also, the Nissin had some nice features like "My ETTL" and the fact that the master was on a separate group from A,B and C, effectively giving you 4 groups.Read full review...
Beats 3rd party flashes
I'm buying a second 550ex for off-camera flash photography. I tried a Nissin i866, but it will not work on a lengthy off-camera cord from FlashZebra. My 550ex does. The 580ex II is just too expensive, and another 430ex II would cost about the same as a used 550ex. The 430ex II is nice because it is smaller if you want to carry it around on top of your camera and don't need a master flash. The 550ex is larger than the 430 or 580, but I'm using it off camera, anyway. With 2 masters I have a backup if one goes down. The only thing I found odd is that the + and - buttons seem backward to me (+ on the left, - on the right). This is opposite of the 430ex II. Also, the Nissin had some nice features like "My ETTL" and the fact that the master was on a separate group from A,B and C, effectively giving you 4 groups.Read full review...
Canon 550ex Flash Value
I have intensively studied this flash compared to the 580ex & 580ex II. PROs great power for price. Same power out as 580ex but 1/2 the price. A huge benefit involves Pocket Wizards. The 580ex has tons of RF interference but this 550ex has none.
CONs Slow recycle time of 6 seconds on full manual vs 4.5 secs with 580ex and 3.8 secs with 580ex II. Also fairly poor operating control. Vertical & Horizontal Bounce require two buttons. HS sync is nearly impossible to set and changing settings has two small awkward buttons. 580 is much easier. All these disadvantages are totally mute when used as a slave on a battery pack. No controls are used and the recycle time is blazing fast because of the pack. Great value for use as a slaved flash and backup flash.Read full review...
Canon 550ex Flash Value
I have intensively studied this flash compared to the 580ex & 580ex II. PROs great power for price. Same power out as 580ex but 1/2 the price. A huge benefit involves Pocket Wizards. The 580ex has tons of RF interference but this 550ex has none.
CONs Slow recycle time of 6 seconds on full manual vs 4.5 secs with 580ex and 3.8 secs with 580ex II. Also fairly poor operating control. Vertical & Horizontal Bounce require two buttons. HS sync is nearly impossible to set and changing settings has two small awkward buttons. 580 is much easier. All these disadvantages are totally mute when used as a slave on a battery pack. No controls are used and the recycle time is blazing fast because of the pack. Great value for use as a slaved flash and backup flash.Read full review...
Canon 550ex Flash Value
I have intensively studied this flash compared to the 580ex & 580ex II. PROs great power for price. Same power out as 580ex but 1/2 the price. A huge benefit involves Pocket Wizards. The 580ex has tons of RF interference but this 550ex has none.
CONs Slow recycle time of 6 seconds on full manual vs 4.5 secs with 580ex and 3.8 secs with 580ex II. Also fairly poor operating control. Vertical & Horizontal Bounce require two buttons. HS sync is nearly impossible to set and changing settings has two small awkward buttons. 580 is much easier. All these disadvantages are totally mute when used as a slave on a battery pack. No controls are used and the recycle time is blazing fast because of the pack. Great value for use as a slaved flash and backup flash.Read full review...
Canon Speedlite 550EX
*Disclaimer: I would say that I am an intermediate level photo enthusiast, and the idea of flash photography is a whole new realm for me, so bear with me, this review isn't going to be thorough.
When it comes to usage, I'm not quite sure what to say since I'm still trying to figure out how to get what I want out of it. I use it on ETTL (which I guess is probably auto) and usually use it on Manual (M) or Aperture value (Av).
So far, after reading through a variety of online guides, my best photos came out using it indoors and bouncing it off the ceilings or walls. My usual setting is in Manual at 1/60th, f/1.8 to f/4, and ISO 100. The photos indoors always turn out great! The light looks really natural, and I always use the built in diffuser for the catch light. Subjects turn out sharp so it's perfect when inside a building (for reference, I shoot with an XSi/450D, usually with my 50mm f/1.8).
I still have issues using it outdoors (both day and night). Photos always turn out with the subject highlighted (I always use it on ETTL mode) and the background always becomes underexposed. I'm trying to find out if I can use the index card method, but so far no success. Directly shooting at the subject also remains unsuccessful.
Overall though, I bought this over the 430EX and I am very pleased. I know a lot of people care about the recycle times, size, weight, etc., but I don't see the point, there's really no reason to complain in my opinion. The 550EX is still an excellent flash coming from it's time, being top of the line back then, I would still recommend getting it over the 430EX, (especially since I got it for $197, thanks to eBay).Read full review...