how about a 540 ez canon flash??/

[sparky675]

I recently picked up triggers and umbrellas for playing with strobes. I would like to add an inexpensive flash for a third flash. While searching around ebay found some 540's selling cheap. I was looking at either a vivitar 285 or a sigma 530 when I found these cheap. Any opinions.

[ziggy53]

The Canon "EZ" series flashes are not very compatible with current digital cameras. I believe that you would only get full output. (EZ flashes were designed for Canon film cameras and read flash exposure off of the film itself.)

What you want are the "EX" series flashes for any modern Canon camera.

I do believe in the Sigma EF 530 DG Super flashes for Canon EOS as a very good combination of features, power and cost.

Edit: It does look like the 540 EZ has a manual mode, which would/should work pretty well in a slaved application.

[MT Stringer]

The Canon "EZ" series flashes are not very compatible with current digital cameras. I believe that you would only get full output. (EZ flashes were designed for Canon film cameras and read flash exposure off of the film itself.)

What you want are the "EX" series flashes for any modern Canon camera.

I do believe in the Sigma EF 530 DG Super flashes for Canon EOS as a very good combination of features, power and cost.

Edit: It does look like the 540 EZ has a manual mode, which would/should work pretty well in a slaved application.
In my opinion, the 540 is an excellent flash for off camera use. It has a lot of power, bounce, swivel, manual control from 1/1 to 1/128th power. You can set the power switch so it stay "awake" and doesn't go to sleep causing you to have to got to it and slap it to wake it up! :-)

I used two of them shooting basketball in 2008, then sold them. Since then, I have bought another one to go with my 580 EX II and EF-500 DG Super Siggy.

Here is a pic of the 540EZ in action at the basketball game.
Mike
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Basketball/FlashSetup-650.jpg

[sparky675]

how is the recycle time on the 540???? is it 12 seconds???

[MT Stringer]

how is the recycle time on the 540???? is it 12 seconds???

About 2 seconds with the Quantum Battery 1. After 600 shots it had slowed a little to 2 1/2 - 3 seconds but still going.

12 seconds? Where did you come up with that figure?

If you are shooting a lot of pics, you could get a battery pack (http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0155/index.shtml). I have one but haven't tested it on my 540EZ.