> -----Original Message----- > From: Ken Durling [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Hi - > > I'm buying a Sunpak 555 handle-mount flash, since I can use it with > modules for both my FD and EOS cameras, as well as with an old TLR > camera I'm having fun with. > > B&H lists two modules for Canon autofocus cameras, one with "focus > assist beam", and one without. Anyone have any experience with these, > who can advise? Is this a near-IR beam, or white? I'll be using it > with an Elan 7/EOS 30. > > > Ken Durling > > Visit my new easier-to-browse PhotoSIG portfolio: > http://www.photosig.com/browse.php?id=photographer:203
Ken, I've got the 444D and a PZ5000AF and both AF beams are red and work very well with my D30, even in complete darkness. I checked the B&H web site, and it looks like the 555 and 444D use the same module. One note though, I just yesterday measured the trigger voltage of the 444D and it's upwards of 11.9v. So I don't know if you want to risk it, I have with no problems, but it's a personal call. The PZ5000AF on the other hand is dead on at 3v. If you don't have to have a handle mount you might want to check out the 5000. It doesn't have the impressive GN of 150 for 60 degree coverage, the PZ5000 is 119 at 35mm coverage and doesn't approach 150 until the zoom head is at 70mm, but it has a lot, but not all, of features the EX550 has, plus auto thyristor mode. Tilt and swivel auto zoom head (28-135mm range), auto thyristor (f2.0-f16 @ ISO 100 in 1/3 increments), EOS TTL, focus assist, built in slave receiver (not ratio like the EX550 just a strobe slave), can use the same tr-IIa battery pack as the 383 Super, 444D and 555, multi flash, first and second shutter curtain sync, manual flash ratios down to 1/64 a increments of 1/3 at a time and LCD backlit display. Two problems I found so far. First the auto thyristor is not shielded very well from the flash head, and if you use any sort of bounce like a Lumiquest or sto-fen it will pick up the spill and fool the sensor. I taped a piece of cardboard above the sensor and that seemed to fix the problem. I may see if I can put a small tube around the sensor hole, as it's flush on the front of the flash body, to see if that cures the problem, as it would look better than the cardboard. Second, if I turn on the camera, or change a memory flash card, while the flash is on and your using a zoom lens I get an err 86 from my D30 (error is not on the chart, anybody heard of it). I have an EOS IX that does not have this problem. Even with these problems it's a pretty good flash for $150. GlenBA * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
