EOS400 Flash

JohnK

Just so there's no confusion, I'm not referring to the storage card here but the actual flash on the camera (ie. that bloody bright light that blinds everyone )

How long does it take between pictures if you're waiting for the flash? With my point-and-click (Ixus 800) you can be waiting for what seems like an age between pictures and inevitably that means I miss most of what I wanted to capture in the first place. Would the EOS400 with the built-in flash give me any quicker response? I've see the people using separate flash's that sit on top and I'm guessing that if I bought one of them that it would operate faster/better but I'd like to not go down that road just yet. Not just for cost reasons but because the camera would be so much bulkier.

Thanks.

JohnK

Anyone?

deaddonkey

about 2.5 seconds on my 350D

JohnK

Thanks deaddonkey. Its an improvement alright but I'd hoped it would be a bit faster. Mine is about 3.3 seconds (6 shots in 20 sec) with flash so I suppose anything that beats it is a good thing. I'm desperately looking for a way to convince myself to buy it and I'd hoped a quick flash would push me over the edge as thats a major peeve for me but its not to be I suppose.

Just have to keep looking for that reason...

5uspect

Flash recycling times depend on your batteries ability to deliver a lot of current.
The Li-ion battery is only 1100mAh so that will be a limiting factor.

So you have two options with a 400D.

1. Get the battery grip and fill it with 6 NiMH (preferably Hybrids~2100mAh) which should help boost recycling times (just over 1 second on my 350D)
2. Get a speedlite and fill it with around 4 of same.

Both will add bulk and weight but both offer considerable advantages.
The grip makes the 350D/400D feel bigger in a good ergonomic way and you get duplicate camera controls on the side of it which is really nice for portraits.
A speedlite will give you a world of creative control with lighting. Recycle times at lower powers with ETTL should be quick (My 580 is all wrapped up till Tuesday so I can't test it)
The cheaper models still pack a punch but the 580 has all the bells and whistles such as stroboscopic effects.

I have both grip and a 580ex and they do make thing very heavy not including adding a heavy lens to the equation. I have six 1300mAh NiMHs in the grip and four 2700mAhs for the flash. which is a lot of juice to have ready.

All I can suggest is decide what would suit you better a grip or a flash.
Failing that see about getting a replacement battery for the Li-ion at a higher capacity.

JohnK

Thanks 5uspect, I'll have a look around at some of the grips & speedlites to see what their like 8)

Borderfox

I you go up to the top speedlites and the battery pack for them you can over half the recycle time. It all depends on the ambient light too, if it is not too dark then my speedlight 580 fires in bursts.