I currently have a Canon 550 EX. Love it, works great, I don't use it much just at receptions basically and I've never had a problem. Had it for about 3 or 4 years and need to get another flash just for backup. Even though I don't use my flash much at all, I'd be pretty screwed at a wedding if my 550 stopped working.

I read on Zack's One Light site that he loves these flahes so I looked 'em up. They actually seem kinda perfect for me. I NEVER shoot ETTL, I'm a 100% manual guy when it comes to setting my flashes (and to exposure as well for that matter). I was planning on just buying the new 580EX II, but if I can buy this for less than a quarter the $ then that seems like a good deal!

Anyone use it? How does it compare to the EX series in terms of recycle time/noise, durability, etc etc.

Love to hear some feedback!

I have an old one that I bought in Santa Barbara at the camera store on Milpas near Haley. It works well. I haven't noticed it being slow to recycle. You can get a high-voltage cord for it, too. The one I have has a VERY high trigger voltage (something like 250V) so it'll never be connected to a camera directly, but it works great. The newer ones have a low-voltage trigger. I use it for a hairlight occasionally. The color modes work well in auto mode, but if you're just using it manually, you won't have any issues. It seems consistent in output, but I haven't tested it at all.

I have 3, total cost, less than $75. Love them!

I wish I'd never have gotten my SB-800, it has too many variations in color, slower cycling, and terriblty expensive.

Russell

Thanks guys!

Do these have a lot more output power than the 550/580 EX series? I'm curious why it only has a few different output settings (1/1th, 1/2th, 1/4th, 1/16th). I like on the 550 that it has 1/8th (I seem to use that output a lot on my 550). Also wonder why you can't dial it down even lower (or can you)....

Anyone else have any experience with these?

I don't think you can dial it down any more. It wouldn't be hard to keep a few pieces of ND cellophane taped to it and put them over the flash when you want to. It wouldn't take much more effort than to dial it down.

look into the sunpak 444d. It is sunpaks similar model. It has both head that can swivel both horizontally and vertically which puts it at an advantage because of wall bouncing. I don't know if they still make but it is worth a shot. I am not sure it will work on camera but it has been a great off camera light. I think it has a GN of 120.