My Canon Speedlite Wishlist
As a lifelong Canon shooter, I’ve been witness again and again to the power of Nikon’s CLS Speedlight system. In fact, most of the inspiration I found to explore the potential of Canon’s Speedlites came to me while assisting on a variety of shoots for Nikon’s leading CLS demo-man, Joe McNally. [If you're thinking "Joe Who?", let me be the first to welcome you to the planet and suggest that you check out his books on small-flash here and his blog here.]
What types of small-flash inspiration? Let’s see. There was the elephant-with-the-slinky-model in the dry lake bed followed by the silk acrobat hanging from the crane at sunset. There was the ballerina hoisted above the field of sunflowers and the bride in the desert gale. There was the girl holding the pool cue in the smokey bar. There was the leathery guy with the full-sleeve tats. And, of course, the Shining-esque model in the bay windows. Most recently, I spent the better part of two weeks in McNallyland a guest instructor at Joe’s One-Day Lighting Workshops in NY (read my review here and check out Joe’s workshop pix here, here and here.) It’s impossible to be witness to the making of so many great photographs and not be inspired.
Now, don’t get me wrong. For the most-part, I’m a happy Canonista. My first Canon, an A-1 purchased nearly 30 years ago, sits in a place of prominence atop the bookcase next to my bed – meaning it’s one of the first and last things I see every day. I think that the 5D Mark II is an amazing value in the DSLR market and praise the brilliance of adding 1080P video to it. There are a lot of lenses for the Canon system that Nikon has yet to make or only recently introduced. So, as I said, I’m a relatively happy Canonista.
But, there is no doubt, after working on location and in the studio with Joe over several years, that Nikon’s CLS Speedlight system is much more intuitive to use. Why does this matter to me? Well, as a creative, I rely upon my intuition a lot. The more intuitive a process is, the more creative I become. The more creative I am, the more interesting my pictures become.
So here’s my wishlist of features that I hope Canon will incorporate into a new generation of Speedlites.
Syl Arena’s Wishlist For Canon Speedlites
1. Put the wireless switch back on the outside. 90% of my Speedlite photography is multi-unit wireless. I still use a 580EX (which was discontinued in 2007) as my master because it takes too long to switch in and out of wireless mode on Canon’s flagship model – the 580EXII. Virtually all of my event photography uses a Speedlite carried aloft on a stand or boom. This remote unit is controlled by the master parked on top of my camera. Of course, because I want to create interesting light, I program the master so that it talks to the remote but doesn’t actually flash during the exposure. When something interesting happens right in front of me that the remote can’t cover, I want to flick a switch and get the shot with the camera-mounted Speedlite before the opportunity disappears. With the 580EXII, to go from master to solo mode, I have to hold down a button, turn a dial and then press another button – meaning that I miss the spontaneous shot in front of me every time.
2. Design the external wireless switch with four options. Canon, when you re-engineer the wireless switch and put it back on the outside, give me four options – solo, master with flash, master without flash and slave. I’m fine with having to hunt for functions through menus as long as I don’t want to change them very often – like the disabling the sleep/power saving options in Custom Functions. But, I want options that I change frequently to be right at my fingertips. So, I want to choose whether the master contributes to the exposure or not via an external switch rather than an a menu item. Also, “Off” means off — as in the unit is powered down completely. Use “solo” or some other descriptive term to describe a unit that’s working by itself.
3. Come to understand that not everyone lights from the front. Canon’s E-TTL II assumes that Speedlite remote groups A and B are lighting the subject from the front. It’s built upon the classic (think “outdated”) notion that a portrait must be lit with a key and fill at 45º in front of the subject. What if I want to use window light as the key, the A-flash as fill at 90º and the B-flash on the background? I’m not following Canon’s rules when I shoot like this. Don’t worry, the system can actually handle my errant behavior. For the future of creative photography, it would be helpful if Canon would abandon the “must light from the front” attitude.
4. Adopt a better icon for wireless mode. Virtually every Canon shooter to whom I’ve taught wireless flash has had the same reaction I did when I figured out that Canon’s icon for the wireless menu is a lightening bolt / sync arrow tipped on its side (yes, the one to the right of “Zoom”). The reaction to this little insight is always amusement mixed equally with confusion. So, please Canon, find a better icon for wireless. How about an old-fashioned radio tower with those circle lines around the top?
5. Ditch the “Master / Slave” language. Maybe “Master” and “Slave” don’t have the same connotation in Canon’s native tongue as they do in English. But here in the U.S., it’s time to ditch “Master/Slave” for more acceptable terms. Blame it on the era of PC if you must. Nikon already uses “Commander/Remote” – which I think is great. If not that, how about calling it “Tx-mode” and “Rx-mode”?
6. Call groups what they are – “groups”. Canon uses the term “Slave ID” for groups. Yet the LCD on a 580 says just “Slave”. It also says “Slave” to mean a unit set in remote mode. Since we’re going to ditch the word “Slave” for “Remote” or “Rx-mode” anyway, let’s get a label on the screen that matches what we actually say anyway – “Group”.
7. Get rid of the ratios. You have to be really old-school to be comfortable with ratios (which I am, actually). Ratios are an archaic way of controlling light levels among different groups of Speedlites. Who wants to remember that 8:1 really means that there’s 3-stops more light on the A-side than the B-side? Dump this approach and jump into the 21st-century. There’s a huge market of Canon shooters who want to be able to control multiple Speedlites without having to do the math of how the light level from one relates to another. Nikon shooters have the ability to control the EV level of each group independently. I want this same ease-of-use. Dumping the ratios in favor of an EV approach will also enable Canon shooters to turn individual groups on and off – which is a huge feature when checking the quality and quantity of light coming from a specific group.
8. Create a true 3- or (better yet) 4-group control system. Those of us who have taken the time to get our heads around ratios (which only work for two groups), still struggle with the logic of using flash-exposure-compensation to control a C-group. There is so much to remember these days, having to remember that C-group works differently just adds to my burden. Canon, if you offer a 4-group system, then you’ll sell more Speedlites because shooters like me will come up with crazy shots that absolutely need Speedlites in four different groups. Heaven forbid that the Canon engineers think of a Speedlite system that could handle five groups…
9. Offer a digital control unit. Our ST-E2 wireless controller is an anachronism when compared to the functionality of Nikon’s SU-800 commander unit. If all you want to do is control a key light and a fill light, then the ratio slider on the ST-E2 gets the job done. But, I want to have digital (not slider) control the output of all my groups and to handle each group independently and to be able to switch a single group or multiple groups from E-TTL to Manual and to turn specific groups on/off and to do all these things without having to dig down deep into a menu hierarchy on the back of my camera.
10. Add a built-in optical trigger. It won’t take up much room. It won’t require a lot of circuity. Heck, it would probably fit right in where the relatively-useless thyristor photo-eye sits right now. An optical trigger solves a load of problems when mixing Speedlites with studio strobes. Studio shooters often want to a just a splash of light on set or to conceal a light within the frame. (Canon, consider this to be a perfect opportunity to sell more Speedlites to guys who are used to using lots of lights.) An optical trigger would also make a Speedlite more friendly in the midst of lights from other companies. Again, ease-of-use will drive users to the Canon system. Making the whole system proprietary means that few outsiders will want to change jerseys.
11. License the RadioPopper technology. The gateway to selling more Speedlites is not to find more people to buy their first unit. Rather it’s to add functionality that makes it really easy for existing owners to want to add more lights to their shoots. Wireless E-TTL is good. Radio-controlled E-TTL is great. Free me of the need for line-of-sight communication and I’ll likely put 3 Speedlites in a softbox or stuff them in small spaces on a set where a studio heads won’t fit. Wedding and event shooters totally understand the limitations of line-of-sight. I want to be able to stop worrying abut the position of the remotes relative to my master unit. Over half the size of a RadioPopper is dedicated to the battery and getting the TTL code out of or into a Speedlite. There’s got to be a bit of space inside a Speedlite for the actual circuits that make a RadioPopper work. I’m convinced that the first company to add radio-transmitted TTL to their flash units will leave their competitor in the dust for a long while.
12. Add a couple more stops of Flash Exposure Compensation. There are many instances where I want just a breath of light from my Speedlite and bump up against the minus-3-stop FEC limit on the 580EXs. If a Speedlite has a 7-stop power range, how about giving me 7-stops of FEC so that I don’t have to jump over to manual in challenging situations? Jumping over to manual means that I have to keep more factoids in my head while I’m trying to concentrate of the light and subject in front of me.
13. Stretch out the Zoom. I’m hard-pressed to think of a situation where I was shooting long lens and wanted to zoom a single Speedlite to illuminate a distant subject. Yet, I routinely use the Zoom button to restrict the cone of light so that I can place a tighter pool of light right where I want it. Detach yourself from thinking that the Speedlite zoom was made to match the focal length of the shot and you’ll see the greater logic of using the zoom as a built-in light modifier. For me, “Snoot” would be more descriptive than “Zoom”. So, you could say that I want a longer snoot on the next generation of Speedlites.
14. Include a dome diffuser. I’m sure the guys at Stofen are really happy with the status quo. I’m not. In my world, a dome diffuser is a must-have for every Speedlite. Just as I use the Zoom button as a snoot, I use a dome diffuser to enhance the effectiveness of Speedlites when shooting through umbrellas or panel diffusers. So, every time I buy a Speedlite, I also buy another StoFen. It would cost just a few nickles if a dome diffuser were packaged with every Speedlite. If Canon did this, the quality of light for the average shooter would go way up (and they’d like their photos more and tell their friends about their great camera and…).
15. Include a gel holder. The use of gels for color-correction and color effects has become commonplace. I’m not asking for a computer-chip solution – largely because I’ll continue to cut my own gels from larger stock to save money. What I’d really like though, is a way to hold a gel in place without the use of gaffer’s tape or a LiveStrong braclet. As with the dome diffuser, if every Speedlite came with one, then they’d cost just a few pennies each.
16. Ditch the penguin. There has to be a better way to diagram the use of wireless flash in the manual. Seriously.
17. Give me a breath of hope that Canon actually cares about their Speedlite system. As I said at the top, I’ve been a Canon-shooter for nearly 30 years. I’ve also been pulled into the orbit of Joe McNally’s amazing lighting style – a style that pushes his Speedlights into situations never dreamed of by the guys who write the manuals. One only need to read Strobist for a while to understand that there’s a revolution underway in the world of small-flash. Canon dominated the DSLR market for so many years, I truly worry that they just don’t care about their Speedlites.
Speedlite Features That I Don’t Want To Lose
1. Keep the High-Speed Sync Button on the outside. I use high-speed sync frequently (which I wrote about here, here and here). Being able to jump in and out of HSS at the push of a button is very helpful.
2. Continue to have incremental control between full and half-power. Canon gives us 1/3-stop control all the way from full-power to 1/128. Nikon lacks this ability to fine tune until you’re under half-power.
3. Keep the wireless sensor on the front. It’s easy for me to figure out where the sensor is if it’s on the front. If it’s on the side (like a Nikon), then I have to remember which side.
4. Keep the new battery door. Heaven help us if the guy who designed the door on the 580EX gets his job back. I’m perfectly happy with the design of the door on the 580EXII.
5. Keep the lever-lock as it is on the 580EXII. Give me a round disk (as on the 580EX) and I’ll over-tighten it again and again. The lever-lock on the 580EXII was made for simpletons like me. It gets the job done and stops me from over-doing it.
Why I’m Sticking With Canon – For Now
Honest. I didn’t plan on this article growing to manifesto proportions. But it did. So, it’s fair to ask why I don’t just jump over to Nikon and get what I want right now. After all, most of the items listed above are already standard issue with Nikon Speedlights.
1. Nikon is no more perfect than Canon. It just happens that, when it comes to flash, Nikon has been the innovator. On the other hand, it’s only since the introduction of the D3 less than two years ago, that Nikon has had truly competitive DLSR technology. I’m quite happy that Nikon’s back in the pro-camera game again. Regardless of our brand-preference, all photographers benefit from vigorous competition among the manufacturers.
2. It’s not all about the flash. Bodies and flashes may come. Bodies and flashes may go. Good glass can hang around for a long time. I’ve a good selection of Canon lenses. I’m very happy with the quality. Every photograph I make requires a lens. Not every photograph I make requires a Speedlite. To jump over to Nikon for their Speedlight technology would mean a complete liquidation of my Canon lens inventory – at a hefty price to reacquire comparable Nikon glass.
3. Canon is likely to remain the leader in DSLR-based video. There’s no doubt that the convergence of still and motion is upon us. I’m convinced that still shooters will have to morph into the world of motion or watch their skills become technologically obsolete. Given that Canon has been in the business of making broadcast television equipment for some time, I’m willing to bet that it will remain on the leading edge of dual-purpose (still-motion) cameras.
Tell Canon What You Think – Add A Comment, Then Tweet!
I can’t guarantee that Canon will even read what I’ve written. Eyes at Canon are watching the comments. Nevertheless, So, if you are a Canon shooter, I encourage you to lend your thoughts, wishes and gripes about the Speedlite system via the comment section below. Hopefully, if enough of us share our experiences, Canon will hear about this and take a look incorporate our ideas into a new generation of Speedlites (someday). [ NOTE: Keep your comments constructive. All blatant Canon and Nikon bashing will be discarded by the grumpy moderator.]
Though I agree with the 17, I’d encourage a different prioritization. As someone getting into using the system the big three are:
1) Loss of the switch on the 580. (I’m so glad I had a Mk1 to keep).
2) Ditch the ratio. This control system is a nightmare for a new user.
3) Get 4 (or more) groups. One can easily come up with 4 groups to control and adding a 5th would be a nice bonus.
I’m already invested in radiopopper technology, but fixing the line-of-sight issues that CLS doesn’t seem to have would be a great #4, and adding a 4th switch option to disable the flash on master would be a sweet #5.
It would be wonderful to 86 the penguin and clean up the archaic master slave stuff and get the nicities that should be on a strobe this expensive (like a diffuser and gel-holder), but I’ll take these 3 as enough to get me to replace my 580’s. Nailing this whole laundry list would be a real marketing coup.
yip
keep the 580 style switch
gelholder built in
wireless radio ettl
multiple groups
higher flash duration with more power
plus/minus ev
canon make your own flash accessories ie snoots/ grids instead of us togs having to use poorly made or badly designed 2nd party stuff..
ditch the aa batterys why in this age of high tech battery research pleese make a battery that we can plug into the camera charger
push the boat out get the rd department thinking …….
speedlight ringflash …..proper designed beauty dish with grid
could go on and on ……..
I agree with the diffuser and gel holder, both things that Nikon has with their flashes.
1/8″ jack for hooking up my Radio Popper.
Optical Slave
I would like to see future DSLR’s with builtin wireless control Like the newer Nikons have.
I also think that an optical trigger would be great.
I absolutely support this wishlist! It’s nothing fancy you’re asking for. Just an up-to-date flash system. The cameras developed a lot in the last years, but what about the strobes? Still using PC connectors and infrared for remote triggering? Well, at least we got a PC connector built in now. Had to wait some years for Canon to integrate it… Now please include the optical trigger and the rest. Thanks!
I agree with you 100% on each and every topic. I can not believe how you have hit every nail on the head. i only hope Canon picks up on the. Even if they only implement 25% of what you propose, it would be a great leap forward. I know they want to improve the system and have made the couple of steps forward like the locking lever on the shoe and even a shoe made of metal. What a concept. Now I will not have to keep sending them in for a new shoe every time someone bumps into me a wedding dance floor. Thank you for putting this out there.
I think you’ve nailed it, I love my Canon camera but hate the b**** flash units
Hear hear! I too am a Canon shooter who’s very happy with the camera, yet insanely jealous of my Nikon-toting pals for their flash technology! One of them gave me McNally’s ‘Hot Shoe Diaries’ for Xmas and all that is doing is inspiring me to make more pictures, which in turn sends me running to the Pocket Wizards. If this stuff was included in the flashes, I likely wouldn’t have bought the PW’s, just two more flashes…
Great wishlist!
Lists everything I miss in the Canon Speedlites.
I want all of it, but the most important for me are:
1. wireless on the outside
2. four options on external switch
3. not everyone lights from the front
7. MUST, MUST, MUST get rid of ratios
8. true 3 or 4 group control system
10. optical trigger
12. More exposure compensation
13. more zoom
I would also like the possibility to have a sound signal when the flash is charged
When you see the size of some of the radio triggers out there I would like to see the trigger built into the flash
Yes its been said but if canon’s watching I’ll say it again.
-”Master” switch with 4 options.
-replace ratios
-diffuser!
-optical is not a must but would be so so sweet.
Thanks for getting this out there Syl!
Harv
I’ve spent a considerable amount of money on gadgets trying to make up for all the short comings in the Canons flash system. I tried a bit of everything, STE 2, radio poppers, pocket wizards,lumedyne pack and head, Vivitar 285 and a Nikon SB24. Each have their advantages and disadvantages but it’s a nightmare packing for an assignment.
After buying 2, 540’s, a 550EX, and a 580EX, I am through with Canon flashs until they make some major changes.
you completly right about canon flash(must have).really great.
Well put, Syl. Give me the speedlights in your vision and I’d be a happy, happy shooter.
AMEN to all of those things.
I’m a bit new to all this, took up photography as a serious hobby in August 2009 after encouragement from family, but through all my reading it became clear that for TTL, on or off-camera flash it was the Nikon guys who were posting and had respect. There was just not that much Canon stuff on flash, until i saw this post. As a Canon invested shooter I really want this to change. For this to happen it seems that Canon shooters have to get more impressed and enthused by Canon flash-systems. This is a good starting point. Thanks for posting Syl!
Well said Syl!
I’m not all that invested in gear yet as I’m only starting out really on this road, but I have given very serious thought to changing to Nikon before I get too much kit, and considered this almost entirely due to the flash system. What kept me Canon was the range of lenses available, but it was a very close call. As it is I’ve just bought a 580EXii so we’ll see how we get on. But at the back of mind there is still a little voice telling me it’ll be decision time again when I next upgrade my camera body.
So come on Canon, sort it out!
Amen brother! I own 2 speedlights and an ST-E2. But given the limits outlined here, I have decided I can’t get where I want with Canon. I have longed for Nikon because of their flash system, but have too much $$ in Canon glass. But, I will not spend anymore $$ on Canon flash gear.
If I got the ability for remote manual control of a flash, got rid of the silly ‘ratios’ and individual control of multiple flashes, I would start buying more Canon flash gear (plus no longer look longingly at that D700).
Come on Canon, bring your flashes up to the standard you are setting with the the 7D, 5DMkII, and 1D!!
Honestly, it was cathartic to read your post. Your suggestions are spot on.
I bought Canon for the same reason, but have been very disappointed and frustrated with the Speedlites. I am a newbie using the Speedlites…and I have been hitting my head against a wall trying to do stuff I am reading on the Strobist site. And I keep realizing, I am not completely stupid, I am trying to do things with the Speedlites that are not physically possible. (no Pocket wizard/radio communication, zoom the way I thought it would work, no optional slaves, the limitations with infrared, etc.)
Thanks so much!
Well after 5 years being a Canon flash user and watch them lose the market to Nikon I’ve decided to move on to something ‘better’. I’ve had enough of trying to work round the limitations of the system and instead opting to move to a power pack solution. At the end of the day we’re jury rigging a system to do something it wasn’t designed for and it’s flaky. If you’re doing client work that’s not acceptable.
Will I continue to use the Canon system? Probably, but I’ll not be sinking any more money into it.
Please also add 3.5mm jack and get rid of PC! 3.5mm is more compatible with radio triggers, is more reliable, and cords can be bought for cheaper than PC and available in almost every city block.
For a more thorough argument, I refer you to the Strobist article 2/18/2010 on why it’s past time we got rid of the PC.
As a Canon guy since my EOS 650 in 1987, now Canon Digital … And trying not to repeat everything already said:
1) Fix the exposure algorithm! Shooting the bride 15′ away with a 580 EX II in a dark reception hall should work even if someone with a light color shirt walks into a corner of the frame 5′ away. Right now, ETTL changes its mind about what is important and exposes the 5′ non-focus-pointed-corner correctly and underexposes what is under the focus point. Flash Exposure Locking all the time isn’t the correct solution and often isn’t an option when run and gunning.
My EOS film cameras never had that issue.
2) Port that software fix back to models you aren’t selling anymore.
3) If nothing else, do the items on the list that are $0 recurring cost items, like adding the gel filter holder to the existing plastic molding. It is a slit and a spacing tweak. Increase FEC range – should be a firmware update, again $0 recurring costs as the hardware can clearly already do it.
And just because Syl said Canon was listening … Not a flash, but a camera feature.
Get rid of A-DEP mode. Nobody in their right mind could expect a camera to figure out for itself what the closest and farthest points the photographer wanted in focus are. Bring back DEP mode, where the photographer TOLD the camera what those two points were. I don’t buy the ‘its too complex’ arugment which I’ve heard before – computing power, memory, speed, etc. has increased many orders of magnitude since 1987. Why do I have to break out my iphone app to do depth of field calculations and go back to manual mode when the camera used to, can, and should do all that for us?
Thank you Syl for a great web site. I heard you on TWIP last week – it was very useful. One small point – I think my Nik D90 can adjust flash exposure compensation and ‘general’ exposure compensation independently.
My wish list would include a hope that a good third party company (Metz?) would make system flashes which incorporated all of the best features of the Canon and Nikon systems, so we would not need to sacrifice flash capability to access our preferred UI or lens system…
Couldn’t agree more!
I’ve invested in the Pocket Wizard TT1/TT5 system despite the issues to address some of these shortcomings. The new zone controller will allow control of three channels independently, switching between manual & TTL and switching off channels. Great, but with all the extra boxes, controllers, batteries etc. wouldn’t it just be so much better if it was built in? I’m not sure it would even be that difficult either compared to the hoops the 3rd party manufacturers have to jump through to get something working!
Jon
Thanks Syl for analyzing what’s wrong with canon speedlites.
Couldn’t agree more with your conclusions/wishlist. I hope that canon-management are starting to realise what kind of speedlite revolution is going on. They need to get on board . . . . now!!
So please canon, put your best engineers at work, print out the wishlist for em and tell them you’re expecting results tomorrow!!!
Mike
I love that list. One thing I’d add to it: sanity in external triggering. There is no reason I can think of that a 580 in Manual triggered by its PC port should suddenly not bother to trigger the slaves (or that a 580 Master in ETTL should trigger the slaves . . . about a second late.)
I fully support this wish list. I have considered switching from Canon to Nikon solely because of the flash system. Joe McNally has several great tutorials on using off camera flash (Nikon). After watching these tutorials it becomes very apparent that Nikon is head and shoulders above Canon when it comes to features and usability of their respective flash systems.
Canon… you are way behind!
Titus –
The deal with Canon Speedlites and optical slaves is easy to fix. You just have to by EX-compatible optical slaves. They cost about 75-cents more that the standard version. What happens is that the voltage in a Speedlite does not drop as far as other brands (don’t know why, don’t care). An optical slave won’t reset for another shot until it senses that voltage drop. I use the green-based Sonia optical slaves with complete reliability. You can get them from FlashZebra.com.
No standard optical slaves (EX compatible or otherwise) will work with E-TTL because they fire at the preflash rather than at the actual flash. Far better to use the built-in wireless system. If you need to shoot studio flash as Speedlites, shoot in Manual.
I was actually wondering to myself as I drove into work this very morning why neither Canon nor Nikon has incorporated radio control in their flash units. It seems so obvious to me. Great, well thought-out article, Syl. I can say with certainty that if Canon decided to take you up on your suggestions, I would be investing in more Canon Speedlites.
Another vote here for built in radio control. There’s quite a few of us who have to save up to buy flash units, and when we come to the big choice we tend to save for another flash or another lens rather than a fully functioning pocket wizard… make a decent and cheap hotshoe controller before the chinese wipe the floor with you completely or you just won’t sell anything in the near future in terms of flash unit controllers.
I agree with Syl completely. Well done in raising and highlighting these points!
My gear – so that Canon can understand ‘our’ commitment
Canon cameras are fantastic (Have x2 camera bodies)
Canon Lenses are the best (Have x4 ‘L’ & x3 normal)
Canon Speedlites are ’shite’ (have x2 580ex2)
Canon MT24 twin macro flash
Recently purchased 2 x PW TT5’s, planning on getting Bowens studiolights with Pocket Wizard radio cards
Canon users ARE becoming more ‘imaginative, creative and more techno-aware’. We need the flexibility and ease-of-use that this article and ‘MANIFESTO’ that Syl has articulately expounded.
Canon, show your customers YOUR commitment & seriously revise the Canon Flash System. Otherwise simply introduce a new range of flash-units that Pro’s, enthusiasts and serious amateurs can hit-the-ground-running with for creative their flash photography requirements.
–One small thing that I simply can’t believe isn’t there.. A BATTERY METER!! I have flashlights with battery meters on them how did that ever slip through!
–Oh yeah and everything else Syl listed!!
–I don’t mind custom functions for the once-in-a-while stuff… but with LCD technology today can we have at least a BASIC name for the functions — “once-in-a-while” stuff means I dont remember what Cfn-01-3 is anymore– even a little hint as to what it is so I dont have to fish for my manual again.
–While we are on the Snoot/Zooom topic why not lose the mm designation and move to degrees.. 10Degree, 45Degree etc…
–Loser the pc connector – worst connection ever invented how this became a standard and passed engineering 101 scrutiny will always amaze me…(not blaming canon for that)
–Oh yeah and everything else Syl listed!! (I’m vote loading now)..
another vote for the 1/8 jack and the battery meter, and of course, Syl’s master plan is spot on.
Also, I’d like a menu system that says what the custom functions are on the screen, so I don’t have to google the manual on a job again.
Ian – You can read the custom functions for an EX II Speedlite on the back of a 40D or later camera (models introduced since late 2007). Given that the Speedlite LCD is monochrome, I’m happy to do this on my camera’s color LCD.
Voting with your money usually works best.
Why not just _not_ buy Canon Speedlites until Canon gets their act together and offers something valuable (like 21st century flash)?
There are other brands of flashes out there. The Nissin Di866 seems to be comparable to a 580 EX II for half the price.
[...] So here’s the wishlist by Syl Arena. [...]
Lets put it this way. I have a Canon 7sz, G3, G10, XSi, several lenses, and 430 EXII. Suffice to say I am a long term Canon shooter. I am really sorry that I bought the 430 EXII. I should have gone with a less expensive flash like Nissin, Promaster, or Yongnuo. I am in the process of buying more flashes for off camera lighting.I won’t be buying any more Canon speed lights. There is a good possibility I will switch to Nikon cameras because of their superior lighting system.
Wireless trigger
Optical trigger
sync port
come on Canon, you can do it! Or at least I hope you can before I buy all Nikon stuff.
I agree on every point of your list
but the most crucial is radio ettl technology ala radiopper
I think that will be a game changer.
The second is the real group implementation( like Nikon)
please canon if you are listening remember that the one that huts first, hits twice.
Thanks for wrting this and your blog
For the past two years of so i’ve shot almost exclusively with my Canon Speedlites – and while they do give me some great shots the list that Syl has produced would greatly increase my ability to use them like the pro tools they aspire to be.
1. More power – we are all shooting through softoxes, umbrellas, etc – more power is a plus
2. the longer “snoot/zoom” agreed
3. I have pocketwizard ettl so I don’t particularly care about the radio built in expecially if it’s going to raise the cost that much but i remember reading somewhere that radio is a no go in the products due to different rules world wide when it comes to rf. they would need to build continent/country specific flashes in other words…
The list is so dead on that it’s hard to improve…
how bout making the flashes use the current canon batteries such as teh LPE6 – more power and longer life than AA’s… also smaller than 4 AA’s meaning more room to put the rest of the features in….the cost of the batteries is 60 ish which would be about the same as i pay for rechargeable’s each year trying to find somethign that makes me happy….
Terrific article Syl!
I hope Canon is reading this.
So so much support for Canon!!! I’m a Canon user but I don’t use some of the features like groups (yeah I know Canon calls it ratios??) but I no doubt will in the future and I appreciate all this advice here, hope Canon does too!!??
wow. you nailed it. I mean, you really nailed it. When my 580Ex popped for the last time last weekend I had to bite the bullet and buy a third 580EX II. I was hoping to hold out for the next iteration, and your wish list mirrors mine exactly, but with a bit more. I can almost see the logic of having a second line of speedlites for creative uses and leave the 580EX for the photojournalists. If they don’t want to make a 580 series with all of those things, make a 600 series with all of the bells and whistles listed above. I, for one, would pay more for something I can actually use.
Canon – Please hear our plea. After just reading McNally’s “The Hot Show Diaries”, I realized how inadequate my Canon strobes are. This blog post only reaffirmed my thinking. I agree with the likes and dislikes. Thanks. I’ll be back.
Excellent article!
The only changes I really really want from my Canon Speedlites are:
1) Include a dome diffuser WITH gels
2) Build radiopopper/pocketwizard technology into the speedlites and cameras
Syl, couldn’t agree with you more! My first Canon was an AE1-program in 1984 (I no longer have it but do still have a T90 from 1989!).
I find myself agreeing with everything you say about the Canon Speedlites. I currently have one 580EX and three 580EXII plus the ST-E2.
As a follower of McNally, and about to spend two days with him in Houston, I find myself rather envious of the Nikon system but my investment in Canon glass is just too much for me to think about trading out. I do fervently hope that Canon will deliver some Speedlite innovation soon and what you ask for in this post would be simply awesome!
Come on Canon – reach for the lead once more!
Everything Syl said plus:
1) Dear gods, give us rear curtain sync in the Wireless modes.
2) I’d be happy if Canon, as a bridge measure, gave us a radio based wireless commander that can do everything requested (command 4-5 groups, rcs, and so on), and receiver units that attached to the hotshoe of all EX-series flashes, so that we get to working with enhanced joy sooner. Just make sure the system is reasonably priced. I don’t expect to eBay trigger prices, but I’d like to be able to make use of my 3 550exs for under $500.
I wish I had see this blog before I went to Joe’s seminar. Ha! Great seminar, but definitely Nikon oriented. And yes, I learned that my 580 ex and 580 ex 11 suck, just like I had thought they did before I went. Though the workshop definitely gave me some fresh ideas on how to use small flashes, using these “new” modern Canon flashes is still like digging into the dusty dark ages compared to the Nikon flashes. I hope your words are heard over at Canon, otherwise, I’d say there’s going to be plenty of converts….
Thanks for this blog and sharing your info.
Thaddeus
T – Just curious, what about the 580EX & EX II dissatisfies you the most? What about the Nikon CLS impresses you the most?
Great points, all. Thanks for this thread!
As a Pocket Wizard user, I’d love it if Canon would simply license and build in the PW technology, as some studio flash manufacturers have done.
Why reinvent the wheel? Disadvantage would be the cost and not everyone needs all the PW capabilities, and can get by with simpler triggers. Nonetheless, on a top-of-the-line unit, built-in PW would be awesome
Leaving that aside, easy improvements would be: an optical slave that ignores the prefash; a 1/8″ miniplug input (no sync cords, please); and a built-in gel holder.
These are must-haves.
Increasing the power by a full stop while still keeping the unit about the same size would be great, if it’s possible.
Ditching the AA batteries and using the same kind of battery as the camera is an excellent idea, but does a camera type battery put out the right amperage or wattage, or whatever the correct term is, to charge a powerful speedlight quickly?
I use Quantum 2×2 Turbos on two of my five flashes, but they are expensive. Their weight is actually good, though, for helping stabilize lightstands, though I also use inexpensive, velcro-closing, ankle weights for that — kind of like mini-sandbags.
In any case, the high voltage port should be retained on the 580’s replacement and also should be included on the smaller 430’s replacement.
I heartily agree that the master-slave terminology ought to be abandoned in favor of commander, remote, and groups.
And most importantly, the entire user interface needs to be made much clearer, faster and more intuitive!