Comments on: My Canon Speedlite Wishlist

By: Jon Westcott

Jon Westcott — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:22:40 +0000

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

By: Michael Ward

Michael Ward — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:52:42 +0000

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…

By: David Soussan

David Soussan — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:50:05 +0000

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?

By: J Packard

J Packard — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:15:58 +0000

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.

By: R. Scott

R. Scott — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:25:40 +0000

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.

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:35:42 +0000

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!

By: Chip

Chip — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:45:24 +0000

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!!

By: Pip Neville

Pip Neville — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:57:01 +0000

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!

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:13:49 +0000

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!

By: Ernie

Ernie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:49:22 +0000

AMEN to all of those things.