A comparison of the latest high end flashes:
| Functionality | Canon 580 EX II | Nikon SB 800 | Olympus FL-50R | Quantum QF 5d-R | Metz SCA flashes |
| Canon only | Nikon/Fuji only | Olympus/Four Thirds only | compatible with most cameras via specific QTTL module | compatible with most cameras via specific SCA module which attach via special adapter or in the case of the 54MZ-4i, on its base | |
| GN in m at ISO100 at various zoom settings | 14/15; 24/28; 28/30; 35/36; 50/42; 70/50; 80/53; 105/58 | 24/?; 35/38; 105/56; | 24/28; 85/50; | 48? - variable depending on flash modifier used including bare bulb option. | 45CL-4
dig: 28/45
54MZ-4i: 24/?; 50/40; 105/54 76MZ5: 24/?; 50/54; 105/76 |
| TTL | E-TTL II, E-TTL, TTL | i-TTL, D-TTL, TTL, auto balanced fill-in | Oly dig. TTL | compatible with most dSLRs and film cameras (but not remote TTL - see below). | Canon E-TTL II;
Nikon i-TTL; Oly TTL BUT not remote TTL YET!; Pentax P-TTL; Sony ADI plus ANY film camera TTL via SCA 300 modules and adapter. |
| Wireless TTL
nb. all flashes in same group are treated as if one flash ie. same settings apply to all. |
IR Master and Slave
3 groups, 4 channels slaves must be +/- 40deg from master & within 8m outdoors. exp. ratios in 0.5EV steps up to +/- 3EV |
IR Master and Slave
3 groups, 4 channels slaves must be +/- 30deg from master |
IR Master and Slave
3 groups, 4 channels slaves must be +/- 50deg from master |
radio wireless TTL via FreeXWire sytem, currently only with certain Canon/Nikon dSLRs and hopefully Olympus soon. | Metz remote TTL but not always compatible.
not Olympus yet; as for Canon/Nikon? |
| AF-assist beam | Yes, linked to AF point on compatible cameras | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes but no multi-zone AF assist? |
| Stroboscopic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Modeling lamp
nb. usually must rest flash for 10min if use modeling lamp more than 10 consecutive times (Canon). |
Yes, 1sec, activated by DOF preview button on 1DMIII | yes 3sec | Yes | Yes | Yes 4sec |
| Secondary lamp | No | No | No | No | Yes, 2 output levels |
| Bounce | Up: 0-90 degrees; Down: 0-7 degrees; Left: 0-180 degrees; Right: 0-180 degrees | Up: 0-90 degrees; Down: 0-7 degrees; | Up: 0-90 degrees; Down: 0-7 degrees; Left: 0-180 degrees; Right: 0-90 degrees | yes | Up: 0-90 degrees; Down: 0-7 degrees; Left: 0-180 degrees; Right: 0-90 degrees? |
| Manual settings | 1/1 to 1/128 | 1/1 to 1/128
distance priority - changes output depending in distance to subject that you enter on the screen after 1st setting ISO, aperture |
1/1 to 1/128 | 1/1 to 1/64 | 1/1 to 1/256 |
| Auto flash sensor (ie. set camera to manual or aperture priority and let flash adjust it's output according to its own sensor) | complex - need to set C.fn 05 to 3 (set it back to 0 for
ETTL II). Then use SET button and dial to select ISO & aperture.
see here f/1.0-91 at ISO 100 20deg sensor (=135mm lens view) cannot use high sync |
f/2-32 at ISO 100
auto aperture - uses camera aperture setting |
f/1.4-22 at ISO 100 | auto sensor limit where you can set a subject distance
(2,3,4 or 6m) to avoid sensor exposing for the background.
|
f/1.0-45 at ISO 100
12 apertures |
| High sync flash | yes High sync | yes FP | yes FP TTL & FP manual | ? | yes |
| Ext. power source option | yes | yes | yes | Quantum Turbo power pack or Qpag system | yes |
| weight excl. batteries | 375g | 350g | 385g | 45CL4dig: 680g
54MZ4i: 480g 76MZ5: 880g+138g control unit |
|
| zooming speed | 0.6sec | ||||
| max. burst | at 6.5fps: 4 shots at 1/8th power, 6 shots if SD-7 power option | at 8fps: 5 shots at 1/8th power, 40 shots if HV-1 power option | |||
| must allow 10min cool off after burst | 20 shots | 15 shots (40 shots if M/4-M/128) | 10 shots full; 20 at M/2; 40 at M/4; 80 at M/8-M/128; | 54MZ4i: 15shots full; | |
| slave | |||||
| weatherproofed to match the Canon 1DMIII
RRP $A749 |
RRP $A799 | locking ring not quite as good; limited telephoto zoom but
good burst and auto aperture range;
RRP $A808 |
complex, expensive but sophisticated and versatile.
replaceable flash bulb numerous flash modifiers optional should do custom WB avoid matrix metering, use CW instead flash exp. comp. +/- 2EV only built in output calibration possible RRP $A1230 + $A235 for QTTL module + battery pack + FreeXWire components for wireless control. |
one flash for all cameras but heavy, big and not all
functionality assured, particularly remote TTL may not work and Olympus
fill-in flash.
45CL4 RRP $A929 + SCA3045 cable $A117 + SCA module $A99 76MZ5 RRP $A1199 + $A99 for SCA module P76 power pack $A547 + V76 connecting cable $A61 |