Hello I just bought the sigma 10-20mm to use with my rebel xt. Its a very sharp copy and very contrasty!

Unfortunately when I use the pop up flash of the xt, the lens itself not the lens hood gets in the way of the flash of light....showing up in my images.

Since the lens is so wide, will a external flash has the same results? I am looking at either the sigma dg500 super, the metz 54 - 3 or the canon 430ex.

Any recommendations or suggestions will be appreciated!

External flashes avoid this problem in part because they're sitting much higher off the camera. If even that doesn't help, you can point an external flash at a ceiling, which will eliminate the problem and give a more natural appearance to the lighting.

moondigger wrote:
External flashes avoid this problem in part because they're sitting much higher off the camera. If even that doesn't help, you can point an external flash at a ceiling, which will eliminate the problem and give a more natural appearance to the lighting.

I thought so, so which would you recommend - around the $200 but preferably less?

Used 420ex can be obtained for around $130.. and it is a really nice flash for the price...

Consider getting a Canon 430EX or a Sigma 500 Super. I'm not sure of the prices but they are both more versatile than the old 420EX. e.g. they can be used as a master in a master/slave setup some time in the future.

430EX is really a terrific flash for this camera

I'd get the 550/580EX for the extra power, I think they are worth it. If budget is a constrain, I'd get a used Nikon SB-24/25/26/28/80/800 and use them in auto mode, the older model can be obtained second hand really cheap, and I find them more predictable than E-TTL.

I have bad experience with Sigma flash once, and I stay away from it since.

A bounce card or a flash diffuser goes a long way in improving flash pictures, they also widen the coverage of the flash.

Metz 54 used = $200! Buy one, you will love it!

I am leaning more toward the 430ex and the metz 54. Which is better? Smaller? Faster?

Metz 54 (GN 54) is more powerful than the 430EX (GN 43). Their sizes do not differ too much.