When I travel with 5d2, then I often miss a build in flash for those quick portraits in the middle of the day.

I am looking for the best ultra compact flash. Does not have to be able to overpower the sun, just do the same stuff as a built in flash.

What do you use and why.

Have a look at the 270EX.

EBH

Sunpack RD 2000 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=647&N=4294540334+4291178451+4294955935

Had one for a g10. Small, affordable, light weight.

I use a 220EX: petite, light and has near IR AF assist.

i have a 5Dmk2, and i have a sunpack RD2000. You have to be very careful when you buy it and make sure it works ON the camera. When i bought mine last April, the firmware on the flash does not support the 5Dmk2 yet even though it fired normally off camera but it wont fired when attached to the 5Dmk2. I have to send the flash back to the manufacturer for a firmware update and then it works afterward.

the RD2000 is a very nice little flash for close distance (say in a room) and for fill in flash purposes. i have no issue with the performance and it does support ETTLII and it does rotate 90 degrees so you can bounce the light onto the ceiling. The only thing i complaint about it is the hinge gets a bit loose after a while and the angle of the flash can change without you knowing it.

I just got a 270EX - almost the perfect flash for my 5DII - the only downside is it doesn't do HSS making it nearly useless for outdoor fill (you're stuck at 1/200th SS). (I previously had a 220EX which I liked a lot and does do HSS, making it a great flash for outdoor fill - but it doesn't bounce or swivel, making it nearly useless for indoor shooting.) What's up with that Canon?

24Peter wrote:
I just got a 270EX - almost the perfect flash for my 5DII - the only downside is it doesn't do HSS making it nearly useless for outdoor fill (you're stuck at 1/200th SS).


The 270EX does do HSS, but only with the more modern cameras (including the 5DII), it's an option in the flash menu on the camera

Sadly it won't do HSS with older cameras like the 5D, which is a silly error by Canon


I also have the RD2000 (which also needed a firmware upgrade for my 5DII), for which I have just purchased an omnibounce reflector which works really well. The RD2000 has a click stop at just the right angle for the omnibounce.

David

dhphoto wrote:
[
The 270EX does do HSS, but only with the more modern cameras (including the 5DII), it's an option in the flash menu on the camera

David


Ha - you're right. I spent an hour reading the manual and playing with the menu when I got the flash and never saw that setting. I guess it's confusing b/c my 430EX's and the 220EX have a separate switch/indicator on the body when you're in HSS mode and on the 270EX it's in the shutter sync menu along with 1st curtain/2nd curtain/high speed. Thanks for that.

I love the little 270EX, use it in high speed mode for fill flash.

I power it with disposable Lithium batteries, makes it very light.

24Peter wrote:
I just got a 270EX - almost the perfect flash for my 5DII - the only downside is it doesn't do HSS making it nearly useless for outdoor fill (you're stuck at 1/200th SS). (I previously had a 220EX which I liked a lot and does do HSS, making it a great flash for outdoor fill - but it doesn't bounce or swivel, making it nearly useless for indoor shooting.) What's up with that Canon?

Hmm, you must shoot in very small buildings! I rarely find a place with a low enough ceiling or blank neutral colored wall to actually use bounce. However, I have used the OSCII on my 220EX for macro and the rare low ceiling venue. It's too weak for bounce in most places.

As for HSS, it's pretty useless with small Speedlites as they lack the power needed to cover more than a few feet...

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/837695

HTH.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.