Canon Speedlite 380EX Flash

Bought this unit during Maxwell St. Days on State Street in Madison, WI. Couldn't believe it for only $70! When I picked it up, they told me the zoom was broken. Upon taking the light head apart (after discharging the capacitor), I found that I was able to move the worm drive to different reflection lengths. However, if I move the drive anywhere but middle (50), it just moves right back to that point after turning power on. Hmm... Getting it fixed locally, estimated at $25 for a new bounce-mode sensor (default bounce reflection length is 50). That was just the parts labor is $40.

Automation. Point and shoot simplicity. Automatically adjusts (when not broken, like mine) reflection zoom, intensity, and is compatible with my elan. Quick cycles. Good used price. Modern, although discontinued. Excellent improvement over opo-up flash. Battery efficiency is good for a flash of this output good.

Automation. Point and shoot simplicity. Automatically adjusts (maybe I shouldn't have gotten it fixed). Noisy capacitor makes screeching sound during first second of cycle, before sounding like a normal flash recharging for the last one or two. I'm waiting for the capacitor to need replacement next. However, since I've never used this exact model or any other Canon Speedlight, it is possible that this is normal. Battery cover remains attached when open, yet feels considerably more flimsy than that on the SunPak 444's I use on my Nikon FE2 bodies. For some reason the aux light fires even when I cf the camera's to stay off during AF. This is a major glitch, as I do stealth night photography, the surprise of which is ruined by the bright red LED on the flash. The hotshoe adaptor cable, necessary for ambient flash techniques, is another $50. The current pro models are all capable of revieving up to 1/500 sec synced pulses via rf, and up to 5 flashes can slave off one transmitter. Use of different color gels can produce a stunning effect with enough flashes, saving steps, avoiding multiple exposures, subject mov'nt, none of this is possible with this flash, as it only has one connection from camera. Hub is neccesary to achieve multiple flash points using this model.

Sunpak 444, other SP's, various Vivitar models.

Good local authorized service at BDC Camera Repair on Johnson St., near State Street, in downtown Madison, WI.

This flash when used on my Elan IIE surpassed my expectations. It generates great color balance indoors in bounced and non-bounced modes. It also does fill flash outdoors very nicely. Have only had perfectly exposed flash shots so far on about 10 rolls of film. If you're still using the built in flash on the Elan you are missing out.

Guide Number ( relative to the built in flash) Bounce capability E-TTL Flash and accurate metering

Slow recycle times on alkaline batteries

Nikon SB-24

None needed so far

This is just another flash thats gonna cover you for general purpose work, its nothing too special if you want the truth, i think you can get yourself the sunpack 383 super which is better and more powerfull and cost about half the price, but the color of this canons light its pretty nice, even though its fully automated flash after working with you or i should say getting to know the flash its a quite simple operation, this thing doesn't even have a pc socket lol what was i thinking when i paid $140 for this flash i don't know, go buy yourself a nice flash for $140

Nice clean packaging

fully automated, no manual settings, slow cycle

sunpak 383, 555

I bought the flash for my ElanII, never got it to give good exposures, always underexposed.

I replaced it with a 550EX and have completely solved the problem on the ElanII.

Today this flash is used with my Powershot Pro70. Funny on the Pro70 it seems to give out too much light. I put a Lumiquest 80/20 bounce diffuser and it exposes right on.

Ease of use
Cheap
E-TTL
Bounce
Works with Powershot Pro70

Not powerfull enough
No manual controls

550EX, Metz 45,60, Vivitar 283

The best kind,
NOT NEEDED

My Canon 380EX flash w/ Canon Elan IIE camera
fitted w/ Canon EF 28-105/3.5-4.5 USM lens has
ruined all my flash shots until I decided to
create my "custom function No.12" as detailed below:

380EX Flash Problems:
---------------------
380EX flash badly underexp.:
- For backlit subj. or light b/ground.
- For subj. w/ high contrast (eg. very dark person
wearing white shirt + pants, or vice versa).
- For subj. w/ any light source seen in the
viewfinder.
NOTE: Elan IIE is set @ exp. compen. to 0.0 and
flash exp. compen. to 0.0.
Canon designers didn't add a custom function to
switch off the auto. flash output reduction
option as given in EOS A2E/1N/3/IV cameras.

Problem Rectified By:
---------------------

| |
| X | Hotshoe of
| | Elan IIE
| 1 2 | camera
| 3 4 |

- Stuck two layers of paper tape strips to cover
signal contacts 1, 2 + 3 ONLY. Signal contact 4
is NOT covered.
- Signal contact 4 is flash ready + auto.
switches on the 380EX flash after auto-off
(after 90sec. of non-use), when shutter button
is pressed half-way.
- E-TTL LED will not light + 380EX is set @ full
manual output (GN 28/m @ 35mm).
- When 380EX flash is in bounce position, it
auto. sets to 50mm.
- Use flash for indoor shoots only. Set Elan IIE
camera to M (Manual) mode w/ shutter speed
manually set @ 1/60sec. + aper. according to
the table below:

GN 28/m @ 35mm (380EX Flash)

m | 1.2| 1.7| 2.5| 3.5| 5 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 20
-----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----
50| 16 | 11 | 8 | 5.6| 4 | 2.8| 2 | 1.4| 1
100| 22 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 5.6| 4 | 2.8| 2 | 1.4
200| 32 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 5.6| 4 | 2.8| 2
400| 45 | 32 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 5.6| 4 | 2.8
800| 64 | 45 | 32 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 5.6| 4

- For user's convenience, stick the above table on
380EX flash head w/ clear cellophene tape over
it as protection too.
- Example for use: if u are using ISO100 film,
focus on the subj. + read off the dist. (in
metres) from the lens dist. scale. If yr subj.
is 6.0m away, then set manually yr aper. to f/4
(not f/5.6 which is effective up to 5.0m ONLY).
Aim + recompose + shoot your pict. w/ 380EX
flash switched on + ready light on.
- Picture Result: Excellent pict. quality
regardless of focal length used (ie. for my
lens 35 to 105mm).
- Battery life: alkal-mang.: 260 shots @ full
manual. Never ever use NiCad or NiMH batteries
(even though recommended by Canon) as it ruins
electronic circuits by pumping large amt of
current into it. Use carbon-zinc, zinc-chrolide
or alkal-mang. + yr 380EX flash will last yr
life-time.
- For outdoor shots do NOT use 380EX flash, use
ONLY partial metering on Elan IIE camera for
best exp. results in P, Tv, Av and M modes.

Conclusion:
-----------
This is how I "added" my Custom Function No.12"
on my Elan IIE camera to switch off the auto.
flash output reduction to give excellent flash
pict. regardless of focal length used. (ie. for
my lens 35 to 105mm).

Pl feel free to contact me if u require any
further info. at: Mr Aji, "saip@lycos.com".

- High-speed flash sync.
- 2nd shutter sync.

380EX badly underexp.:
- For backlit subj. or light b/ground.
- For subj. w/ high contrast (eg. very dark person
wearing white shirt + pants, or vice versa).
- For subj. w/ any light source seen in the viewfinder.
These occurs when Elan IIE camera is set @ exp. compen.
to 0.0 + flash exp. compen. to 0.0.

Canon 277T Flash

NiCad + NiMH batteries (even though recommend by Canon) ruined my 380EX flash by pumping large amt of current into its electronic circuit. Repaired it locally.