Photography News Issue 56

Photography News | Issue 56 | photographynews.co.uk

First tests

Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI £499

Specs

If further proof that the machines are indeed taking over was needed, then take a look at the innovative Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI flashgun. The 470EX-AI joins Canon’s Speedlite family which includes the 600EX II- RT, a high powered unit with radio wireless control, and while the new unit doesn’t have radio control it is the first flashgun with an automatically controlled bounce head. This uses Canon’s AI (Auto Intelligent) technology to give auto or semi auto bounce flash. We’ll delve into that feature very soon but let’s cover off its other headline features first. With a guide number of 47 (ISO 100/metres) it is a mid-powered unit with the option of Canon ETTL I and II mode compatibility as well as full manual and the zoomhead covers a range from 24mm to 105mm. A large dot matrix LCD display gives you all the information you would expect from a modern flashgun – mode, working range, focal length and so on. While the 470EX-AI does not have any radio wireless control it does have optical triggering so with EOS cameras such as the 7D, 6DMark I and II and 600D which have an integral Speedlite Transmitter, the flash can be fired from up to 10m indoors without any extra kit. Optical triggering can be less reliable especially outdoors in bright light where the range is about 6m. Power is supplied by four AA cells, not a rechargeable li-ion cell which offers greater shooting capacity and faster recycling. Now let’s get back to the AI Bounce (AI.B) feature. This is selected from the three-position AI.B switch on the flashgun’s rear panel, off, S (semi) and F (fully auto). There is nothing extra that has to be set on the camera although AI.B is not available on all Canon EOS DSLRs; or it might be available but with limitations. Before going any further, perhaps it is worth just explaining what bounce flash is and why it is useful. Fit a flashgun on a camera and shooting away usually gives okay results but the light is harsh with heavy shadows. For a more flattering light, many flashguns have an adjustable or tilting bounce head so all you do is angle the flash head upwards at a white ceiling (or white wall or a bounce flash modifier) and now softer light reaches the subject via a large surface for better-looking results.

Price

£499

In the box Speedlite 470EX-AI, mini stand, SBA-E4 bounce adapter, soft case and manual Guide number 47m (metres/ISO 100) AI Bounce Fully auto and semi auto modes Flash headmovement Up 0°-120°, left and right 0°-180° Autoexposure control E-TTLII/E-TTL/TTL High speed sync Yes Manual control Yes, full power to 1/128th in 0.3EV Focal length coverage 24-105mm standard, 14mm with integral diffuser. Auto zoom for sensor size. Clip on bounce diffuser supplied Wireless control No transmitter, infrared receiver with 10m indoor range/6m outdoors Groups Three Channels Four AF assist beam Yes, infrared beam. Supports 1-19 AF points Recycling 5.5secs in full manual Power Four AAs Custom functions 10 (24 options), nine personal functions PC terminal No

But it is not quite as simple as that. A white surface is needed so that no colour cast is introduced and bouncing flash means light has to travel further to reach the subject. That means there’s a significant power drop off. The inverse square law says that if you double the flash to subject distance output drops off by a factor of four, so while using a low white ceiling might be okay, a higher ceiling to bounce flash is an issue and even potent flashguns canmean using wide apertures. Canon’s AI.B can’t solve these issues, but it can help with what angle you set the flashgun’s head at to give the best bounce effect. An experienced flash user will quickly assess the situation and set the flashhead angle they think will deliver a good result, do a test shot and go from there. Less experienced flash users might struggle and this is where AI.B comes in useful. In AI-B auto mode, press the AI.B button on the flashgun or the camera’s depth-of-field button (depends on the camera) and the flashgun fires a preflash at the subject to assess its distance, then the head quickly realigns upwards before firing another preflash up at the ceiling, again to assess distance. AI then sets the head to the determined optimum bounce angle and it does all this in less than a second. Change the camera fromhorizontal to vertical format shooting, a quick double partial press of the shutter button and the flashheadwill reset the head to an angle similar to that before you adjusted camera position. I tested the AI.B function on an EOS 6D Mark II shooting various subjects between 1 and 3m from the camera. On the 470EX-AI, at 2-3m, the consistently preferred flashhead position as determined by the AI.B auto F mode seemed to be the furthest tilt position so that the head was pointing overhead and slightly backward. This was the case in small rooms where light can bounce off the back wall but also in bigger rooms

Top left The flashgun’s control layout is very clean. Above The switch at the top of the flashgun has two AI-B options, semi auto and full, plus off.

Now when you change camera orientation, a double press of the shutter button means the flashhead will automatically set to give a similar angle to your registered setting before youswitchedcameraposition.Whether that saves any time in practice is a point of debate; an experienced user will quickly adjust the flashhead as they change camera position. If you prefer taking charge, use manual bounce flash or if you want to use a modifier that is possible by setting a personal function (P.Fn-09-1) and the AI.B switch set, so all bounce options are covered. Finally, if you buy a 470EX-AI do read the instructions on head care and handling and if you are considering making the investment, check Canon’s website to check your camera’s compatibility. WC

where this couldn’t happen. The result: even in smaller rooms not quite enough light reached the subject to give the scene any sparkle and eyes lacked catchlights. Moving in closer to the subject did change this and AI.B did set a slightly more forward-facing head which gave a better result. I think we all have our preferences for bounce flash and at 2-3m I tend to go for the head angle at about 45°, or slightly steeper when closer in, so the flash is directed upwards and onto the subject but you can also get some light going forward too. So for me the results from the semi-auto AI.B option were preferable. Here, you set the head angle you prefer – determined by test shots or based on experience – and then pushing in the Angle Set button on the side of the flash registers that angle into the unit’s memory. So for me I set the head angle at around 45° to give the sort of bounce light I like.

Dimensions (wxhxl) 74.65x130.4x105.1mm Weight 385g (no batteries) Contact Canon.co.uk

Verdict

The Canon 470EX-AI is a fascinating innovation and seeing the flashhead move of its own accord is novel and AI.B can be useful for bounce flash newbies. Of course the 470EX-AI is not just all about AI.B but it is true that £499 for a mid-powered flashgun seems pricey. However, it is a fully featured and very capable flashgun for Canon owners. Pros High-quality versatile flashgun, AI.B semi auto Cons AI.B fully auto mostly goes to one position

Above Push the AI/B button (or depth-of-field or shutter button twice) and the 470EX-AI goes into action, firing a flash burst forwards to assess subject distance (left), then above to assess ceiling height (centre) and then the flashhead sets to the determined best head position for bounce – and all in under a second.