Advantages:
1, with mature design and comprehensive functions;
2. Excellent basic performance such as astigmatism, light beam output and automatic white balance;
3. ai. B's automatic and semi-automatic intelligent flash function is simple and easy to use, and the real shooting performance is surprising;
Regret:
For traditional connection methods (such as flash synchronization line), there is no reserved design.
Evaluation summary:
For a long time, regarding the recommendation of the first flash, the author has never hesitated to recommend the deputy flagship flash of each original factory. There are three reasons: first, sex can be used, second, the price is reasonable, and third, the volume is moderate. After the release of Canon SPEEDLITE 470EX-AI, I'm afraid I have to add a fourth point for Canon users-convenience and ease of use. Whether it is the "novice mode" in AI. Automatic mode or artificial intelligence. The semi-automatic mode provides higher operating efficiency, which makes the flashlight accessories easier to use and more convenient. It should be said that in this step of camera automation, Canon is ahead of the times.
Comments on the design of Canon 470EX-AI motor drive automation.
As a flash focusing on smart flash, Canon 470EX-AI is equipped with multi-directional motor for the first time. When in use, it can automatically rotate and adjust the angle of the lamp holder. What are the design features of this flash? Let's have a look.
▲ From the appearance, Canon 470EX-AI is basically a traditional flash shape, and the built-in motor is hidden in the shell.
▲ The red area on the front is responsible for receiving and sending wireless signals for multi-machine synchronous flashing.
▲ The back of Canon 470EX-AI is the main operation area. We control the flash through the buttons here and the options in the camera. The anchor plate is designed to rotate quickly, which can improve the working efficiency.
▲ At the lamp holder, there is a wide-angle scattering version, which can be pulled down for use in scenes that need floodlight.
▲ wide-angle scattering plate reduces the effect.
▲ The rotating shaft is here. Canon 470EX-AI has designed an angle setting button to manually set the flash angle of AI. B is a semi-automatic mode, which can automatically adjust the orientation of the lamp holder when shooting horizontally and vertically, which will be demonstrated later.
▲ In terms of function, as the latest generation flash of Canon, 470EX-AI naturally supports wireless TTL automatic flash.
▲ Tail, standard Canon hot boots design. Solid workmanship and fast locking mechanism can effectively prevent accidents such as accidental falls.
▲ Use our commonly used No.5 battery as the power supply mode, which has a wide range of uses.
▲ The base of Canon 470EX-AI can make the flash stand on the plane conveniently. When it needs to be installed on the lamp holder, the bottom is also equipped with standard screw holes and quick-loading plates.
▲ The size and weight of Canon 470EX-AI are quite satisfactory, and it will not be very heavy to carry to work.
▲ In addition to the base, the Canon 470EX-AI also comes with a soft mask. It's much better when you have to go straight.
Generally speaking, the Canon 470EX-AI, which has made a great leap in function, maintains a consistent and steady design, is quite satisfactory in all aspects, and the overall fuselage is very simple. Compared with the flagship flash, the 470EX-AI lacks the traditional wired connection design such as PC port, and obviously prefers the photographer to use wireless connection. Should this be a fly in the ointment or face the future? It is also difficult for us to answer.
Brief comment on menu function of Canon 470EX-AI
As a professional tool, the operation design and efficiency of Canon 470EX-AI must be considered. Next, let's take a look at the basic operation of this flash.
After turning on the flash, we can select the Canon 470EX-AI flash mode by pressing the mode key. Canon 470EX-AI*** has two flash modes: one is ETTL, which can be understood as automatic flash mode; The other is M manual mode, which can choose the output power and focal length by itself.
Press the zoom key to set the focal length of the flash. The focal length adjustment range of Canon 470EX-AI flash is 24- 105mm, which basically meets our daily needs, and will be tested in detail later.
Press the addition and subtraction key to change the output power of Canon 470EX-AI, which supports the setting of 1/3, and the control is convenient and accurate.
The sawtooth lightning on the left direction key is to set the communication mode of the flash. Canon 470EX-AI supports wireless TTL mode. Of course, you can also use the independent option on the right to set the flash output manually.
Pressing the SET key in the middle can quickly adjust the parameters of the flash, which can be understood as the q key on our camera.
The "fast-forward icon" in the middle is the selection of flash synchronization modes, namely front curtain synchronization, Hou Lian synchronization and high-speed synchronization.
In addition to switching on and off, when we use the flash, we can also use the locking function of the right lever to lock the buttons on the flash to prevent misoperation.
For beginners, the design of Canon 470EX-AI should be easy to understand. I believe that after reading the above introduction, everyone will know fairly well. For professional photographers, this simple and direct design is also conducive to improving their work efficiency.
Canon 470EX-AI Zoom and Optical Control Evaluation
Canon 470EX-AI flash supports 24- 105mm zoom, which means that astigmatism or spotlight can be adjusted according to our needs or the focal length of the lens. What is the specific effect? Let's take a look through real shots.
▲ Use an astigmatism plate (equivalent to 14mm at this time).
▲ The focal length of the flash is 24 mm.
▲ The focal length of the flash is 28mm.
▲ Flash focal length is 35mm.
▲ Flash focal length 50mm
▲ Flash focal length is 70mm.
▲ The focal length of the flash is 80 mm.
▲ Flash focal length 105mm
Judging from the actual flash effect, the zoom light control effect of Canon 470EX-AI is good. The astigmatism range is large, and the focusing effect is also very good, which is convenient for us to realize various creative shooting.
Evaluation of Canon 470EX-AI Flash Output with Accurate White Balance
In addition to the performance of output power, it is also important to match the color temperature of flash and the white balance performance of camera. Let's take a look at the performance of camera automatic white balance without flash and with flash respectively.
▲ No flash, automatic white balance (reference)
▲ Use flash, automatic white balance in the machine (flash effect)
It can be seen that although the exposure is different, the white balance image of the photo taken by Canon 470EX-AI flash should be said to be minimal. On the one hand, this comes from the quality of the lamp holder, and at the same time, it also has the credit of the fuselage. As a result, it can undoubtedly reduce our workload in many later stages.
Simple and easy-to-use intelligent function evaluation of Canon 470EX-AI
As the main function, the completeness and practicability of Canon 470EX-AI automation are naturally the focus of our attention. Next, let's look at the so-called AI. Automatic intelligent function.
First, AI. B it's fully automatic.
We can choose the auxiliary level of Canon 470EX-AI through the lever on the lamp holder, where S is semi-automatic and F is fully automatic.
When using artificial intelligence. B automatic function, every time we just press AI. Button B on the back of the flash, the flash will automatically flash forward and upward, and a flashing angle will be automatically determined by the returned flash.
From the side, it looks like this. Very cool.
When switching to portrait composition, the machine will also automatically record the flashing angle during landscape composition. Just press the shutter twice continuously, and the lamp holder can be automatically adjusted to the previous angle without setting it again (the same is true for changing back to landscape composition again).
Second, AI. B semi-automatic
As for artificial intelligence. B semi-automatic mode, which is actually equivalent to omitting the previous automatic measurement step, and the photographer manually sets the angle of the flash. After adjusting the lamp holder to the required angle, you can remember the angle of the lamp holder every time you press the SET button on the side.
Then, every time you press the shutter twice, the flash can automatically complete the angle transformation between horizontal and vertical shooting.
Generally speaking, the operation of Canon 470EX-AI should be said to be very simple, easy to use and practical. So what is the effect of automatic intelligence? Let's test it by real shooting. Please continue reading.
Simple and easy-to-use evaluation of Canon 470EX-AI real shooting effect
The following four photos were taken under the conditions of no flash, direct front flashing, manual 90-degree upward flashing and full-automatic AI. Flashing. Shot with Canon EOS 77D, lens EF 50mm F 1.4 USM.
▲ The flash is not turned on.
▲ Front flash
▲ Manual 90-degree upward jump flash.
▲ fully automatic AI. flashlight
It can be seen that from the effect of real shooting, because it is in a scene with large backlight, the background of the first unused flash is all overexposed, and the effect is relatively worst; The second flash, although balancing the brightness of the background, has almost no texture on the model's face, which is also not ideal; The third one uses manual 90-degree jump flash, which is basically the routine action of the photographer, and the effect is good, but relatively speaking, the final AI. B fully automatic performance is better.
As you can see, in the last fully automatic AI. B mode, the characters are exposed accurately, and the shadows under the nose and neck of the model are just right. On the one hand, it can make the figure look thinner, on the other hand, it is this small shadow that improves the picture a lot.
To tell the truth, compared with manually setting the flash angle, automatic AI. B flash can obviously improve the effect, and the author is also surprised. .....