Updated: Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI Additional Images & Information

[wsmith96]

Sounds like something else that will break.

 

[Jim Saunders]

So it does a thing, but is that thing useful? At first glance I don't think so, but the improved display sounds like a start for the 600EX-RT III.

Show me an ST-E4-RT that has plain old mechanical dials or discrete buttons for the power level of each group and a bracket that tips up so you can see the (ahem) thing and I'll get excited.

Jim

 

[Chaitanya]

Looks interesting not sure if the AIB will be another gimmic or something that actually works fine.

 

[Adelino]

Canon are generally not too gimmicky. I will be interested to find out more about this flash.

 

[mb66energy]

I think I know what E-TTL does. But how can the camera "decide" if there is a good angle of the flash without knowing what is in front of the flash reflector? IMO there is a need for some device in the flash that helps to measure the reflectivity of the bounce surface. This has to be used for flash positioning. And at least: If there is no bounce surface the flash has to detect this and switch to direct light only instead of wasting light into the sky.

I thkn you're sounding like those who saw the 'dual-sensing IS' feature on the M50 and concluded that it has IBIS: reading too much into this.

Back to the facts ... below

With an electric head rotation device, the 470EX-AI automatically determines the optimal bounce position eliminating unnecessary shadows.

The goal is to eliminate unnecessary shadows, which is a geometry problem. The solution requires knowing the distance to the subject (which the lens provides, that's E-TTL II), and the distance to the bounce surface (which, presumably, is what the sensor on the front of the flash head measures).

Sure, it's possible that the flash measures the reflectivity, color, angle (not all ceilings are flat), temperature, roughness, and/or Rayleigh scattering properties of the bounce surface. But I'll bet it measures only distance. That would cover the case where someone tries to use it under the open sky, or under a 40' ceiling.

My argument against measuring only the distance is that there is no substantial difference between open sky or a black ceiling at 3m distance.

My idea of a tiny LIDAR in the flash could report reflectivity of the bounce surface as a side product of its operating system - but LIDAR is speculative, I know only the VL53L0X ranger and it needs two windows but is very cheap (I think $5 if you buy a pack of 1000 pieces) and works up to 4m with well reflecting targets. Distance resolution is about 2mm 1 sigma and it works in the near IR which is not too far from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Remote Rayleigh scattering and surface roughness analysis is - maybe - a little bit to complicate for a 400 $/EUR package that is also an AI flash

 

[Ozarker]

Que the pessimists in 3, 2, 1... wait, they've already started. :'(

Sony

 

[Cariboucoach]

<li>The guide number is 47 (105 mm). It is driven by 4 AA batteries.</li>

This seems like a very low guide number. My EX 430 ii has a guide number of 141. Who would use this flash?

 

[Deleted member 378664]

<li>The guide number is 47 (105 mm). It is driven by 4 AA batteries.</li>

This seems like a very low guide number. My EX 430 ii has a guide number of 141. Who would use this flash?

Where do you have that GN of 141 from for your EX 430II? This flash has a GN of 43 @ 105mm/ISO100.

The name of the flash is a hint to the GN EX 430 = GN 43
EX 580 = GN 58
EX 600 = GN 60

and now EX 470 = GN 47

Frank

 

[Sharlin]

<li>The guide number is 47 (105 mm). It is driven by 4 AA batteries.</li>

This seems like a very low guide number. My EX 430 ii has a guide number of 141. Who would use this flash?

Where do you have that GN of 141 from for your EX 430II? This flash has a GN of 43 @ 105mm/ISO100.

The name of the flash is a hint to the GN EX 430 = GN 43
EX 580 = GN 58
EX 600 = GN 60

and now EX 470 = GN 47

Feet vs. meters, I presume. 43 m ≈ 141 feet. 47 m ≈ 154 feet. 'Muricans really should use meter-based GNs like the rest of the world—it's not like the literal "distance" meaning of GNs is very relevant these days anyway.

 

[Cariboucoach]

<li>The guide number is 47 (105 mm). It is driven by 4 AA batteries.</li>

This seems like a very low guide number. My EX 430 ii has a guide number of 141. Who would use this flash?

Where do you have that GN of 141 from for your EX 430II? This flash has a GN of 43 @ 105mm/ISO100.

The name of the flash is a hint to the GN EX 430 = GN 43
EX 580 = GN 58
EX 600 = GN 60

and now EX 470 = GN 47

Frank

This is from the Canon USA website;
Superior build quality, including a metal foot for added strength
Approx. 20% faster recycling time, compared to previous 430EX
One-touch, quick-lock mechanism for easy attaching/detaching flash from camera
Full flash control possible on camera menu, with compatible EOS Digital SLR cameras
Virtually silent flash recycle
The flash head can be moved up from 0 - 90° (5 settings), left from 0 - 180° (7 settings) and right from 0 - 90° (4 settings)
Zoom flash head covers range of 24-105mm; maximum guide number 141 ft./43m at ISO 100

[iN] Now that I look at it, the guide number 47 is in meters and I am quoting feet with my EX 430. [/i]

 

[Viggo]

What could be cool is of one could lock the bounce point so when you change camera angles the flash adjusts as to keep the same light like it was on a light stand ;D

 

[brad-man]

<li>The guide number is 47 (105 mm). It is driven by 4 AA batteries.</li>

This seems like a very low guide number. My EX 430 ii has a guide number of 141. Who would use this flash?

Where do you have that GN of 141 from for your EX 430II? This flash has a GN of 43 @ 105mm/ISO100.

The name of the flash is a hint to the GN EX 430 = GN 43
EX 580 = GN 58
EX 600 = GN 60

and now EX 470 = GN 47

Feet vs. meters, I presume. 43 m ≈ 141 feet. 47 m ≈ 154 feet. 'Muricans really should use meter-based GNs like the rest of the world—it's not like the literal "distance" meaning of GNs is very relevant these days anyway.

Oops. Never really considered myself a "Murican" before, but in this instance, I guess I'm guilty. I still wouldn't consider buying a speedlite without RT, but I guess this release is for the kit lens crowd who won't be buying a second flash.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Oops. Never really considered myself a "Murican" before, but in this instance, I guess I'm guilty. I still wouldn't consider buying a speedlite without RT, but I guess this release is for the kit lens crowd who won't be buying a second flash.

It seems to me that 470EX AI is intended for photojournalists, more specifically the paparazzi, who does not have time to adjust the flash head to avoid shadows. It's not just a matter of price as it is not really practical to carry 2 or 3 600EX RT units, and position them in a theater staircase or lobby of a hotel where a famous person will pass in a hurry.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I think I know what E-TTL does. But how can the camera "decide" if there is a good angle of the flash without knowing what is in front of the flash reflector? IMO there is a need for some device in the flash that helps to measure the reflectivity of the bounce surface. This has to be used for flash positioning. And at least: If there is no bounce surface the flash has to detect this and switch to direct light only instead of wasting light into the sky.

I thkn you're sounding like those who saw the 'dual-sensing IS' feature on the M50 and concluded that it has IBIS: reading too much into this.

Back to the facts ... below

With an electric head rotation device, the 470EX-AI automatically determines the optimal bounce position eliminating unnecessary shadows.

The goal is to eliminate unnecessary shadows, which is a geometry problem. The solution requires knowing the distance to the subject (which the lens provides, that's E-TTL II), and the distance to the bounce surface (which, presumably, is what the sensor on the front of the flash head measures).

Sure, it's possible that the flash measures the reflectivity, color, angle (not all ceilings are flat), temperature, roughness, and/or Rayleigh scattering properties of the bounce surface. But I'll bet it measures only distance. That would cover the case where someone tries to use it under the open sky, or under a 40' ceiling.

My argument against measuring only the distance is that there is no substantial difference between open sky or a black ceiling at 3m distance.

My idea of a tiny LIDAR in the flash could report reflectivity of the bounce surface as a side product of its operating system - but LIDAR is speculative, I know only the VL53L0X ranger and it needs two windows but is very cheap (I think $5 if you buy a pack of 1000 pieces) and works up to 4m with well reflecting targets. Distance resolution is about 2mm 1 sigma and it works in the near IR which is not too far from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Remote Rayleigh scattering and surface roughness analysis is - maybe - a little bit to complicate for a 400 $/EUR package that is also an AI flash

Back to the facts ... below

[quote author=Canon]
At the core of Canon’s Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash is the innovative, new AI Bounce technology. AI Bounce automatically and intelligently determines and dictates the optimal angle of flash based off two distance variables: the distance between the camera and the ceiling, and the distance between the camera and the shooting subject.
[/quote]

I think you'll agree that Canon's description of their AI Bounce technology bears more than a passing resemblance to my description, highlighted above.

 

[Viggo]

Hey! I was right, you CAN lock the position and it will automatically turn when moving the camera

https://youtu.be/lPb9uWM83bU

 

[hne]

Crystal ball reading points go to Viggo and neuroanatomist.

I like the idea of flash angle being constant while camera moves. Even better if they had mechanics that allowed faster/continuous rotation of the flash head.

 

[slclick]

No support for 5D3. That's one way to get those stubborn 5D3 holdouts to upgrade.