Catalog :: Camera & Photo :: Flashes :: Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI, Auto Intelligent Flash Photography

3.8

3.8 out of 5

Reviews: 19

5 stars

58%

4 stars

5%

3 stars

5%

2 stars

21%

1 star

11%

David Anderson

06/25/2019, 13:16

1

Comment

Id give it a 5 star if it was compatible with a t5i, but unfortunately it only has limited capabilities. Cannon does not make it well aware which cameras are fully compatible with the flash AI system. They should let buyers be notified.

Mike

06/25/2019, 13:16

4

Comment

This thing is NICE! Of course, the pro doesnt necessarily need it, but it can still be of service to a pro. Especially in tricky rooms where you want to be quick. Saves time and weight too cause you dont need the bracket. Now it is a robot, so sometimes it doesnt get it quite right, especially bouncing off dark colored surfaces, but most times its spot on. I will say its not so much for artistic photos where you might WANT shadows, or simply want more control, but a great tool for beginners or those who just want nicely flashed photos without hassle. Works well in manual mode too, performs like a 430. Sadly, cannot be used as a master. The hardest thing youll go thru is getting people to look at the lens instead of the cool head on your camera moving by itself...

Yonatan Conde Pantoja

06/25/2019, 13:16

1

Comment

is not fully compatible with canon 5d mark III. Its a shame that the specifications didnt mention this.

Koswus

06/25/2019, 13:16

3

Comment

So Im starting out with photography nothing fancy just a low -mid tier eos camera and a pocket "bridge" camera for now. This breaks the review into the quality, how it works for both and a summary of my thoughts and recommendations. Build quality is good. Its made in china if you care about those things. But feels like good solid plastics. The rotating motor is smooth, quick and if you move it around manually (and yes its designed for it) it hold steady in place. The range sensors are in the flash itself, it only has optical slave mode (no rf or master mode). But I doubt this was intended for that purpose, this was meant for a starting out photographer or an adnavce on at very high dynamic events (i.e. weddings) not someone with 4 additional flashes in a light box room. It also has a feature where it goes back to the neutral (forward facing position) when you turn it back on. Can be kind of annoying because if you change batteries it loses your setting. For the eos cameras, keep it mind that its meant for camras after 2014 (I think). Works very well with mine initially. It can only be automatic for ceiling bounce though so if you want to do wall bounce you can use the semi auto mode or manual mode. Does a pretty good job of calculating the distance and the results from ceiling bounces are as good as I can get them, sometimes better with my limited experiance. But the photos always looks a little flat. Theres nothing that canon could do about it, its just the limitations of the downward direction of using a ceiling bounce. Now I meantioned worked well initially but after a few days I had this issue where all the submenus would be locked out. If you take the batteries out and wait 5-10mins it goes back to normal. Now this camera wasnt meant for anything other then the eos line but I had a g1x mark iii and wanted to see what it could do with that. Surprisingly the semi auto mode works in terms of the direction but the distance adjustment does not (cant do it automatically or manually). I find this incredible odd (more on this later). Its useful to set the place you want to bounce the flash off of and that is pretty much all it can do. All the submenus were locked (even in manual mode) but not sure if thats just this specific flash as I had the problem with the eos camera also. If I could I would give it 3.5 stars. I dont fault it for the issues I had with the menus locking in the eos camera, I feel that was either a defect in this individual flash or a software issue and Im sure canon would replace it or release a firmware fix in the future. My gripe is more with the intended user (minus one star) and the comaptability (minus 1/2 a star). For what you are paying the flash cost about 80 dollars less then canons top end flash the 600 ex rtii, it has more comparability, longer range, brighter lights, and has the rf master/slave capability. The only this this has over that is the automatic ceiling bounce which seems more like a gimmick. Dont get me wrong its great for a starting out photographer but the price is so high that it may put off these people and for the professional ones the capabilities are too limited. In terms of compatibility, given the the sensor and CPU for the calculations are all supposedly in the flash itself, I dont see why this cant be used for any canon with a hot shoe. I really dont understand either how the distance adjustment for the flash doesnt work either as that can just be linked to the zoom lever on the camera. It really feels like this us a software issue and if canon updates it, they would reach a much wider audiance, like the upper end power shot cameras with hot shoes. Its really a shame because I really do like the idea of this flash and I think it has a lot of potential. If any canon reps are looking at this, here is my recommendations if you do a mark ii or a follow up to this product. Expand the compatabilty and drop the price of this model so you can reach a wider amateur market group that would really benefit from the automatic bounce feature. Raise the price and expand the capabilities. Honestly I would much rather pay 700-800 if I felt this were a truly capable future proof tool. What I would like to see on that model would be: -Range and features more on par with the 600 exrtii -wider compatibility with other canon lines because come on thats just a software issue -ability to set automatic wall bounce (although this is not definite as I can understand the increased difficult as the walls are more likely to be a color besides white, but hey if you add color metering and compensation that be awesome) - aa lithium battery compatibility, to allow li and aa battery back ups - touch screen interface (a guy can dream right) Looking forward to the Canon 670 exii ai rt li ts!

JJ

06/25/2019, 13:16

5

Comment

It is a very good concept for adding the AI function, I used it few times, it is pretty useful. In a studio setup, I am still prefer the 600ex, the AI function is good add on, its good for someone does not have much experience in bounce photography. the AI solve the big problem for many regular users. overall I am really impressed by this flash, even thought it only covers till 105mm but its enough for most of the uses!

Critique 30984

06/25/2019, 13:16

5

Comment

I could not be happier.

RatkoD

06/25/2019, 13:16

5

Comment

I was really surprised of how good this speedlight is build and how well it operates. Also, the AI is really good, I used it a couple of times and its really on spot. Recommended!

Don Hill

06/25/2019, 13:16

2

Comment

Does not work in full auto mode for the 5D Mark III. Baffled as to why there is not an easier way to check compatibility and that a Canon representative at a store expo recommended this knowing which camera I have. Very disappointed.

Ernesto Esparza Morales

06/25/2019, 13:16

5

Comment

Es muy práctico tener este flash totalmente automático

Amazon Customer

06/25/2019, 13:16

5

Comment

Really cool piece of gear. Easy to use.

Make sure this fits by entering your model number. World's first flash equipped with an Ai bounce function* Ai. B full-auto mode and AI. B semi-auto mode settings. Maximum guide number of 47 (154 ft. /47M) at is 100. A assist Beam emission in low-light scenes. "Zoom flash head range of 24 105mm**. flash exposure adjustment range of &plasmin; 3 Stops in 1/3 or 1/2 step. Broad bounce angle range of 0 120° upwards, 180° to the left and 180° to the right. Optical receiver mode for Off-Camera triggering. Charge status Indicated in LCD panel. Mini stand and new bounce Adapter Accessories included. "