Camera guys, any external flash suggestions?

bump :-(

You are talking about a 420 or 550EX to mount on the hot shoe?

Get the 550

Canon 550 EX

I second that

Canon 550 EX. You will kick yourself if you don't.

a dedicated flash for that specific camera will give the best results if you want to try for "auto exposure" flash.

hope you are not trying to shoot content with camera mounted flash, but sometimes you have no choice if you are outside needing flash fill, are at a party etc.

in that case make sure to get a flash head that can tilt up to 45 degrees and use either a flash mounted softbox (apollo, etc) or what most pro photojournalists use, the stoffen plastic diffuser, which can be bought in different colors should you need to filter out flourescent light problems etc. make sure to have a model hold a color chart (jobo makes a good folding one) and take some quick shots, and then do a manual white balance on a grey card.

if you must shoot gonzo with camera mounted flash do it the arty way and use an extender, a coiled cable which attaches to the hot shoe and allows you to hold the camera in one hand, and hold your flash way above your head and to the side (usually with softbox attached) to give glamour type stuff on the run, with no red-eye. lots of fashion guys do that.

if you are shooting all day with small flash you will need portable power; digitalcamerabattery.com makes the big batteries for both camera and flash head; then you can work all night at mardi gras.

truth is you can get by with a couple cheap vivitar 283's and just shoot on manual and use some trick techniques to bring home some nice shots, just diffuse and bounce light whenever possible if you're shooting skin.

good luck.