3rd party flash to control 420EX

[morastm]

Was looking for a flash to work as master for 420ex I have. I would love to get the 580EX but it is a bit pricey. Was looking at maybe the Metz 54 MZ-4, or Sigma EF-500 DG super. Do those two work? Any problems? Maybe I could find a 550ex. Just on a budget and looking for solutions.

Thanks for any help...

Monte

[dminton]

Only the 550 EX and 580 EX can work as Master Units. Unless you've got a ST-E2, which will do the job too and is a third less than either speedlight. (It's also has the low light focus assist beam like the 550/580 and is nice to have if you do a lot of high ISO ambient stuff.) The Canons use infrared signals to slave, as opposed to an optical slave like the SB-800, so in bright sunlight with a 550 and a 420, fhugidabadit.