Not another Artificial Intelligence gadget!? Did those camera makers decided to remove photographers completely?

OK, that AI in the markings of 470EX-AI flash actually means Auto Intelligence. And for whatever it can do, it has one incorporated fault…

Duration: 6:04

You see, Canon, when you make an AI flash, then you should make it so that it really do everything on its own, without the need to study through manual instructions. What’s the use of replacing simple possibility of turning the flash head by hand, with a complicated set of pressing buttons and double tapping shutter button? And then repeating it if AI did not give desired result (see video below).

So, the procedure is a bit complicated, less reliable, but more expensive! Just the right thing that could help poor camera corporation in the times of crisis… And, BTW, full auto mode is available only with a few recent camera models, and not for all. So, check before you purchase this smartie :)

On the other hand, Canon had made even worse blunders on their Speedlites. For example, at the older models, they had a master switch with three simple settings: “Off“, “Slave” and “Master”. Now they have “On”, “Off“ and “Lock”, and if you want slave-master functions, you have to dig into menus. Deeply disappointing…

Oh, when we are at the slave-master thingy, this new “Intelligent” flash (only $349.00), offers wireless shooting via optical, but not radio transmission! Just wait a few years, and it will be both in a new model, probably called 600EX-AI…

If you would like to see the flash in action, here is a photographer Neil van Niekerk, who is testing its features in semi- and full-auto modes in his studio: