Which flash? (like a Vivitar 283)

[Paul Drawmer]

Old git here. Bought a Vivitar 283 for my 400D. Had one years ago and loved it...great flasher!

Whoops! I gather the voltage across the pins can FUBAR a digital EOS.

So; what flash should I buy that's got some wellie, will work with the 400D, and isn't going to mean I need to lose important bodily parts?

[RobDickinson]

What do you want from it? Full manual, ettl compatability, wireless ettl?

Yongnuo YN560 is probably a good place to start looking.

[SamHH]

If you want through-the-lens metering, then you need either a Canon EX series flash (not EZ series) or a compatible third-party one; Metz, Sigma and Nissin make flashguns with features equivalent to Canon's. The two main Canon ones are the 430EX II and 580EX II, the main difference being that the 580 is more powerful, has the ability to wirelessly trigger other Canon flashes and a has few other features.

If you just want a manual flash, then any flashgun with the correct hotshoe and voltages will work.