Today, Canon announced a new speedlite flash, the 470EX-AI. The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI automatically pivots to create an optimal angle for bounce flash. There are motors and gears in the flash that literally does all the positioning for you.
The flash has a guide number of 47 and uses pre-flash to first calculate distance to the subject, then distance to the ceiling, and moving the flash into its final position. The best angle for bounce is determined only by these distance calculations, and doesn't take into account the color of the ceiling such as black or dark ceilings.
The 470EX-AI can also re-position itself when quickly shifting between portrait and landscape shooting. Turning the camera from landscape to the portriat and double half-pressing the shutter rotates the flash automatically to adjust the bounce. More advanced photographers can use this feature in conjunction with a semi-automatic mode. This mode allows the photographer to position the flash themselves, while remembering the flash angle and automatically re-positioning itself when shifting to portrait orientation and back again.
The 470EX-AI includes infrared AF assist, and provides coverage from 14mm and 24-105mm. It doesn't offer radio triggering, but it can be used as an optical receiver. The Artificial Intelligence Bounce (AI-B) will not work with cameras released before July 2014 and it will not work with Canon M Series mirrorless cameras. The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI will be available in April for $400.
Preorder: Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI $399
Continue for full press release.
New Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash Offers Photographers the Opportunity to Enhance The Creativity of their Captured Images
MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2018 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce the Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash, a revolutionary new flash system designed with entry-level and enthusiast photographers in mind. The one-of-a-kind flash incorporates Auto Intelligent (AI) Bounce technology – engineered to automatically and intelligently configure the most appropriate bounce angle resulting in ideal lighting conditions. The Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash could help alleviate the stigma attached to flash photography as being too difficult, while serving as a gateway for photographers looking to expand their skill set, especially those who recently stepped up from smartphone photography.
“Capturing images and sharing memorable moments that last a lifetime is the goal of photographers of all skill levels. DSLR cameras already feature Autofocus, Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance; the natural next step is an automatic flash system,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon values the opportunity to help entry-level and enthusiast photographers take pictures to the best of their ability, and we are excited to see what images photographers capture using the invaluable and innovative tools we create.”
At the core of Canon’s Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash is the innovative, new AI Bounce technology. AI Bounce automatically and intelligently determines and dictates the optimal angle of flash based off two distance variables: the distance between the camera and the ceiling, and the distance between the camera and the shooting subject. This technology allows photographers, in particular those who are new to flash photography, to utilize the ideal lighting situation and natural brightness of the room. For more advanced photographers who often alter the horizontal or vertical direction of their camera back and forth, the Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash will remember the previous bounce angle and restore the flash to that position.
Additional features of the Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash include infrared AF assist mode, optical receiver transmission, and flash coverage from 14mm and 24mm to 105mm.
The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI Flash is scheduled to be available April 2018 for an estimated retail price of $399.99**. For more information please visit, usa.canon.com.
