The 420EX flash, unfortunately (as I own the same flash), does not have much in the realm of manual operations. However, if you're just in the market to purchase a new flash....and have the money to just throw at it (lol)....I would recommend the following: http://www.usa.canon.com/html/cameras_speedlite/550exspec.html This one does have some manual controls, as you'll see in the specs given.
thanks for the info, but i dont have the scratch for that beautiful flash. i had looked into before, but it was too much money for something i wasnt going to use all that often
I hear ya on that. However, the 420EX does have the tilt/pivot head, which is what I use about 90% of the time. I typically like to bounce off the wall or the floor when I'm at parties.....bouncing off the ceiling makes it look like the lights are on. It also has slave capabilities (radio slave, not strobe reactive, so you'd have to buy a master which would be the flash I linked you to).
