430EX speedlight 'v' 530EX

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Bridgett

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Which one should I buy?

What are the advantages of the 530EXII over the 430EX?
I have read lots of blurb and recs on various threads
Can someone techie explain in relatively simple laymans terms
what am i getting for the extra £100+
 
It's the 580 not 530.

The 580 is firstly more powerful than te 430. Depends if you need power to warrent you splashing out a bit more on it.

It's also bigger and bulkier.

The 580 also has a few extra features and more custom functions.
 
Bridgett - I have both.
The 430 is a great flashgun, but the 580 is more so. It is a lot bigger, not sure if that matters to you, and it can also take the canon battery pack ( a plastic rip off item that is worth every penny for what it does. It is not worth the money for what you get, but it gives much quicker recharging times, and no worries of batteries failing at a crucial moment)
I now feel that the 430 is too much of a toy compared to the 580 in terms of build quality, yet it will do most of what I need normally.
So, does this help - No.
I would advise that the 580 is worth the extra if you are asking - that implies you can raise the extra dosh. But, if size matters (it does not, I am often found to be saying..) then the 430 is good enough for most uses.
 
I started my recent canon career with 430EX
just bought a 580 EX II
sooooo much better, faster, brighter, more functions

imho ymmv
 
I've got the 580 but borrowed Marcels 430 for a wedding shoot last year. I've got to say the 430 is a really good bit of kit, results were just as good as those from the 580.

Certainly it has a little less power, doesn't take the battery pack, don't think it can be used as a master in a multi flash set up but for normal day to day work it's great.
 
I use both, and both are very good, depends what you want them to be used for, if it's general flash work, the 430 does what it says on the tin very well, but if you need more power (big group shots for example) the 580 is the one.

I find the 430 (being lighter) is easier to carry around all day.
 
This was something i was going to ask so alot of answers there for me to look at too, i was going towards the 430 just for normal shooting as not a pro or anything and thought the 580 may have not got the use that it deserves.
 
Did you get one if so which one and why? as I am in same position as you
Bob:thinking:
 
I have both and find the 430 is great for most stuff but as mentioned above for bigger shots the 580 has extra power which is useful.

The controls on the 580 are easier to use (the round dial etc). A bit like on a 40D as opposed to the 400D where you have buttons, the same applies to the flashes.

Using the 580 as a master controlling a 430 as a slave is another really great feature! Also the strobe effect on a 580 is cool.

To be honest, i got the 430 first and found it brought my photos on leaps and bounds being able to bounce the light etc.

Also make sure you get a diffuser too!! The 580 comes with a kinda bounce card which the 430 doesnt have.
 
Just got a 580 to compliment the 430 I have. Kerso's got some good prices on the 580 (£240). I got the 580 as I needed a second unit and it'll slave my 430.

Yes the 580 has more power but I've never found the 430 wanting either.

So unless you're going to need to slave another Canon flash or need to illuminate a large area then the 430 is a good choice.
 
I dont think I will have large areas to illuminate but I want to buy the right flash first time so thinking towards 580 ex
Bob
 
did photos of my mates band last night, used the 430 as its a bit smaller and lighter - got some great shots!
 
yup. agree with all said so far. we have both. the 580ex 11 is much more powefull and "she" prefers it for our wedding work. also recycles quicker and can be used as a master to trigger a remote slave 430 too. thats what we use em for too.
the price difference is fairly hefty tho. so we have one 580 and two 430,s.
 
I have a 580 EX II and am very happy with it. Have never played with a 430 so can't compare.

I don't want to hijack the thread but what's all this about the 'battery pack' that the 580EX II takes?
 
dont worry Sam S - please feel free to hijack as I was also wondering about the battery pack mentioned?
 
I'm in a similar predicament. Used to have a 430EZ when I had the film EOS's but sold it though it would seem it wouldn't have worked on the 40D anyway. The strobe feature was really useful sometimes on that flash so it looks like it might be a 580EX for me then. Time to start saving up the pennies again.
 
I bought a 580mk1 because I wanted to stick a ring flash on it.

http://www.flaghead.co.uk/pages/ringflash-intro.html

I love the bounce facitlity on the 580, I was taking photos in a bathroom recently and bounced it off the ceiling so I didn't get a load of light blasted back off the shiny taps.
Worked a treat.
 
Sam S said:
I have a 580 EX II and am very happy with it. Have never played with a 430 so can't compare.

I don't want to hijack the thread but what's all this about the 'battery pack' that the 580EX II takes?
Click to expand...

The battery pack is a moulded plastic box that take 8 (I think) AA batteries, and connects via a cable to the flash.
It costs around £100, or less via Kerso, and all it does is gives you much faster recycling and less battery changing - costly, but fantastic for things like weddings, or action where you need to keep the flash flashing !
Worth every penny in that aspect !
 
I agree with Steve, the extra (external) pack is good, and works well with rechargeables.
 
Fionab - hmm - I had read 530 as 580...
Sorry if that threw you of course...
I don't know the 530 - my comments were aimed at 430- v's 580..
Get the 580. You will almost never feel the need for more power, but with anything smaller you might..! For normal use, both will do the job - IE fire a flash. For some fancy uses, a 580 can be used to trigger other flashguns. Rarely, you will need the 580. When you do, you will be glad you spent the extra. Buy once, save the depreciation and get something else you want or need..!
 
hi every one ..

i have few Q's about same subject

i had Canon 350D :love:

and i need a flash Often for portrait in door \ out door

is 580 EX II work great with my camera ? or it's just 4 the newest camera's !!

i relly need help , coz i want to buy one in the next day

im Confused when i think about these flashes
i want one , but i dont wich one :shrug:
 
Sorry for bumping an old thread, but I preferred it to starting a new one. I'm also unsure about which to get, the 430EX MK2, or the 580. I'm still a learning photographer, never used a flashgun before, I want to learn more about off camera flash, but i'm unsure what 'master', 'slave' means. If I get the 430 which dosn't act as a master, does this mean I won't be able to use other flashguns alongside it when using it off camera? I'm a little unsure what it means exactly.
 
580EXII has twice the power of the 430EXII, and can be used as a master unit in remote multi flash set ups. It does a few other things but those are the main differences I think. That's really what you're paying extra for.

Put another way, if you set the 580 to half power and never use remote multi flash, both guns are pretty much the same in practical terms. Similar recycle times, too.

But the 580 had an extra stop of light, and a longer recycle time when you use all of it, plus it can control multiple remote units as a master with full E-TTL exposure control. In this respect it acts like the ST-E2 master controller, but is actually slightly better in that it has more range.

Edit: these differences are exactly the same as between the 580EX Mk1 and 430EX Mk1. Other difference between the Mk1 and Mk2 versions are relatively minor features, like the stronger foot and co-axial sync socket on the 580EXII etc. 430 still doesn't have the pop up bounce card that the 580 has, which is really useful and seems like a rather petty omission.
 
If I can get the 580ex mk1 cheaper than the 430ex mk2, should I go for it? Or is the mark2 version of the 430 actually better than the mark1 version of the 580.
 
Well I just hear about how it can be used as a master but the 430ex2 can't, it has more power etc (i'm guessing this applies to the 580mk1, or is it only the mk2)
 
HoppyUK said:
Ditto. See post #26.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I just wondered because that post was talking more about the mk2 version of the 580 I think, which is why I wondering whether the mk2 of the 430 is a better option that the mk1 580.
 
I have the 430EX11. It's excellent and does just about everything I want from a flash, but I'd suggest the 580 (more power, better controls and flash master capability) if you can spend the extra and don't mind the additional size/weight. I bought the 430 because I was in South Africa at the time, gear is a lot more expensive than in the UK, and I just couldn't afford the 580.
 
It's an 'as new' one on Ebay. Comes with everything included, only used a few times apparently.
 
Bridgett said:
Which one should I buy?

What are the advantages of the 530EXII over the 430EX?
I have read lots of blurb and recs on various threads
Can someone techie explain in relatively simple laymans terms
what am i getting for the extra £100+
Click to expand...

Here is a list of the things Canon 580EX II has and 430EX II does not:

  • More power output (58 meters vs. 43 meters)
  • Wireless master mode
  • White reflector card (catchlight card)
  • Weather sealing (battery compartment, shoe mount, body and head, connectors)
  • Superior controls (select dial, newer buttons design, better on/off switch)
  • External metering sensor
  • External battery pack connector
  • PC connector
  • Head turns 180 degrees to the right (430EX II does only 90 degrees)
  • Head tilts 7 degrees down (430EX II does not go down at all)
  • Six extra custom functions
Here is a detailed comparison: Canon 580ex vs 430ex

And, yeah, 580EX II is significantly bigger and heavier:
canon-430ex-ii-vs-canon-580ex-ii-3.jpg
 
Well it arrived, what a beast! I'm looking to use it off camera, wired would be the easy option but I might look into those ebay triggers. Would I need a trigger and reciever? I think some deals come with 2 recievers, is this only needed when you have more than one flashgun in the setup?
 
John.D said:
Well it arrived, what a beast! I'm looking to use it off camera, wired would be the easy option but I might look into those ebay triggers. Would I need a trigger and reciever? I think some deals come with 2 recievers, is this only needed when you have more than one flashgun in the setup?
Click to expand...

If you can use it remotely with a short dedicated cord, you retain full E-TTL auto control. Otherwise you will need an ST-E2 master unit, or another 580EX!

With the cheap radio triggers you lose auto exposure control and have to do everything manually. The RF-602's that Flash In The Pan sells http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=157807 are good. You will need one transmitter on-camera, and one receiver unit for each flash.
 
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