Canon Speedlite flash guns

DeadlySmurf

DeadlySmurf

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Hello all
I am looking at getting a Flash gun for my 40D, im either going to get the 580 EX II or the 430 EX.
i haven't used either of them before and with the 580 being alot more £ than the 430 is it worth the extra money for what you get?
you help would be appreciated :D

Ho and First post :woot: go me
 
Hi and welcome to the forum,

Whilst I can't answer your question, I would recommend that you do a quick search as other people have wondered the same thing.

Rob
 
I don;t have the mark II version of the 580 but I do have the 580EX and the 430EX, both are excellent flash guns. The 580 can be used as a master unit to trigger slave units but the 480 is a slave unit. The 430EX head moves up/down from 0 to 90°, left from 0 to 180°, and right from 0 to 90°, the 580EX allows an additional -7° down and a full 0-180° rotation to the right. All in all the 580 is a more versatlie head. The amount of power is different... something like 18m difference between the two witht he 580 offering the greater.
 
Chalkboard-welcome.gif
to TPF DeadlySmurf & I'll :2nd: RobbieW's advice.
 
we have three 430,s and a 580 11. the 580 is way past the performance of the 430, and you can use it as a master to remotely fire the 430,s too.
kerso provided the last flash,s at VERY favourable prices too.
if you can afford it, push the boat out for the 580.
 
Don't discount the Metz 58 flash gun, Calumet are doing them for £150 in Canon and Nikon fit while stocks last and that's a hell of a flash for the money.
 
I have a 580 I and a 580 II. I have never used a 430. A couple of points....

- With the 40D and a 580 II you can control the flash completely through the camera's menu system. This makes adjustments easy, especially when it comes to changing custom settings on the flash gun. These two are a great combination. When (if) you get a second flash - either 430 or 580 then you can set ratios between the flashes all from the back of the camera - very nice.

- If you only get one flash, ever, the "master" controls of the 580 will bring you no benefits, since you will never use them. This means you might be just as well off with the 430 and plenty of change in your pcket.

- The 580 puts out almost a full stop more power than the 430. This is not only useful for distance but also to overpower daylight and give you more options when filling in on a backlit subject.

If you want creativity, flexibility and easier adjustment/control then the 580 is the better choice. You can add further 430s or 580s as you need/wish, to act as slaves. If budget is an important consideration and perhaps you'll not be into flash photography in a big way then I'm sure the 430 is a fine choice.

I assume the 430 offers HSS and strobe effects. If not, you need to factor that into your thoughts. I think strobing will be rarely, if ever used, but HSS can be a very handy feature in bright ambient light.

There's £40 cash back on the 580 II at the moment. I received mine last week :)
 
As tdodd says, there is currently £40 cashback on the 580EX II atm, if you buy it from kerso (about £240 - maybe less), that makes it only about £40 more expensive than the 430EX (after cashback)and worth it, it gives you scope to upgrade your lighting later on too. I also got mine a couple of weeks ago :D
 
I have the 430EX and I just bought the ST-E2 Wireless flash system control so I can fire the 430EX remotely.....manage to get the ST-E2 for £85.00......instead of £sssss for the 580EX
 
If you can get a used 550EX you won't regret it. I've used one for the past five years or so and it's still going strong, is as powerful as anything out there, and is dead easy to use. Plus, it'll work wirelessly and is very versatile. Okay, you'll be buying used (unless you can find a somehwer that stil sells them new) but it's as good a flash as you'll need.
 
Migs said:
I have the 430EX and I just bought the ST-E2 Wireless flash system control so I can fire the 430EX remotely.....manage to get the ST-E2 for £85.00......instead of £sssss for the 580EX
Click to expand...

I am looking to buy the ST-E2 where can i buy for £85??
 
Paul Tomlinson said:
I am looking to buy the ST-E2 where can i buy for £85??
Click to expand...

I'd like to know too. The best price I've found is £100 from Hong Kong, with a "no tax guarantee"....

http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_30&products_id=166

Most eBay prices are over that, when you include postage, and being from Hong Kong, without the "no tax guarantee", could end up a lot dearer....

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/canon-...sidZm194&from=R9&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCH:SRCH

UK internet prices are from £119+delivery and upwards....

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod201.html
 
Kev M said:
Don't discount the Metz 58 flash gun, Calumet are doing them for £150 in Canon and Nikon fit while stocks last and that's a hell of a flash for the money.
Click to expand...

I've seen a glowing recommendation for the Metz 58 AF-1 on the http://www.shootsmarter.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&acat=14 website, placing it above the 580EX II. I don't know if they only do studio work but I have read in a few places that to use full power the maximum sync speed of this unit is 1/125, because the duration of the flash is very long compared to other units. This could lead to serious difficulties in controlling bright ambient light, outdoors, and will not do too well at freezing motion.

A Google will turn up examples of such remarks. Sadly, I cold find no comment on the Metz website to confirm or deny this potentially serious weakness....

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sour...T4GGLJ_enGB268GB269&q=metz+58-af-1+sync+speed

As a 580EX I/II owner I have no idea whether this is urban myth or fact, but I thought I'd give a heads up on the issue. There's no doubt that a lot of people are very happy with Metz, and the 58 AF-1 in particular, but I'd really think carefully about that sync speed limitation before going ahead. See this thread, which covers opinions on the 58 AF-1 vs the 580EX....

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=467923&highlight=metz+58
 
Paul Tomlinson said:
I am looking to buy the ST-E2 where can i buy for £85??
Click to expand...

I did buy on e-bay via Hong Kong for £100 but I had £15 voucher from e-bay....I think it was Zone D2 or something like that.......
 
Thanks for teh responces im going to go for the 580 :D
had a look at kerso but his ebay shop is looking alittle empty at the min :thinking:
ill fire him over a email because im after some othe stuff as well :D
:thumbs:
 
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