Flashgun purchase help

[frank]

I've never used a external flash before so it's a completely new area for me, any advice would be most appreciated on the right purchase within my budget...under £200.00

I have a Canon 300D will be upgrading later in the year to Canon 400D or 450D or maybe even a 40D so I can keep current lens.
I'm going to be buying a flashgun in the next week or two. Unfortunately I can't afford a 580ex. It's down to either the 430EX Speedlite or Sigma EF-530 DG SUPER Flashgun. Which flash would be the better of the two and why ?

Thanks

 

[sambonebs]

I've got a 430EX and I've been very happy with it, although - you can never have too much power.

With regards to price, try Kerso: I think the 430EX is £150 at present and the 580EX II is £200 when you factor in Cashback - although that ends as of 31st December 2007 and I'm not sure what the next promotion will be.

 

[digitalfailure]

the 430 is a good flash, I've had mine since it launched and I've never had reason to feel let down by it.

If you think there is a chance you'll get creative with multiple flashes, save the extra pennies and get the 580 though.

 

[frank]

Got the Canon 430 EX today, what a difference from the onboard flash. now I have to learn all the functions but straight out the box gives a good result...in my eyes anyway.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Ashers]

Get the jessops flash its reduced from 100 to 69.97 for cannon or 2p more for nikon I think it is anyway my memory is like a seive.

 

[antonroland]

Can't comment on the cash-back thing but I would recommend the 430 over the other one simply because the Canon will/should work better with the Canon. Some functions might no work.

I learned photography on very basic cameras and Metz hammerhead flashguns.

They were powerful but rudimentary and did the job for what we needed to do.

When I started buying more advanced cameras (and let's face it, they are camera shaped computers nowadays) I had a good look at the metz cl 54 or something.

Great flash but this function is not available for Nikon and that function does not work on Canon...

I'm sure you can see where I am going with this and this is why I would recommend the Canon 430.

HTH!

Anton

 

[Wookie]

Get the jessops flash its reduced from 100 to 69.97 for cannon or 2p more for nikon I think it is anyway my memory is like a seive.

Grabbed one today: sigma EF-500 DG ST
£66 after the 5% code

not the greatest flashgun in creation but a big improvement on the popup due to power and the rotate & tilt bounce head

not much manual power control: full or 1/16
but its still more control than the popup

the plastic hotshoe foot looks a bit weak

cats, kids & mrs are now getting fed up of me blinding them

if you can find a sigma EF-500 dg super (for £30 more) instead of the ST then it looks like you get probably canon compatible IR remote slave/master function and lots more manual power levels. Sounds like a usefully better flashgun, but none available in jessops stores around here.

seeing as I've spent too much on camera bits recently the canon 430ex or 580ex were not on the wife's yes list, but this was.
It'll do for now, at least until some good reasons for a 580ex become obvious

and the 25% code for the macro tubes also worked on the jessops own brand canon TTL extension lead, at 1.2m its longer than canon's own

 

[englandshottest2]

Personally, for the small price drop between the two, I'd scrape together a bit more and go for the 580EX, you can get them new on eBay from a UK seller for around 230/240GBP inclusive of p&p. Whilst the 430EX is only around 160GBP inclusive of p&p from a UK seller (new). There is a bit of a price gap, but since I personally have both and use them all the time, I'd say the 430EX may be a better bet if it's your first time, as it's very easy to use and straight out of the box you can fire away! Where's the 580EX has some in-depth settings, etc. which may come to use a bit later on. I wouldn't go with an opposing brand to your camera, never a good choice.
Oh and one last thing, the 580EX has a stronger infrared transmitter, so if you ever setup a home studio with flash heads (able to be tripped by I.R.) then its a bit more reliable than the 430EX!
Hope this helps!