Thinking of buying a flash... advice please

Toothie

Toothie

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Hi
I have a Eos 350d and am thinking of adding a flash to my kit bag.

So after reading a chapter on flash in my lowlight photography book and reading some stuff online i am totally confused and thought i would seek advice from you lovely people.

I mostly use the camera for creative type images and landscapes.

looking to get either the 430ex or the 580ex. Now there is a fairly big price difference. So other than a higher guide number (told you id been reading;)) what do i gain from the 580ex and will it be of use on the 350d. Also any ideas on if i would benefit from the higher guide number??

Thanks
 
Hi Toothie
i have the 420ex, and it is fine for most jobs, I looked at the 580, but the features you are paying for, I don't need, eg. master / slave, so if you want a creative multiple flash arrangement, you'll need a 580 as master, and multiple 430's as slaves, gets expensive doesn't it :thinking:
the 580 has a little more range than the 430, but will you use the extra features?
your call :shrug:
 
thanks for that its helpful. think i will probely get a 430ex as the jump in price is so much for as you say features i probely won't use. And if i do find myself needing multiple flashes i can buy the 580 then and use the 1 i have as a slave.
 
good thinking there toothie, i looked at this a little while ago, and had prices off kerso on here, i think once we took into account the cashback the difference was bout £40-£50. and i thought for the difference i would rather have the extra and not use it than not enough. i do believe i would have been ok with the 430, but i am very happy with the 580
 
WHE have the 430ex for £169 and the 580ex11 for £330 - so the its almost the double the price, and im not sure its worth it. Will see what prices Kerso comes up with.
 
I bought mine (580EX II) from ebay Brand new for £239 delivered. search for seller adani505 or 123fstop (these 2 sellers are in England and you can collect the item if you wish). They are different sellers and they compete for low prices. Nevermind that seller from up north as he is very arrogant and high priced.

PS.
Canon cashback is also on the way! After cashback it works out to be £199! Big savings.
 
strobefreak said:
I bought mine (580EX II) from ebay Brand new for £239 delivered. search for seller adani505 or 123fstop (these 2 sellers are in England and you can collect the item if you wish). They are different sellers and they compete for low prices. Nevermind that seller from up north as he is very arrogant and high priced.

PS.
Canon cashback is also on the way! After cashback it works out to be £199! Big savings.
Click to expand...

That's all every well and good but i don't shop on ebay.
 
i think kerso is about the same price toothie
 
I bought a 430ex from onestop digital the other day for £148 and free delivery, came really quickly as well. :D
 
I've the 430ex and find it fits my needs well. If I was going to try do weddings or other venues where group shots were needed I'd go for the 580ex
 
colinfret said:
I bought a 430ex from onestop digital the other day for £148 and free delivery, came really quickly as well. :D
Click to expand...

:(I just paid £165 from amazon....:bang:
 
BeHappy said:
:(I just paid £165 from amazon....:bang:
Click to expand...

I am not too sure but I think if you buy from UK reseller, you are covered with manufacturer warranty but outside, you're not... though not 100% sure.

Onestop digital is a China seller so don't despair...
 
Kerso has them on his site at £239 plus a tenner postage.
Not sure who the seller from up north is, but if it is Kerso, then I have to say that he has given me pretty good service - not perfect, but then nor am I (I had a wait a little longer than expected for an item, so no big deal really). I believe you can get a few more pounds knocked off the price if you pay by bank transfer.
Not sure what Toothies 'creative images' entail, but I would suggest that the 580 is worth the extra, especially if landscapes are to be lit.
I don't use any fancy features on my 580, but used to find my 430 not quite powerful enough at times, but the 580 has never run out of power (so far...)
 
steveinspain said:
Kerso has them on his site at £239 plus a tenner postage.
Not sure who the seller from up north is, but if it is Kerso, then I have to say that he has given me pretty good service - not perfect, but then nor am I (I had a wait a little longer than expected for an item, so no big deal really). I believe you can get a few more pounds knocked off the price if you pay by bank transfer.
Not sure what Toothies 'creative images' entail, but I would suggest that the 580 is worth the extra, especially if landscapes are to be lit.
I don't use any fancy features on my 580, but used to find my 430 not quite powerful enough at times, but the 580 has never run out of power (so far...)
Click to expand...

By creative images i mean stuff that isn't people mostly, i lik finding abstract patterns in things and stuff like that. TBH probably wont use it much for landscapes.
The bank balance has decided on the 430ex, **** has been ordered from Kerso.

Thanks for all the help guys:)
 
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