Which came first...580EX II or 430EX II?

09/05/2008 02:21:12 PM · #1

I've been thinking about adding a strobe to my gear. I just recently noticed a local camera store offering the Canon Speedlight 430EX II, which I have not seen advertised anywhere else yet. Seems everyone is pushing the more expensive 580EX II. I did a quick Google, and the dpreview news article about the 430EX II seems recent (June 2008). Has the 580EX II been out longer? And another question from a total lighting newbie, would the 430EX II still work for off-camera, go-anywhere lighting? Thanks...

CorySmith

09/05/2008 02:25:45 PM · #2

you are going to want the 580 ex ii, the 430 is a lot less versatile. you can do a number of things with the 580, like hook a pocket wizard up to it (my favorite feature), it can act as the master for other lights, and its way more powerful.
and the 580ex ii has been out longer

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/05/2008 02:30:45 PM · #3

Originally posted by Fetor:

Thanks, Cory...you mean the 430 wouldn't accept Pocket Wizards?

CorySmith

09/05/2008 02:40:40 PM · #4

no, they dont have a sync port built into them like the 580ex 2 does. of course you can use any sync cord so its not limited to the pocket wizards. it makes you more versatile and creative in difficult or poor natural light situations

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

09/05/2008 03:16:02 PM · #5

Originally posted by david_c:

you mean the 430 wouldn't accept Pocket Wizards?

You just need a hotshoe adapter. I use a 430 with pw's all the time. The adapter costs ten bucks or so.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/05/2008 04:26:40 PM · #6

Originally posted by violinist123:

You just need a hotshoe adapter. I use a 430 with pw's all the time. The adapter costs ten bucks or so.

Sweet. Is the light output/quality that much less than the 580? Seems like the 430 has marketing features like "affordable slave". I guess that means it couldn't/shouldn't really function as a main light source?

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

09/05/2008 05:20:28 PM · #7

Originally posted by david_c:

Originally posted by violinist123:
You just need a hotshoe adapter. I use a 430 with pw's all the time. The adapter costs ten bucks or so.

Sweet. Is the light output/quality that much less than the 580? Seems like the 430 has marketing features like "affordable slave". I guess that means it couldn't/shouldn't really function as a main light source?

Read up on both of them. The 580 can throw a lot of light a long distance. The 430 can certainly function as a main light in a studio setting, but if you want fill flash from 50 feet away then the 580 is what you are after. Either one is going to pump out much, much more light than you need in a small home studio setting.

I've never regretted buying the 430 over the 580. It's cheaper and it met my needs. I use pw's so I don't care about having a master flash for a group of speedlites. I can also trip my studio strobes with the 430, so it all works out. Typically I use two strobes as main lights, and then one or two 430's for other lights if needed.

photogreen

12/30/2008 09:04:07 PM · #8

Here is a comparison article:
//photo.greenlightstreet.com/www/index.php?/publisher/articleview/frmArticleID/9/

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

12/30/2008 10:14:33 PM · #9

my 430 just died on me. )-; its a sad time around here.

12/30/2008 10:21:35 PM · #10

Originally posted by littlegett:

my 430 just died on me. )-; its a sad time around here.

Dude. :-(

Good news is....

$360 for the 580EX II? Damn. Maybe I need a third flash.

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D