Flash Recommendations - Canon Speedlite 430EX II?

[RJKs Daughter]

I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II, mainly portraits. And I am looking to buy my first flash for night time photography. I want something that will bounce light, to avoid a straight on flash appearance. What would you suggest? The Canon Speedlite 430EX II?

I appreciate the feedback!

[GadgetRick]

Go for the 580EX II. You won't be disappointed. It's bright as hell (when you need it to be) and does just about everything and anything you want/need a speedlite to do.

[Lorax]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

Go for the 580EX II. You won't be disappointed. It's bright as hell (when you need it to be) and does just about everything and anything you want/need a speedlite to do.

^agreed

I love mine.

[inkista]

If you can afford it, you'll face less frustration starting out with a 580EXII and then adding a 430EXII than you would the other way around. If you can't afford the 580EXII, take a look and see if you can find a used 580EX.

The main reason you want to go upscale if you're bouncing with on-camera flash is because the 580s are more powerful than the 430s, and they do a full 360° swivel: the head rotates 180° to both the right and the left. The 430x will do 180° to the left, but only 90° to the right (from behind the camera). You've already lost 25% of your directional choices for the light if you use the lower-end flash.

[SusanH1970]

Agreed with all previous posters. I was going to get the 430, but held out till I could afford the 580EX II. I am SO glad I did!

[RJKs Daughter]

I appreciate all the responses. Price is a concern...

I was able to find a used 580EX Speedlite E-TTL II Shoe Mount Flash, and a used Speedlight 580EX II. Which would you recommend? I can't seem to figure out how the E-TTL Shoe Mount differs... Again, I am using a Canon 5D Mark II.

Thank you!

[inkista]

The II on the end of the first one indicates to me that they're the same thing.

Here are the Mark I and Mark II side-by-side (courtesy of the-digital-picture.com)



The MkII has the fast-lock switch, rather than the screwlock of the MkI, and the MkI has the external Off/Master/Slave switch, while the MkII uses menus to select that function.

Of the two, you want the MkII, because it's newer and has more features (most notably a PC sync port, autothyristor, and weather sealing--if you want the full laundry list of differences, click on that picture above, and it'll take you to a 580EXII review on the-digital-picture.com). But the MkI is likely to be cheaper by about $100 on the used market.

[RJKs Daughter]

Thank you for the details! One last question, and I apologize because this might be a dumb one. What is a shoe mount? I have tried googling it, and can't find a clear explanation.

[inkista]

Ok. Just kidding.

"Shoe mount" just means that the flash uses a hotshoe connector to mount onto the camera.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by inkista

Ok. Just kidding.

"Shoe mount" just means that the flash uses a hotshoe connector to mount onto the camera.

Brilliant! LOL that totally cracked me up!

Funny though, cuz every time I say the word "hotshoe" I picture a sneaker in flames.