What is the big different between these flashes?

[jgomez65]

I am looking for a new flash for my Canon camera

I've been trying to find a website that compares the Speedlite 430 EXII and the 580 EX II side by side, but I haven't found anything.

The major difference I have found is that the 580 can be used both as master and slave, while the 430 is only slave.

Is there any other big difference that justifies spending the extra money for the 580? or both of them perform the same (with the slave/master difference)?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[zona5101]

i think the big difference is in light output...

[RichardTaylor]

and faster recycling (I think) and strobe function.

[inkista]

Off the top of my head:

580EX II

• has a dial on the back instead of four-way buttons
• is more powerful (GN of 58m, vs. 43m for the 430EXII)
• goes down to 1/128 (the 430EX II only goes down to 1/64; i.e., 7-stop vs. 6-stop range)
• does 1/3 EV adjustments. (don't think 430EX II does. Not sure).
• is a wireless master [of A:B:C groups, both ratios and explicit power settings. The 580EX can only do A:B:C and ratios, and the 550 EX/ST-E2 can only do A:B and ratios]
• does 360° rotation (180° in both directions, 430 EXII only does 90° to the right, and 180° to the left)
• has stroboscopic mode (430EX II doesn't)
• has a PC connector (430EX II doesn't)
• has an auto-thyristor mode (430EX II doesn't)
• is bigger/heavier than the 430EX II
• can be used with an external battery pack (430EX II cannot).

For me, it's the power, 360° swivel, and PC port that are the big differences, but ymmv. Overall, the 580EXII is just nicer to use.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by inkista

Off the top of my head:
.

:worship:

[inkista]

Yeah, but see, I own a 580EX and a 430EX, and all the differences are either the same, or reasons I want to get a 580EX II.

No-way, no-how I could do this for an SB-700 and an SB-600. I'd have to google madly for that.

[candleman]

Ahh, Ok, fair enough
but I think I'd have to google the SB900 too

...can't wait to get one of them though.. need the juice!

[jgomez65]

Originally Posted by inkista

Off the top of my head:

580EX II

• has a dial on the back instead of four-way buttons
• is more powerful (GN of 58m, vs. 43m for the 430EXII)
• goes down to 1/128 (the 430EX II only goes down to 1/64; i.e., 7-stop vs. 6-stop range)
• does 1/3 EV adjustments. (don't think 430EX II does. Not sure).
• is a wireless master [of A:B:C groups, both ratios and explicit power settings. The 580EX can only do A:B:C and ratios, and the 550 EX/ST-E2 can only do A:B and ratios]
• does 360° rotation (180° in both directions, 430 EXII only does 90° to the right, and 180° to the left)
• has stroboscopic mode (430EX II doesn't)
• has a PC connector (430EX II doesn't)
• has an auto-thyristor mode (430EX II doesn't)
• is bigger/heavier than the 430EX II
• can be used with an external battery pack (430EX II cannot).

For me, it's the power, 360° swivel, and PC port that are the big differences, but ymmv. Overall, the 580EXII is just nicer to use.

Thanks, Inkista. That really helps.
Now I do have another quick question. If I want to use the 580EX II as slave, I would still need to use a wirless transmitter/receiver or a cable right? In other words, it doesn't come with a wirless receiver built in right?

[RichardTaylor]

It has it's own receiver.

However depending on your camera model you may need a transmitter/cable.

[inkista]

... and possibly a hotshoe adapter.

To use a PC sync cable, you need a PC port at both ends. The 580EX II has one, but the xxxxD and xxxD bodies don't, so if you have one of those bodies, you'll also need a hotshoe-to-PC adapter.*

To use radio triggers, you'll need both a transmitter (on the camera hotshoe), and a receiver (for the 580EX II's hotshoe).

To use the Canon wireless system, you'd need a master unit on-camera, either the pop-up flash of the 7D, 60D or 1D Mark IV, or an ST-E2, 580EX II, 580EX or 550EX on the camera hotshoe.

*Footnote: PC sync cables are not the only type of sync cables. You can also use hotshoe-to-hotshoe eTTL capable cables that give you high-speed sync and eTTL. Or you can use PC/hotshoe-to-household adapters and use a regular power extension cord. Or you can use PC/hotshoe-to-miniphone (aka 1/8", 3mm, minijack) adapters and use regular mono minijack audio cables. Only the first one of these gives you eTTL, though.