help chooseing flash!?!

[jprime84]

I am planning on going with the 430 first, personally. It will be a smaller investment that will still allow me to learn how the speedlights work with my camera while providing a lot more potential than the built in flash.

If I start doing a lot of portraits, I can get a 580 also, and it can serve as a wireless master and the 430 I already own can now act as an off camera flash slave.

Originally Posted by jprime84

I am planning on going with the 430 first, personally. It will be a smaller investment that will still allow me to learn how the speedlights work with my camera while providing a lot more potential than the built in flash.

If I start doing a lot of portraits, I can get a 580 also, and it can serve as a wireless master and the 430 I already own can now act as an off camera flash slave.

i think i share the same thoughs on this.... thinking on starting with the 430 for now, then if i feel i need something more down the line, i can always upgrade. besides, i dont do many portraits, but i want to. i need to get down better comp and more creative poses and things (all my current portraits are all exactly the same B&W headshots).

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by ntinlizi

i think i share the same thoughs on this.... thinking on starting with the 430 for now, then if i feel i need something more down the line, i can always upgrade.

Then you'd be able to do 2 flash off-camera lighting . Off-camera lighting really gives you a lot more creative lighting options when shooting. Many of my shooting buddies have 4 Speedlites with lightstands and related accessories (umbrella swivels, umbrellas, softboxes, snoots, gobos, etc...) and can do some amazing things with their images. I currently have 3 Speedlites but only 2 lightstands (waiting for the 3rd one to arrive) and I can see why they have 4 setups...gives you way more options for creative lighting.

[t blanchard]

Originally Posted by inkista

What the 580EXII has a 430EXII doesn't:

• Larger guide number (more power)
• PC port (for off-camera triggering control)
• 180° swivel to the right (the 430 only does 90° to the right).
• Auto-thyristor (another auto mode for exposure)
• Master capability with Canon's proprietary infrared-signalling
• Control wheel (you get buttons on the 430s, a wheel on the 580s)
• Catch light panel built-in
• Ability to tilt downwards 7°
• Stroboscopic mode (multiple flash bursts)
• Flash exposure bracketing

No matter what kind of photos you take - the extra swivel on the 580EX II makes a huge difference for bouncing the flash and angling it. The PC port is also great!

[inkista]

The 430EXs are also great flashes, and more than enough to do any fill work you may want, and a great way to get your feet wet with flash. A lot of folks buy the 430EX first to dip their toe in the pond. Given the current price on the 430EX, it's a relatively painless way to get a great addition to your system.

But I do want to also throw out there the possibility of getting a used 580EX. It's missing features compared to the 580EXII: no camera menu control, no weather-sealing, no fastlock shoe, no auto-thyristor, or PC port, and slower/louder to recycle. But on the used market, they're going for ~$300, so if you can get a good price, it's not that much more than a 430EXII. And you get all the other stuff on the list, including the higher power and 360° swivel. If you're willing to go back another generation to the 550EX, it's about $200-225. (No 360° swivel, a little less power, and commanding is only groups/ratios).

Do not, however, consider a 420EX--there's no manual control of power, so it's not so good for the Strobist thang.