Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Customer Review: Canon Speedlite 580EX II - The best, period.
Summary: 5 Stars
Three Canon 580EX II speedlights form the core of my location lighting kit, supplemented by 2 Canon 540EX speedlights. The 580EX II is fast, powerful, easy to use, flexible, built like a tank and is smarter than you and I combined. The 540EX has the same Master/Slave, ETTL and manual circuitry as its newer cousin, about as much power, and sells on Ebay for about $200 or so. The 580EX II is very flexible, very dependable, has a fast recycle time, has twice as much power as a Nikon 800 flash, and the fastest control panel operation I have ever used. The key is a circular control wheel to change modes and settings, similar to the circular wheel on the back of most Canon DSLRs. The design is so good that Nikon stole it for their new generation 900 flash unit.
Canon EX series flash units are controlled by coded pre-flashes rather than infrared light, as are Nikon units. These pre-flashes happen so quickly that one can barely see them. The 580EX II can control three separate groups of flash units (a,b,c) with a virtually unlimited number of flashes assigned to each group. With ETTL operation, one can set the lighting ratio of each group independently through a seven f/stop range, from 8:1 to 1:8. In Manual mode, the output of each group can be set from 1:1 to 1:128 power. The list of options goes on and on: multi-flash setting for true "stroboscopic" effects, auto or manual zooming of the flash coverage from 24mm to 105mm, a wide-angle panel that extends this to 14mm, and a cool little pull-out white card to bounce some light into your subject's eyes when you are bouncing the flash unit off the ceiling or wall or whatever you can find. It syncs with high speed Canon shutter speeds, has automatic or manual matching of the unit's color temperature output to the camera's white balance setting, and full integration with the Canon 40D, 50D, 1D MkIII and, I believe, the new 5D MkII. I control my master 580EX II unit directly from the menu of my Canon 40D camera. The master unit can be set to not fire with the other flashes and still send out the pre-flashes to control all of the slaved strobes. I know I've forgotten a bunch of less frequently used features; the instruction book is about 250 pages long. Oh, did I mention that the flash head swivels 360 degrees from either left or right and points straight ahead and straight up and at any angle in between? Makes it easy to point the flash head into a bounce umbrella or the corner of a room and still aim the sensor at the master flash unit.
I tried to determine the maximum outdoor range over which the 580EX II would trigger a slave flash, and gave up at 175 (measured) feet, when I had run out of driveway and was standing in the woods. I'll test it again someday and see when I reach its limit. And, the 580EX II and 540 EX strobes, when used as masters, can still control all three groups of slaves (in manual mode, not ETTL) when triggered by a sync cord (580EX II) or a wireless remote (both the 580EX II and 540EX).
All in all, the best portable flash I have ever used during a 35 year career in photography.
Customer Review: Amazing addition to your kit
Summary: 5 Stars
The 580EX II makes an unbelievable difference in your shots. Period.
I was under the impression that natural light was the way to go with DSLR and bought lenses accordingly, f/2.8 and below. And aperture does indeed make a tremendous difference in capturing light and creating bokeh. But for freezing movement, adding fill light (even in brightly lit scenes) and creating/shaping light for dramatic effect, the 580EX II is unmatched.
On-camera, the height of the 580EX physically moves it further from your lens than any other flash, lessening harsh shadows. The 360-degree swivel allows you to bounce the light off ceilings and walls for even softer diffusion, light shaping, and more natural shadowing than any built-in--or the much-cheaper, non-swivel 270EX (which in my opinion should not even be considered if you're looking to upgrade).
I've taken to using this flash almost full-time, even in bright sunlight. Its ability to quickly change in intensity from full power to (if I remember correctly) 1/320th power with a twist of the dial means I can add just the right amount of light. This is where the 580EX is heads above the others. Because the 580EX has stronger full-power and quicker recycle time than other flashes in the lineup, I can light more consecutive shots, in darker settings, capture shots from further away, and use directional light in rooms with higher ceilings, than ever before. And even in natural light, I can add just enough light to keep backlit subjects from being underexposed. With a flash you can always keep your shutter speed between roughly 1/60 and 1/250, and you'll eliminate most motion-blur or camera-shake.
Once you get adventurous, take this flash off-camera and you can really get creative. For line-of-sight work, the infrared transmitter will talk to higher-end Canon bodies and even other flashes as a "master." But I went the affordable route and got some dirt-cheap $20 radio transmitters that let me position the flash around corners, inside boxes, basically anywhere within 100 feet of the camera. This is where I really started seeing some cool shots happening, as shadows and light are directed independently of your camera's position.
My only words of caution: This is the heaviest flash you can buy. For me the weight makes no difference even hand-holding, but you should consider your needs if you're shooting on-camera (in that case the 430EX might be better). Also, the learning curve for full comprehension of this device may take a bit of time if you really want to master the scope of features. But really, once you figure out how to dial the intensity, you've learned 70% of what you need. I would also recommend a diffuser cap for (cheaply) softening the light even more. After you've mastered the basics, a softbox will further diffuse and shape light for dramatic effect. And buy some cheap radio transmitters, they'll make all the difference.
Customer Review: Speedlite 580EX II
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the 580EX II after much research. I read about the upgrades that were made and was very pleased. This professional flash unit is very robust and confidence inspiring. I wanted a professional, high quality flash unit that I could grow into. The upgrades: a metal foot finally, with a twist-lock that holds it totally securely to the top of the camera, yet removes in less than a second when you want to take it off, are true value and make a excellent flash unit even better. Canon quality is demonstrated in every aspect.
I also purchased the DVD "Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX/430EX" by Blue Crane Digital. This is a great companion that I highly recommend.
I had used a Vivitar 283 flash with my 35mm SLR system for years, using guide numbers, etc., before I moved to digital. So, I wasn't sure what to expect.
It is totally silent which means no curious head turning just before you're about to get the money shot. The flash head twists easily and quickly in every direction to do wall or ceiling bounces for vertical shots. There are so many possible settings for this flash unit, so there is a bit of a learning curve. However, the instruction manual is very informative and straight forward. After many test, I discovered that the unit will misfire when you are shooting multiple frames. For me, this is no big deal.
After taking many shots and watching the aforementioned DVD, I decided to invest into another flash unit, the Canon 430EX II to be used as a slave. The idea of master and slave units and groups was to me just wild! At Christmas, I set up a reflector umbrella and mound my slave flash [430EX II] unit at a key location, as fill. My 580EX II was mounted on my camera [bounce]. I set the ratio 1:8 and shot away. WOW , WOW, WOW! What excellent shots! No "deer -in-the headlight looks!" No washed out faces. No black dark corners. All exposures were perfect, no harsh shadows, excellent color and mid tones. What a great system. Even as I moved about to frame the shot, it was outstanding!
I have taken many shots with master/slave and just a single flash unit. Shots are still great. You don't have to have the slave flash but it sure does add another dimension to your flash photography.
You can't go wrong with this unit. You can start simple, flash on camera. Add an extension cable and get the flash off the cameras, improving your shots. Then, if you want move up to the big time and add a slave. Depending upon the subject, you may use any of the aforementioned techniques as I do. Can't go wrong! Excellent investment.
Customer Review: nice flash with reasonable output, expensive
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought this flash yesterday, to use primarily with my also newly purchased EOS Elan 7NE 35mm SLR. I kept deciding between 430EX and 580EX II and I don't regret buying this model. The flash is not too bulky or too heavy as I was afraid after reading some reviews - my previous flash was Vivitar 285HV, and it is quite bigger and heavier then 580 EX II.
Now, the flash output of 580EX II is dependent on zoom setting of the flash head. The advertised GN190 sounds like vast load of power, but it is a guide number for 105mm zoom; when you use 28mm lens you get only about GN100, and GN140 for standard 50mm lens. It's off course not bad but not the GN190, so don't think that you'll flash an entire concert hall with this flash. I did a test roll on full auto setting on the camera and E-TTL II on the flash - while working nicely and quite dependably out of the box, to my surprise the flash and camera use quite wide apertures, around f4-f4.5 for most exposures indoors.. I realized that I'll have to use full manual mode on the camera and E-TTL II on the flash in order to obtain smaller apertures and get more DOF - in this setting the adequate flash output will be provided automatically to accommodate the selected aperture (and shutter speed) setting.
I didn't even remotely touch all the features that this flash offers, although I did go through them briefly while reading the provided user guide. I think that the flash will serve me well down the road, and it is better to have that extra output over what 430EX would give me. Finally, I believe that 580EX II was released very recently, while the 430EX is couple years older. The built quality of 580EX II is generally nice, the hotshoe is metal with locking lever, flash has external PC connector (which 430EX lacks I believe); obviously the 580EX II has more to offer. BTW, I'm amateur photographer.
The main drawback - price is steep. If you don't need all the features (there are tons of them), you may be better off with the cheaper 430EX; I grabbed 580 but mainly because I wanted the PC connector since I intend to shoot it occasionally with my other cameras in full manual mode off-camera on the stand through the umbrella and such - so that's why I wanted maximum possible flash output.
One last but important thing - I called Canon technical support today with a question regarding the use; good news - Canon techs are located here in the United States, are friendly and knowledgeable (so, don't worry about having to deal with overseas-outsourced tech support, which can be quite a horrible experience)
Customer Review: Canon 580Ex II, excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
It communicate very well with my Canon 20D. The 589EX II will act the same as the built-in flash of 20D, except it is 16 times more powerful. The power level adjustment is useful for multiple flash set up. I have been considering to buy it for 2 years. My hesitation is due to the steep $500 price tag and my Vivitar 285HV. After using it for 2 weeks. I can kick myself not to buy it earlier. The ETT II gives me excellent exposure ( no more wash out of the object) regardless of the back ground, that the 285HV cannot do. It is a perfect flash for my 20D.
I have five friendly advices:
1. Set C.Fn 6 to 1. This enables the quick flash mode. The flash can be fired without a full charge. Good for rapid shooting at a reduced range.
2. Use rechargeable batteries. This will make the flash charges faster. Also you are helping to save the earth.
3. This is the most powerful flash that Canon makes. From my 40 years as photographer, you should buy the most powerful flash. Do not buy the lower model even you can save $150. The 580EX II will allow you to use a smaller aperture to do a better job as a fill in light for the shadow under the sun or have a faster recycle time when shooting at night. Also you will still have enough light output even with flash attachments, i.e. diffuser, reflector etc.
4. The 580EX II tends to be slightly (1/3 to 1/2 stop) under-expose the object. It may not be a problem if you prefer slightly saturated color. Otherwise you can give it a +1/3 or 1/2 flash exposure compensation( It is much easier to set it up on the camera rather than on the flash) However,it will be perfect as a fill in flash for shadow underneath the sun without using flash exposure compensation.
5. In order for the TTL II to work right, make sure that the lens you use will pass the distance information to the camera and hence to the 580EX II.
Complain: The owner's manual does not spell out some of the interaction between the camera and the 580EX II. e.g. the high speed syn will be disabled automatically if the shutter speed is below the maximum normal flash syn speed, high speed syn will not over heat the flash as long as it obeys the rule for maximum number of consecutive normal flash, The focal length indication shows the real focal length of the lens, not the equivalent focal length of the APS-C sensor, any focal length shorter than 24mm still indicates as 24mm, even the Zooming flash head might have zoom to 27mm equivalent(17mm actual) focal length.