Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Customer Review: A faultless (almost) product!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an (advanced, perhaps) amature who's been using various Canon cameras for almost 20 years (as well as a friend's Nikon SB series flashes). This flash is simply the best Canon has produced and, arguably, the world's finest flash unit. I don't want to repeat what others have already reviewed here, but it is extremely important that you understand Canon flash technologies to avoid frequent underexposures with flash photography. PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE AT THIS LINK BEFORE TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR $$$ AS CANON FLASH TECHNOLOGIES ARE EXTREMELY CONFUSING (Canon's manual does NOT clearly explain this topic):
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
In general, to get consistently proper exposures and better-quality flash shots, you may want to set your camera to M (Manual), increase its aperture (F5.6 or higher) and shutter speed (1/100 or higher). Since power is not an issue with this "nuclear detonator", I recommend that you set it to 1/200 (to minimize camera shake) and aperture to F9 (to increase corner sharpness). THE FLASH IS SMART ENOUGH TO automatically CALCULATE THE RIGHT OUTPUT TO OBTAIN STANDARD EXPOSURE (In the old days, photographers had to calulate this manually!!!!).
In short, it's virtually impossible to go wrong with this 580 EX II, especially at $[...]. I am a very demanding user and rarely give a 5-star rating to electronic products. But with the 580EX II, I have no choice. Have fun shooting!
James Nguyen
Customer Review: A great flash, but make sure this is what you need.
Summary: 5 Stars
Bigger is not always better. The more you pay for a piece of camera equipment does not necessarily mean you will get more out of it than a less expensive alternative. These are two axioms that I wish I could learn someday, but I guess some lessons have to be learned the hard way.
This is a great flash, don't get me wrong. It's a 5 star flash--if it is what you need. I bought this thinking it was what I needed but as it turns out it is too big and too powerful for me. It is extremely large, powerful, and top-heavy. I sold it back on the used market and picked up a 430ex which comes in at almost half the price. The 430ex is also around half the weight/size but still packs a good 60-80% wallup of the 580ex II. For me, this has been ideal. The 430ex provides enough flash but not too bright, and it isn't top-heavy or attention-grabbing like the gigantic 580ex II.
If you are going to be photographing celebrities, people who are far away from your camera, or other situations which call for a very powerful flash then this is the flash for you. If you are looking for more of a wedding or cocktail party flash, then I believe the 430ex is the flash. It is hard to tell from the pictures just how different the sizes of the two flashes are, so I didn't know the 430ex was such an ideal size compared to the 580ex II.
While I can't say anything bad about this flash, just take another hard look at the 430ex unless you know you need some serious flash-power.
Customer Review: The Best of Canon Flashes
Summary: 5 Stars
The Canon Speedlite 580EX II is an excellent flash product. It serves as master flash so it's especially useful if you have an older Canon Speedlite that you'd like to continue using as a slave flash.
The controls are easy to use and learn for an aspiring photographer and strobist. If you're serious about photography, especially with portrait, wedding, event and even wild life photography this flash is highly recommended. Yes, even from 100 yards away setting the flash properly while taking photos with your 400mm lens will give the animal's eyes the "pop" you need to make the image outstanding.
The camera comes with a wide angle deflector built in and a bounce card so you can go without a flash diffuser if you are concerned about having too harsh of light coming off this flash and you don't have any good surfaces to bounce the light from. But I chose to buy this product with Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce for the Canon 580EX Flash a good accessory to have in your camera bag.
As far as battery usage is concerned, I've been using my flash on and off for a few months now without having to change the batteries. I'm not doing weddings or events at the moment so I haven't had the opportunity to use the flash a lot at one time, but I've taken about 150 images so far and not had to replace the batteries even with the flash sitting there unused between uses.
Customer Review: I love this flash!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am returning to digital photography after a break from film portraiture, and I am just amazed at how friggin' easy things are now! I bought this for my new Canon 40D, and I just love it. I actually tried the 580EX for a few weeks before buying this one, and this is the short list as to why I love it:
1. I can configure the flash (completely) through the camera, even saving camera settings (C1-C3) along with flash customization to match!
2. It actually works with the camera to autofocus, combining beams.
3. The shoe is metal compared to the 580EX plastic.
4. The 90degree mounting latch _rocks_ compared to the screw-in thingy on the 580EX ("Are the threads too tight? Not tight enough? Stripped?!").
5. I don't miss the master/slave switch being programmable. Now I won't hit it accidentally and render the flash inert for no apparent reason.
6. The flash shows the acceptable range graphically (in ft. or meters).
7. When forward facing, it matches the flash output to the zoom of the lens, displaying it on the LCD. Neat!
8. It works perfectly with the Fong diffusers without any silly velcro attachments, glue, etc.
9. With internal batteries, it recharges lightning fast. Rapid fire is nice when I finally get the subject to hold still!
10. It is very light, and compliments the balance of the Canon EOS frame.
I have yet to deplete a full set of batteries on it, so I can't speak to power consumption.
Customer Review: Well built, well recieved!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the ideal professional flash. The versatility is practically limitless. I bought this flash with the intent of using it as the primary lighting for wedding photography. It's powerful enough to provide bounce light even with high ceilings, and it's new silent recycle is always a welcome change for inside the church (though, the zoom head still makes noise, so this flash isn't completely silent.)
What I was most impressed with, above and beyond the reliable and consistent flash metering (this is professional grade!) is the wealth of custom functions. Included on the EX II model is a new manual automatic metering system where when enebled (via custom function) you tell the flash the ISO and the Aperture you desire and it meters the scene via it's own light sensor. This works great!
This feature is not useful when the flash is mounted on the camera howevver, ETTL II is much stronger. But this feature provides some advantages when combined with the new PC cord in port on this flash.
The extra features on this flash are amazing, the useful, but this flash is a professional flash. It's sometimes complicated, and there are features you may pay for that are unlikely to use. The 430EX is a more affordable alternative which you may want to consider to conserve your budget, and if you don't need to use this flash of a PC cord or external sync system.
Overall, great flash! Even if it wieghs as much as my camera. :D