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: You get what you pay for.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the 580EX II to essentially replace my 420EX after I upgraded from a Rebel XT to a 40D. The added features and power of the 580 were appealing and it doesn't disappoint, being better in almost every way than the 420.
One major added benefit of this situation is that I can now use the 420EX as a slave flash with the 580EX II as master. 580/40D combination allows me to set up ratios between the two flashes right on the huge LCD of the 40D (great for my aging eyes).
Build quality is very good and noticeably better than the 420EX. I like the battery door. It is the nicest setup I've seen on a shoe mount flash. The quick release shoe lock works well, positive and fast.
Is it worth the premium over the 430EX also currently available? That depends on what you need. The 430EX might be a good starter flash and then become an excellent slave to a 580EX II (like my 420EX), somewhere down the road. Even if you never intend to get into multi-flash setups, the extras power of the 580EX II makes weddings and large group photos easier to shoot. If you have a 40D and old eyes like mine, the convenience of being able to set everything that the 580EX II can do, right on the camera's 3" LCD display is worth the difference by itself.
Customer Review: Great Improvement Over Original 580EX!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you owned the original 580 then you know all the complaints about it, well Canon actually does listen.
List Of Improvements
1.Battery Door opens easy and smoothly
2.Metal Foot vs Plastic with new sliding lock vs spin lock
3.Weatherproof
4.Tougher build(You can hold it in your hand and just feel the difference)
5.20% Faster Recycling Time
6.PC Port(Great if your into Strobist)
Another feature that they modified is the Slave master switch,(I never use this feature)They have replaced it with the sliding lock and put the switch in the software of the flash.(you hold down the zoom button for 2 Sec)Also if you have a 1D Mark III, 1Ds Mark III, or 40D all of the CFN. can be controlled on the camera's lcd. Also this Flash is silent(except for the zoom of the flash head) no more whine while charging up. Also another feature that I have not seen mentioned anywhere is this flash has a kind of circuit breaker in it, if you are using a external battery pack and too much voltage surges through it it protect your flash from sudden death,(I was told about this feature by a canon tech when this happened to me on my original 580)
All in all you wan't be let down by this flash.
Customer Review: A Perfect Upgrade
Summary: 5 Stars
Like many photographers I used my 430EX as a flash, not a lighting tool. I set it to ETTL and fired away.
After buying Gary Fong's WhaleTail flash defuser I viewed the training CD that was included and my eyes were opened to the creative potential of on camera flash as well as master slave lighting.
I obviously required an additional unit and the 580EX II seemed to be the perfect choice.
Powerful, feature rich, totally compatible with my Canon 30D, and rugged.
With a guide number of 190 it produces all the light I will require. Fast, silent recycling, power on in .2 seconds, powerful AF assist and almost perfect exposure every shot.
I use lithium-ion batteries to both hold the weight down and keep the recycling speed as fast as possible without resorting to an external power pac.
One work of advise, read the manual. There is so much the 580EX II can do you need to use the manual extensively at first. One of the advantages of digital photography is you can experiment as much as you need to without wasting anything.
The 580EX II gives you a studio lighting tool with none of the bulk and weight.
Oh, yes. The 480 as a slave is a perfect partner.
Customer Review: Compact size with powerful output - rugged construction!
Summary: 5 Stars
I do recommend potential buyers to rent one first prior to purchasing just to get a feel for the product. Sometimes reviews are not that accurate like complains of the LCD blinking when on bounce mode. The reviewer was ill-informed, did not read the manual, and do not know what they're doing. The reason the LCD blinks is a reminder that the wide angle diffuser is not returned completely to the original position. As for features, the flash is surprisingly small with lots of power for a little unit. I do wonder about color temperature; I'm not certain that the flash temperature color calibrates like the Metz equivalent. The manual does not state anything about this. High speed synch works great, to able to use fill flash at any shutter speed during the day. I've used the flash primarily for event photography with my Canon 5D, 24-105mm, a FlashFrame HOT, Canon E-TTL II extension cord and a Gary Fong Diffusion Dome. My setting is adjusted to about +2/3 exposure and usually in the up position. Power source is provided by rechargeable Sanyo Lithium AA batteries and is good for about 150shots. I will buy a second 580EX II when my event photography gigs increase. For now, I will rent another when the need arises.Customer Review: I really enjoy this flash
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very powerful and adjustable flash. I am using this on a Canon 20d. Initially, I had difficulty deciding between the 580EX II and the 430EX II, mainly due to the extra bulk of the 580EX II, and somewhat due to the extra cost. After using both units, I am most pleased with the 580EX II. Where this unit really shines for me is the bounce flash. Because the flash is more powerful, I can use far away or darker colored walls to bounce the flash off of, which gives really well lit, natural looking pictures. The swiveling head is quick and easy to use, the fold out diffuser and bounce tab (the bounce tab is not found on the 430EX II) are useful, and the weather protection on the mount is nice even if it is not completely waterproof. The built in AF assist lamp is much better than the strobe flash on the 20d, more accurate and less intrusive. Recycle time are practically instant. Another feature on this flash is the multi-burst flash, which is fun to play with during night action shots. I also use this flash to remove shadows in sunlight, and it is plenty powerful for that as well. I was very concerned with the size, but I believe it is worth it forthe extra performance and features.