[carve]

I have a friend's wedding reception coming up soon and she said she want's me to take some pics. Sounds like a good excuse to buy a flash.

I have a Rebel XTi I'll upgrade soon, but figured I'd get a decent flash first after seeing the results of a friend's 580 EX II on vacation recently. Holy crap though- $500 for a flash!? Is the 430, or any of the other brands, that much worse? What do you guys recommend?

I avoid using flash inside as much as possible, but I think if I had a decent one I might use it more.

[immiketoo]

I just bought the 530. It hurt, but I hate skimping on equipment. Check ebay or craigslist for deals.

[The1]

Sigma makes a EX 580 competitor. Comes in under 400$ will work as a master or slave unit, and can work with canon master and slave units (at least on the one I tested)

only draw back to it, it's a bit bigger, but that's a small price to pay. It's a nice unit.

they also have one that's competition for the 430 EX But I would go for the bigger one so you have more options for expansion down the road, as well as a little better quality. I think it had some weather proofing too, but I'm not 100% certain.

I don't blame you for not using the built in flash on the camera body, once you get your hands on a hot shoe flash, you'll never use the built in one again.

when indoors, it's fin having a flash that you can bounce off the ceiling, it lights things very well without being harsh.

[M_Six]

I have the 430EX II. Does everything I need it to do. Even works remotely with the help of some cheap remote gizmos from Cowboy Studios. If you don't plan on needing multiple flashes, go with the 430 EX II.

[The1]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I have the 430EX II. Does everything I need it to do. Even works remotely with the help of some cheap remote gizmos from Cowboy Studios. If you don't plan on needing multiple flashes, go with the 430 EX II.

but it's about the same price as the sigma that is aimed directly at the 530EXII

so, depends what your needs are, and if you're a Canon loyalist.

I have both the 430 and the 580. It's amaizing what worlds open up when you start firing multiple flashes remotely.

[Chewy734]

If you need remote triggers and receivers, buy Paul C. Buff equipment and save some money.

The 430EX II is good, but I use the 530 EX and it works great.

[spacemonkey1112]

the first question you gotta be asking yourself is 'what am I using this flash for??'

the general difference in most of these flashes is power output. plan your purchases around your work. If you can tell us that then, I think people's input can be more purposeful.

but with the given information, the more power the better I guess. I have a 580EX I at the moment and its output has been doing me well thus far.

I have worked with photographers when covering a wedding who use 4 generic flashes and wireless triggers off ebay for extremely cheap, and their images are wonderful. that whole setup cost around 400 bucks if that (price of 1 new canon flash).

for my personal use, I use the same triggers as him (his name is Mike Larson).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yongnuo-RF-6...#ht_3191wt_989

These you can look around ebay but single trigger/receiver sets for about 40 bucks. Through out the wedding, they never failed.

[secretsquirrel]

Apparently a replacement to the 580 is on the way (so the prices should be dropping quickly on used .

[AshbyJ]

The 430EX is a great flash and rarely if ever will you need a 580 unless you are always shoot great distances. I have had my 430 for three years and it is awesome, it even keeps up with my 8 frames a second my 7D throws out, an awesome flash!

[The1]

Originally Posted by AshbyJ

The 430EX is a great flash and rarely if ever will you need a 580 unless you are always shoot great distances. I have had my 430 for three years and it is awesome, it even keeps up with my 8 frames a second my 7D throws out, an awesome flash!

what are you using for batteries to do that? or are you dropping the power way down?

[AshbyJ]

Originally Posted by The1

what are you using for batteries to do that? or are you dropping the power way down?

I only use lithium batteries and it handles the speed just fine. If you use regular batteries it will not happen. Even with the lithium batteries, when they are past half way point, you will need to drop the power back a little on the settings, only a stop of two but it still works great.

[The1]

Originally Posted by AshbyJ

I only use lithium batteries and it handles the speed just fine. If you use regular batteries it will not happen. Even with the lithium batteries, when they are past half way point, you will need to drop the power back a little on the settings, only a stop of two but it still works great.

Good to know... I've used lithium and definitely learned a lesson by doing so, I just never got around to testing how fast they could refresh.

I'm told some of the rechargeable perform similarly as well.

Regards batteries after about 5 shots start to take longer to refresh. It's rather sad and time consuming.

[AshbyJ]

Originally Posted by The1

Good to know... I've used lithium and definitely learned a lesson by doing so, I just never got around to testing how fast they could refresh.

I'm told some of the rechargeable perform similarly as well.

Regards batteries after about 5 shots start to take longer to refresh. It's rather sad and time consuming.

Same here, also have tried rechargeable batteries and just gave them to my daughter for her camera. Lithiums perform the best IMO for what I use them for.

[Chewy734]

A new 590EX (or something like that) may get released at the end of this week...

[The1]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

A new 590EX (or something like that) may get released at the end of this week...

I'm curious to see the differences between 580 and 590

[Chewy734]

there might be some improvements overall, but I think it'll allow for radio control for slaves, etc.

[The1]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

there might be some improvements overall, but I think it'll allow for radio control for slaves, etc.

radio or infrared? cause it already does the infrared master control.

[Chewy734]

radio, so you don't need line of sight.

[The1]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

radio, so you don't need line of sight.

that would be nice.

but then they will have to incorperate it into some of their camera bodies.... Or at least that would be nice if they tryed.