Speedlight Upgrades???

[ANGUS]

I am looking at getting a 430EX at some stage around Christmas (May luck out and get given one...) But will a 430EX II come out at all? If so when might it come out as i would rather wait if it will come out soon.

How long was there between the 580EX and 580EX II releases??

Any advice would be great, Thanks.

[Riff Raff]

Was there really that much difference between 580EX and 580EX II? I don't see a point to waiting for theoretical new speedlight releases.

[ANGUS]

Waterproofing.... Major benefit!

[DavidW]

The 580EX II isn't waterproof - it's weatherproof (think showerproof). Only if you use it on a 1D Mark III (or 1Ds Mark III when that comes out) or an Off Shoe Cord 3 is the shoe weatherproof.

There are improvements - but they don't amount to much. You can control the 580EX II from the latest cameras - but I have no problem changing modes and custom functions on my 580EX directly (I don't have a suitable camera anyway). The 'auto' functionality doesn't seem to work that well even on a 1D Mark III where you don't have to transfer information to the flash (oddly, my Quantum Qflash X5d-R setup manages auto flash perfectly well on a 20D, which doesn't have the new camera features).


In the end, I wouldn't worry about it. I have several pieces of Canon kit that are now superseded - my 580EX is amongst them. Whilst there are improvements in the new versions, the improvements are often minor, and, most importantly, the old kit works as well as it ever did.

If there is a 430EX II, then I think there may be even fewer changes than are in the 580EX II. Auto flash is a possibility, but weatherproofing is a 1 series / L lenses / top flash model sort of feature, which isn't the market that the 430EX sells to. Adding the ability to control the flash from the camera makes sense now that that feature has trickled down to the 40D.


All the E-TTL Speedlites are good tools. If you can somehow stretch to either the original 580EX or the 580EX II, you may find that gives you more flexibility, but the difference isn't too large. Unless you need an E-TTL master, stroboscopic flash (less use than you might thing), a small amount of extra power (the difference between GN 43 and GN 58 isn't that much - less than a stop) and one or two other minor differences, the 430EX is a fine flash.

As you already have one 580EX II, the 430EX may be all you need. If you save up any more, a flash bracket and off shoe cord (2 or 3) may be worthwhile purchases, to avoid side shadow in portrait orientation. Apart from when I'm grabbing my camera quickly for a couple of shots that I know will be landscape, I always use my flash bracket rather than putting the flash on the hotshoe. Having the relatively compact Newton Di400CR is helpful here, as it means I can keep the bracket in my bag.



David

[dooks88]

The 580EX II isn't waterproof - it's weatherproof (think showerproof). Only if you use it on a 1D Mark III (or 1Ds Mark III when that comes out) or an Off Shoe Cord 3 is the shoe weatherproof.

There are improvements - but they don't amount to much. You can control the 580EX II from the latest cameras - but I have no problem changing modes and custom functions on my 580EX directly (I don't have a suitable camera anyway). The 'auto' functionality doesn't seem to work that well even on a 1D Mark III where you don't have to transfer information to the flash (oddly, my Quantum Qflash X5d-R setup manages auto flash perfectly well on a 20D, which doesn't have the new camera features).


In the end, I wouldn't worry about it. I have several pieces of Canon kit that are now superseded - my 580EX is amongst them. Whilst there are improvements in the new versions, the improvements are often minor, and, most importantly, the old kit works as well as it ever did.

If there is a 430EX II, then I think there may be even fewer changes than are in the 580EX II. Auto flash is a possibility, but weatherproofing is a 1 series / L lenses / top flash model sort of feature, which isn't the market that the 430EX sells to. Adding the ability to control the flash from the camera makes sense now that that feature has trickled down to the 40D.


All the E-TTL Speedlites are good tools. If you can somehow stretch to either the original 580EX or the 580EX II, you may find that gives you more flexibility, but the difference isn't too large. Unless you need an E-TTL master, stroboscopic flash (less use than you might thing), a small amount of extra power (the difference between GN 43 and GN 58 isn't that much - less than a stop) and one or two other minor differences, the 430EX is a fine flash.

As you already have one 580EX II, the 430EX may be all you need. If you save up any more, a flash bracket and off shoe cord (2 or 3) may be worthwhile purchases, to avoid side shadow in portrait orientation. Apart from when I'm grabbing my camera quickly for a couple of shots that I know will be landscape, I always use my flash bracket rather than putting the flash on the hotshoe. Having the relatively compact Newton Di400CR is helpful here, as it means I can keep the bracket in my bag.



David
good info there ^

[r.morales]

Most of us are waiting for the fall rebates . With the rebate it should lower the costs/value of the 580 and 580 II .

[ANGUS]

That is great info David, Thanks. I will put a 580EX II down on m,y "Wish List" of sorts for Christmas but highly doubt i will get it, I think i may get a 430EX and another Pocket Wizard.

I dont ever find shaddows on my portrait orientation shots so i will leave the bracket off my wish list for now.

Thanks guys.

[Cathpah]

not so sure they'd weatherproof any updated 430ex....the idea of weatherproofing is one reason canon can get more bucks from you in pushing you to go for the 580exII

edit: that said, i was surprised when they put some weathersealing on the 40d