Missed in the 20D hoopla.. the **580 EX**

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well.. Scottes is going to hate me...

I've been holding off on a 550EX for no particular reason.. for now I have Scottes' old 480EX he only JUST replaced with the bolder beefier 550EX...

Seems that waiting may pay off.. the 580EX has just replaced the 550 as Canon's flagship flash.

SPEEDLITE 580EX is Canon’s new flagship flash unit (http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos20d/580EX/index.html)

[Cadwell]

The 580EX looks interesting. It may go on my shopping list.

[CyberDyneSystems]

It's on mine :wink:

[cmM]

Another kick in the @ss for Nikon's SB-800 :P
I'm starting to enjoy this.

I wonder how much it's gonna be.

[timmyquest]

Another kick in the @ss for Nikon's SB-800 :P
I'm starting to enjoy this.

I wonder how much it's gonna be.

I'd guess about $500

I suspect lots of people being able to get a 550EX. I like the crop factor stuff but otherwise i'ts not all that important to me. It is pretty darn sexy though.

[Jesper]

I've read somewhere that it's going to be EXPENSIVE. Remember, this is Canon's top-of-the-line flash....

One neat feature: it has a zooming flash head that takes the sensor size (crop factor) in consideration and even takes white balance into account:

When the SPEEDLITE 580EX receives image size data from a supported EOS digital camera*, the flash head automatically zooms to match the effective angle of view. The resulting flash coverage is more accurate. When color temperature data is automatically transmitted from the SPEEDLITE 580EX to a camera*, the camera sets the color balance for the optimal flash shot.
* EOS 20D, EOS-1D Mark II (firmware update necessary) or later camera models
(Too bad for the Digital Rebel / 300D owners....)

[Scottes]

Well, I'm not that upset. There's not enough there for me (w/10D) to care - I still would have gotten the 550EX.

And as I said, I'll take the 420EX back, CDS, no problem.

[davkenrem]

But will the new flash work as well or better on a 10D as the 550EX, and will there be a firmware upgrade to give 10D owners E-TTL II ? The MARK II will require a firmware upgrade to use E-TTL II .

[CyberDyneSystems]

Er... no the MkII has ETTL2.. the MkII firmware will need an update to take advantage of some specific functions the 580EX has, but the ETTL2 is allready in the body.. not the flash.

Wether or not the 10D or other NON Ettl2 cameras will be able to take advantage of these features.. and thus need or be able to use a firmware update is unlikely.

[DocFrankenstein]

That's great. Now I'm even more confused.

What would make more sense... to put 550EX or the 580ex on the rebel? :?

[timmyquest]

That's great. Now I'm even more confused.

What would make more sense... to put 550EX or the 580ex on the rebel? :?

580, the 550's zoom doesnt take the 1.6 crop factor into consideration. The 580 was built with the digital photographer in mind.

[drisley]

I also like the fact that the 580EX is smaller than the 550EX.
That was one reason I got the 420EX instead.
However, the 580EX is going to cost around $650Cdn. That's alot of money for a flash, especially if you already have one.

[timmyquest]

I also like the fact that the 580EX is smaller than the 550EX.
That was one reason I got the 420EX instead.
However, the 580EX is going to cost around $650Cdn. That's alot of money for a flash, especially if you already have one.

Sure is a lot of cash for a flash

...


....


.....

sorry........*crickets*.....

[Kinger]

That's great. Now I'm even more confused.

What would make more sense... to put 550EX or the 580ex on the rebel? :?

580, the 550's zoom doesnt take the 1.6 crop factor into consideration. The 580 was built with the digital photographer in mind.

But actually if I read all of the info correctly you need ETTL2 in order to take advantage of the flash compinsating for the 1.6 crop factor. Since the Rebel is only ETTL the 580 would act the same as the 550, so the 550EX would be the prefered due to the price difference.

[Jesper]

That's great. Now I'm even more confused.

What would make more sense... to put 550EX or the 580ex on the rebel? :?

580, the 550's zoom doesnt take the 1.6 crop factor into consideration. The 580 was built with the digital photographer in mind.

Read the small print! That feature will NOT work with the Digital Rebel and the 10D.

"When the SPEEDLITE 580EX receives image size data from a supported EOS digital camera*, the flash head automatically zooms to match the effective angle of view. The resulting flash coverage is more accurate. When color temperature data is automatically transmitted from the SPEEDLITE 580EX to a camera*, the camera sets the color balance for the optimal flash shot.
* EOS 20D, EOS-1D Mark II (firmware update necessary) or later camera models"

[kiwimichael]

I've read somewhere that it's going to be EXPENSIVE. Remember, this is Canon's top-of-the-line flash....


On Canon's German site the recommended price is EUR 499. This is about the same price that I paid fo my 550 a number of years ago, but more than the current price (arount EUR385).

Cheers
Michael

[Pekka]

580 seems like a good improvement to 550 so most likely I'll get one when they arrive - especially for WB reasons. But what I was hoping to see was a new radio slave system - I really hate those blinking lights and compromises one has to do to overcome limitations of infrared transmission.

Also, there is no mention of weather sealing. 550 can't take much water on it before going haywire (tested that).

[In Hoc Up2 Eyeballs]

Another kick in the @ss for Nikon's SB-800 :P
I'm starting to enjoy this.

I wonder how much it's gonna be.

I'd guess about $500

I suspect lots of people being able to get a 550EX. I like the crop factor stuff but otherwise i'ts not all that important to me. It is pretty darn sexy though.

I thought I saw a price of $485 US.

[rickc]

If the picture they showed is any guide, the damn flash is bigger than the camera it's connected to.

rich..

[toonse]

Ever seen a 550 attached to any of Canon's cameras? It's bigger than that :)


If the picture they showed is any guide, the damn flash is bigger than the camera it's connected to.

rich..

[drisley]

The 580EX is smaller than the 520EX

[Jesper]

Ever seen a 550 attached to any of Canon's cameras? It's bigger than that :)
No, the 580 EX is smaller than the 550 EX: "Reducing width by 4mm and weight by 30g, the SPEEDLITE 580EX matches sophistication with handling ease." (from Canon's website (http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos20d/580EX/index.html)).

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos20d/580EX/images/camera+580EX.gif

[CyberDyneSystems]

Ever seen a 550 attached to any of Canon's cameras? It's bigger than that :)
No, the 580 EX is smaller than the 550 EX: "Reducing width by 4mm and weight by 30g, the SPEEDLITE 580EX matches sophistication with handling ease." (from Canon's website (http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos20d/580EX/index.html)).

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos20d/580EX/images/camera+580EX.gif

lol,..

I interpreted toonse's statement to be an accurate assesment of the fact that the 550EX is "bigger than that" ie: the 550 is bigger than the 580...

I think that's what he meant.. :wink:

Anyway.. they're all BIG.. I've just been using the 480 and it's big! :shock:

[Tom W]

I like that dial on the back - I just know that it will be useful. It goes at the bottom of a long list for me. Not essential, but nice to have.

[toonse]

Aye, I was saying the 550 is larger than the 580. "That" was refering to the picture of the 20D with the 580EX mounted on it.