The 580EX have arrived

[ralee]

I dont know if this is old news in other parts of the world. Canon Canada has shipped the first batch of the 580's and they arrived in the stores yesterday. The arrival date was slated to be Oct 25 ( Hey early WOW!)
If you had one on order maybe yours has arrived. I will be testing the flash and comparing it to my 550. :lol:

[typer77]

Just curious... how much will the 580 EX be better than the 550ex with an ETTL II capable camera? Is it worth the $ getting one? Many thanks

[scottbergerphoto]

Just curious... how much will the 580 EX be better than the 550ex with an ETTL II capable camera? Is it worth the $ getting one? Many thanks
Since no one has one yet, it's hard to know? :roll:

[ralee]

Just curious... how much will the 580 EX be better than the 550ex with an ETTL II capable camera? Is it worth the $ getting one? Many thanks


If it lives up to what Canon claims then it will be well worth getting. Owners of 20D's and MKII's even benefit more with this flash
http://www.canon.ca/english/index-pressrelease.asp?lng=en&cat=1&id=399&arc=0

I will post some feedback in a week.

Rob

[KennyG]

Strangest thing with the 580 is the list of lenses that report the focus distance. Canon does not have a 50mm lens that reports distance for ETTL-II. If anyone is interested I can publish the full list of compatible lenses. All you 1,200mm lens owners can sleep happy, it works. :D

[yenoram]

I'll take you up on that Kenny - I'd love to see a list.

Thanks

[photography By Evangelos]

I will skip the 580 EX for now. I like my 550 EX's and my 420EX all work just fine with the 20D. The price is too high now It will go lower give it a few months or just give dell a call they seem to have the best prices on Canon gear around. I got the 20D kit with lens for $1349 when B&H is selling the same kit for $1599 this is the first time in 6 years I have not purchased camera equipment from some one other that B&H. Just last month I got the the 20D and paid $1500 from B&H. I am at the point were saving money is were it is at. Best of luck but I would not dump my 550's or my 420's they work just fine for me.



Angelo 8)

[DeeplyDigital]

Strangest thing with the 580 is the list of lenses that report the focus distance. Canon does not have a 50mm lens that reports distance for ETTL-II. If anyone is interested I can publish the full list of compatible lenses. All you 1,200mm lens owners can sleep happy, it works. :D

A list would be great.
I have been holding out on a flash waiting for the 580, never had any flash (except onboard) before.

-

[Adam Hicks]

Of course I JUST ordered my 550EX today... to add to my 420. The 420 just didn't feel professional enough on the 20D, and I really need it to remote fire the 420 off camera. Hopefully this is pretty simple.

One thing I loved about my older Minolta Film cameras, you could just pop the flash off (even the cheaper flashes) and fire them remotely without a 'master' flash. It worked perfectly. With the Canon I had to buy two flashes (or the flash controller for more $ than the 420!)

Anyways I suppose if the 580EX is THAT much better I'll trade up, but until then I just need to learn the 550.

I bought another Lumiquest pocket bounce kit as well, the 80/20 kit with the inserts, I've been really pleased with that product.

Adam

[slin100]

Strangest thing with the 580 is the list of lenses that report the focus distance. Canon does not have a 50mm lens that reports distance for ETTL-II.
Just to dispel any possible misconception, ETTL-II has no requirement that the lens must report focus distance in order to function. Focus distance info is optional and not a major component to ETTL-II. It's the evaluative, non-focus-point-centric flash metering that's the key component.

I will skip the 580 EX for now.... The price is too high now It will go lower give it a few months or just give dell a call they seem to have the best prices on Canon gear around.
While I haven't tracked historical prices, I suspect that price erosion over time for the 580EX will not be as steep as they are with camera bodies. Flashes are more like lenses and tend to hold their value over time. The price might drop a bit once supply meets the initial demand, but I would not expect to get a substantially better "deal" on a 580EX six months from now.

[scottbergerphoto]

Of course I JUST ordered my 550EX today... to add to my 420. The 420 just didn't feel professional enough on the 20D, and I really need it to remote fire the 420 off camera. Hopefully this is pretty simple.

One thing I loved about my older Minolta Film cameras, you could just pop the flash off (even the cheaper flashes) and fire them remotely without a 'master' flash. It worked perfectly. With the Canon I had to buy two flashes (or the flash controller for more $ than the 420!)

Anyways I suppose if the 580EX is THAT much better I'll trade up, but until then I just need to learn the 550.

I bought another Lumiquest pocket bounce kit as well, the 80/20 kit with the inserts, I've been really pleased with that product.

Adam
I use two 550EX's and a 420EX with my 10D and Mark II. I use ETTLI and II. I use ratios (A:B):C at (1:3):-1 and it works very well. I hot shoe mount A, lightstand mount B with an umbrella and use C for the background. It makes for a good mobile kit.
Scott

[Deckyon]

Adding the 580, as I need a second flash, and eventually a 3rd. I already have the 550, and when the 580 arrives, the 550 will become the slave.

[scottbergerphoto]

Adding the 580, as I need a second flash, and eventually a 3rd. I already have the 550, and when the 580 arrives, the 550 will become the slave.
I would suggest using the more powerful 580EX as the slave (key light) and the 550EX as Master(fill light). You only want the hot shoe flash to provide some fill and act as Master. Most of your light in a multi light set up, comes from the off camera slave(key light).
Regards,
Scott

[Deckyon]

I am waiting on a Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, so both flashes will be off the camera. Would I still need to have one of the flashes at the camera - I have an L-bracket.

[Mark Kemp]

Strangest thing with the 580 is the list of lenses that report the focus distance. Canon does not have a 50mm lens that reports distance for ETTL-II. If anyone is interested I can publish the full list of compatible lenses. All you 1,200mm lens owners can sleep happy, it works. :D

Is a 580EX powerfull enough to have any effect at the minimum focussing distance of a 1200mm?????

[scottbergerphoto]

I am waiting on a Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, so both flashes will be off the camera. Would I still need to have one of the flashes at the camera - I have an L-bracket.
No, you wouldn't. My personal feeling is that if you can afford it, it is much more useful to have an extra 550EX then an STE2, which can transmit but not provide any fill. With the 550EX instead you can use it just as a transmitter or as a flash/transmitter. I feel a three light set up is much more useful then a two light + STE2 set up. I use my on camera 550 to provide fill to my off camera 550 and a 420 for the background.
Regards,
Scott

[aikidoforever]

Just got my 580EX and 20D yesterday (waiting for the second 580EX). Pretty sweet, however I've got nothing to compare it to other than the Minolta 5600HS. I'm new to the Canon line up and am now on a fairly huge learning curve.

The 20D was fairly simple to figure out, but I'm sure if I'm in a time sensative situation I might forget a few of the features. Ah, but all will come with time...

Very impressed with the Canon stuff guys! Overall the build quality surpasses the Minolta stuff by quite a bit. The recycling time of the 580EX seems quite a bit faster than the Minolta's. The 200 or so pics that I did take yesterday with the flash were all exposed quite accuratly. I do believe the distance intergration is working at a benefit.

Once I get more familiar with the flash I will give you some more input.

Verrrrrryyyyyy happppppy!!!!!!!!