580EX available now (old news?)

[pcasciola]

I just noticed the 580EX is available now. Is this old news? And is it worth getting for $300 over the cost of the basic 420EX?

I was hoping the E-TTL II would be better on the 20D. Someone had mentioned posting a list of compatible lenses, but I can't seem to find that thread.

[slin100]

ETTL-II functionality is provided by the camera, not the flash. Furthermore, ETTL-II works with any lens. What you're hinting at is the extra capability of ETTL-II to incoporate distance information supplied by lenses that support it. ETTL-II can function without distance information.

So, don't buy a 580EX for ETTL-II. If you have a 20D or 1D Mk II, you'll have ETTL-II with any EX flash.

[pcasciola]

Yes, I was talking about distance information from the lens. I thought that was the only feature of E-TTL II, and required a 580EX and 20D or 1D Mk II. :oops:

Are you saying the distance information from the lens with either of these bodies with work with any EX flash, in which case the only feature about the 580EX that is specific to the 20D or 1D Mk II is it's ability to zoom the flash to match the effective focal length based on the CMOS sensor size?

[slin100]

Are you saying the distance information from the lens with either of these bodies with work with any EX flash, in which case the only feature about the 580EX that is specific to the 20D or 1D Mk II is it's ability to zoom the flash to match the effective focal length based on the CMOS sensor size?
The 580EX also reports color temperature back to a 20D or 1D Mk II to assist the camera when AWB is set. I have no personal experience whether or not this makes a big difference.

The 580EX also sports a 25% faster recycle time than a 550EX, a slightly smaller form factor, and improved user interface.