FOR YOU GUYS THAT HAVE USED BOTH

[umphotography]

430 and the 580

i currently have the 430ex. its working great and i like it alot. we need another flash. i havnt used the 580. for you guys that have,,is there that much of a difference b/t the two flashes to justify stepping up to the 580. 430's are super reasonable and work well. i have 3 ab400's and if i can got power i have all the flash capability i might need. again, the 430 works great for me but if im going to buy another flash,,or two:rolleyes:,,,does it justify the expense.


thanks in advance

[Curtis N]

It would help to know why you need another flash unit, and what kind of shooting you expect to do with it.

[PacAce]

430 and the 580

i currently have the 430ex. its working great and i like it alot. we need another flash. i havnt used the 580. for you guys that have,,is there that much of a difference b/t the two flashes to justify stepping up to the 580. 430's are super reasonable and work well. i have 3 ab400's and if i can got power i have all the flash capability i might need. again, the 430 works great for me but if im going to buy another flash,,or two:rolleyes:,,,does it justify the expense.


thanks in advance
The main advantage the 580EX has over the 430EX, other than power, is the fact that the 580EX can serve as a master to other EX slave flashes. So, if don't expect to be using your EX flashes in an ETTL wireless remote configuration, you might be better off saving your money and getting the 430EX unless you really need the extra power from the 580EX and think the price difference justifies the extra 1 stop increase in flash ouput.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I have both.
If I only had the 430ex , and was looking at another flash, I'd grab the 580 ex

1. To use as master with the 430
2. Because the way I use flash I often need more power than the 430 has to offer.

[umphotography]

It would help to know why you need another flash unit, and what kind of shooting you expect to do with it.

we have 2 40d's,,currently have 1 430 and are going to get another flash anyway. dont think i would be using the 580 to slave with,HOWEVER, YA NEVER KNOW DO YA. if i can hook up the ab400's with 110 power, the optic sensors would trigger with a flash or with the pocket wizards i would have alot of control. that being said, no power, the 580/430 combo would work. still researching that issue.

does the 580 put out THAT MUCH MORE LIGHT than the 430.

[PacAce]

we have 2 40d's,,currently have 1 430 and are going to get another flash anyway. dont think i would be using the 580 to slave with,HOWEVER, YA NEVER KNOW DO YA. if i can hook up the ab400's with 110 power, the optic sensors would trigger with a flash or with the pocket wizards i would have alot of control. that being said, no power, the 580/430 combo would work. still researching that issue.

does the 580 put out THAT MUCH MORE LIGHT than the 430.
Almost a stop which, in light intensity terms, makes the 580EX almost twice as bright as the 430EX. Or, in 430EX terms, the 580EX is almost equal to having two 430EX flashes firing together. ;)

[SuzyView]

I have both. I think the 430 is great for when you don't know if you need something. The 580 is the best, so you take it if you know you need it. As a pro, you take the best one, so for most important shoots, I take the 580. But the 430 tends to stay in the bag in the car while I take in the camera. If I need it, I run to the car. But that rarely happens. The worst thing is to not have one at all. I use the 580 as a master with the 430 and 550. I bought the 430 because of the double rebates, but it's a great little flash. Can't lose with either one. But if you plan on using these flashes together some time in the future, get the 580 first.

[umphotography]

thanks everyone,,,,,,,,appreciate the input. looks like a 580 is about to be ordered