550 vs 580 flash

[Saturn]

Hello:

Been using a Canon 550 flash for about 2 years now. Just purchased a 580. My opinion is, don't waste your money on upgrading to the 580. Using it with a 10D, and 20D, the same issues for the 580 appear as with the 550. I get great exposures, but get them by constantly manipulating the flash-exposure compensation, based on the shooting conditions. Not difficult, but not very automatic either. I've found these flash units to be no more "exposure proficient" than my hearty Vivitar 283's (which cost about $90).

While I'm crabbing, the 580 is a step backwards in that the battery door has been moved to the opposite side of the flash, meaning that now, when you attach an external battery source, the plug for the external battery does not block the battery door (on the 580). This feature on the 550 helped to avoid accidental battery door opening; a feature now gone on the 580.

Progress!

[scottbergerphoto]

I recently bought my third 550EX and use them in a portable wireless flash kit. I have been very happy with the results and get consisitent exposures. I don't know why there has been such a wide range of experience with the ETTL/ETTLII flash system.

I shot these last weekend:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/christmas_2004
Happy Holidays:)
Scott

[DaveG]

I recently bought my third 550EX and use them in a portable wireless flash kit. I have been very happy with the results and get consisitent exposures. I don't know why there has been such a wide range of experience with the ETTL/ETTLII flash system.

I shot these last weekend:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/christmas_2004
Happy Holidays:)
Scott

I found that the E-TTL was jut awful (plus or minus 2 stops in either direction & for no explicable reason) with a one flash setup on the 10D; but excellent with the wireless TTL and a second flash.

The one flash setup with E-TTL II is much better (usually minus 2/3 of a stop) with the 20D but still isn't close to being perfect. The wireless remains the same and I get excellent, right on, results.

The one possible advantage (to me) of the 580 is that's it's smaller and should fit better in a Stroboframe Pro-T bracket as far as getting the flash head right over the lens.

Interestingly enough the "feature" that Canon talks about with the 580, the flash's ability to compensate for the effective focal lenth of a lens on a 1.6 camera, could actually be a problem when flash is being used on a flip backet like the Pro-T and with a very wide angle on the camera. In the vertical position the flash is still horizontal so it's throwing its light mostly left and right when the lens could actually use a little more light up and down.

With a 550 and say a 16-35 at 16mm, the beam of light is going to be as close to 16mm as the flash can make it, since the flash thinks that the 16 is being used full frame. This extra flash "slop" helps with that up/down coverage. Now with a 580 the flash is going to say, "Hey this 16mm is really 25mm so I shouldn't be as wide." and there's going to be a potential vignetting problem. I just hope that with the 580 you can shut the "feature" off.

[charlesu]

Hello:

Been using a Canon 550 flash for about 2 years now. Just purchased a 580. My opinion is, don't waste your money on upgrading to the 580. Using it with a 10D, and 20D, the same issues for the 580 appear as with the 550. I get great exposures, but get them by constantly manipulating the flash-exposure compensation, based on the shooting conditions. Not difficult, but not very automatic either. I've found these flash units to be no more "exposure proficient" than my hearty Vivitar 283's (which cost about $90).

Progress!

I have to say that my experience has been quite different. While I typically got good results with my 550s, I found that I needed to keep an eye on exposure. The 580 just mounts and goes with either my 1dMkii or my 20D. The results are not any better really but it seems more fool proof.

Nothing wrong with 283 and 285 Vivitar's. I use them too and carry a 285 which I use with my Polaroid 600SE (a very cool camera in case you are not familiar). But they don't do ETTL II so they are not as easy to use as the dedicated Canon.

[dobova]

SIghhh!!!
The flash capability and Canon digital camera getting really a long discussion. I must admit that never had problems, and never asked myself what's going wrong, with EOS 1V and EOS3 film cameras. Now getting digital with Canon line (tried 10D, 20D, 1D, 1DMKII) and have very different behaviour with the Canon 550ex flash. It's ridicolous to say that 300D and 550ex works lot better then old 1D. Some more step ahead I've done with 1DMKII but it's really different from film camera. FEC, not FEC, valutative, evaluative, spot, auto don't know. I get better snaps in manual mode and sometime in P mode. I've not yet find a law under the hood of this story. Looked a lot of documents, but as soon as I say "I've understood" something goes different from what I intended.
One day I'll dedicate full time flash study !
I'll use flash only on 300D for the moment ;-).

Ciao

[robertwgross]

If you need to study flash photography, read the tutorials by scottbergerphoto. He's about ready to finish up his PhD dissertation on Canon flash.

---Bob Gross---

[triangle]

If you need to study flash photography, read the tutorials by scottbergerphoto. He's about ready to finish up his PhD dissertation on Canon flash.

---Bob Gross---Where can I find this, my 580 should be delivered today. I am interested in learning all I can. Thanks. :)

[PacAce]

Where can I find this, my 580 should be delivered today. I am interested in learning all I can. Thanks. :)

2nd sticky from the top. But I'm not sure if the links in it have been fixed or not.

[triangle]

Thanks, my 580 arrived right after I posted. Now I am off to shoot some great shots at our family Christmas gathering hopefully. Wish me luck. (I took some practice shots, and am pleased with my results.) Merry Christmas to all!!!:D

[triangle]

:D :D :D Very happy with my 580EX, it has really changed the appearance of my photos with my DRebel. I was always having a tough time with low-light/night shots even with my built-in flash. I am so glad I made this purchase! I know that I have a long way to go in learning all that it can do, but I am getting some priceless photos as of now. I am posting a few and welcome input. Thanks, everyone have a great New Year!


Shooting Mode Portrait, 1/60, 4.5, 100 ISO, 70-300mm, 580EX bounce flash

http://www.trianglephotography.com/events/personal/best_friends.jpg



Shooting Mode AE, 1/60, 5.0, 100 ISO, 70-300mm, 580EX bounce flash


http://www.trianglephotography.com/events/personal/girls.jpg