580ex Flash

[tombryan]

Just jumped into Canon after years of being a Nikon shooter.

Purchased 2 580ex flash units. Just wondering if any of you who own them have noticed a big improvement over the older models with the newer ETTL II system.

Will Crocket of Shootsmarter.com who is a real exposure freak doesn't hold very high regard to Canon's flash systems. He test all the top equipment and he told me not to get a Canon Flash. Said I would be better off getting a Nikon SB 800 and shoot it on a plain auto setting because of better consistency. Ofcourse what he really recommended is the Quantum T4D or the newer digital Metz (can't remember the model) but it's a $700 flash unit.

I purchased the 580ex's anyway (two of them). Liked the fact that I could use them wireless and I've heard good things about the newer Ettl II.

So just wondering if you like the new 580's. Haven't had a chance to use them a whole lot yet.

[scottbergerphoto]

Starting off by being very negative about Canon gear won't help you get alot of responses to your question. That being said, I own both Canon and Nikon gear and I use 3 550EX's in wireless ETTL. I am very happy with the results I get.

[tim]

ETTL is in the camera body not in the flash unit. I upgraded from 300D to 20D and noticed some improvement in flash performance, but it wasn't huge.

[tombryan]

Just returned from shooting all day. Had a 4 hour wedding and a benefit for the local Community Center. The Canon 580's performed really good for me. Made me glad I purchased them. I do use bounce flash diffusers though and just needed to figure out where my sweet spot was. Everything looks great.

[tombryan]

Starting off by being very negative about Canon gear won't help you get alot of responses to your question. That being said, I own both Canon and Nikon gear and I use 3 550EX's in wireless ETTL. I am very happy with the results I get.

Hi Scott,
Hey, I wasn't trying to be negative. Just share some info or test results that had me a little concerned. I didn't take them to heart or I wouldn't have purchased two 580's. Just wondering if they were posing a problem for anyone.


I had a really good experience with them yesterday. Glad I bought them.

[PacAce]

Just jumped into Canon after years of being a Nikon shooter.

Purchased 2 580ex flash units. Just wondering if any of you who own them have noticed a big improvement over the older models with the newer ETTL II system.

Will Crocket of Shootsmarter.com who is a real exposure freak doesn't hold very high regard to Canon's flash systems. He test all the top equipment and he told me not to get a Canon Flash. Said I would be better off getting a Nikon SB 800 and shoot it on a plain auto setting because of better consistency. Ofcourse what he really recommended is the Quantum T4D or the newer digital Metz (can't remember the model) but it's a $700 flash unit.

I purchased the 580ex's anyway (two of them). Liked the fact that I could use them wireless and I've heard good things about the newer Ettl II.

So just wondering if you like the new 580's. Haven't had a chance to use them a whole lot yet.
The problem with some people who are used to the old auto thyristor flashes is that they have used them for so long and understand how they work. So when a new flash system comes along that requires them to switch their way of thinking by relearning how to use the new system works, they think that the new system is flawed because they find that the results are inconsistent (or so they think, because their brain is still stuck in the old auto-thyristor mode).

The good thing about ETTL-II is that, for those people whose brain is stuck in auto-thyristor mode, they can switch the camera ETTL-II to Average mode and basically get results almost similar to using auto-thyristor flashes. I think ETTL-II in Evaluative mode works just fine in most cases, especially in very difficult lighting or reflectance situations, but it's alway good to know that we have the Average mode available, just in case.

I'm sure you will do verry well with your new 580EX flashes (and, BTW, congratulations on your purchases). I wouldn't put too much stock in someone who makes negative comments about the 580EX, or any product for that matter, after having only used them for testing instead of actually using them out in the field and taking the time to learn how they work.

[tombryan]

Thanks Leo,
I did just find out that I can bypass the evaluation mode in the Custom Function 14 so I can shoot in Average mode. Heard that is a better setting for darker indoor places where the flash is my only light source. So that's really good to know. I'm really impressed on how well the 580ex ETTL II with my 20D does outside. Amazinginly natural looking, even right on Program mode.

Thanks Leo, I do love my new Canon system.