FIrst flash 430 EX II or 580 EX II

This will be my first flash so I really have no experience. Should I go for the 430 EX II or would it be worth my while to put out the extra money for the 580 EX II ?

What is you intended use?

Both are great flashes.
The 430 is lighter (I use my 430's more than my 580 because of that)

580 head swivels 360 degrees
430 head swivels 270 degrees
that can be more handy than it would appear, especially if you are using the flash in a Canon wireless configuration

580 has a high guide number, but I generally don't max my light out anyway

430 is less money

buy the 430 now and the 580 when you want wireless off camera ETTL

I'm sure others will chime in.

Having a flash in wonderful.

agreed. 430 now, and 580 when you are comfy with flash (and manual flash, see the link in my signature!) and you want to play with off camera flash.

One really annoying thing about the 430 EX II is that when you shoot in portrait orientation, you can only bounce flash straight up, or straight behind you. You can't rotate the head so you're bouncing up and over your shoulder because Canon stupidly decided to make the rotation dead zone at 3-6 o'clock (looking down at your flash from above when its facing forward). There's a mod to fix this however, I intend to do it to my flash.

Get the 580 hands down. The 430 has 2/3rds the power of the 580. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Also, the 580 can be a master to other flashes. It is better to learn one model than several since the menu settings are not the same across the board. Time saved having one model and not playing or searching for the correct setting is money earned. That is my .02 worth.

I have both flashes and trust me -- After I bought the 580 I seldom use the 430ex anymore, except for strobist shoots.

If you have the money invest on a quadra

The price of a used Speedlite is pretty stable. You may get a 430EX II here. If there comes the time you want a 580EX II instead, sell the 430EX II and you won't lose more than $50.

580EXII

After reading numerous posts of peoples 580exII's basically shorting out/frying because of a bad design, I went with the 430exII. Waiting for the 580exII upgrade.

I have three 580EX II speedlights, and previously owned several of the 580EX, and none of them have shorted out or otherwise malfunctioned. In fact, just the opposite, they have been extremely reliable. But then again I don't use the Pocketwizard Flex system.

PixelMagic wrote in post #12503134
I have three 580EX II speedlights, and previously owned several of the 580EX, and none of them have shorted out or otherwise malfunctioned. In fact, just the opposite, they have been extremely reliable. But then again I don't use the Pocketwizard Flex system.

There are many cases where the pocket wizards have nothing to do with the flash frying. It's a bad design period and why I would never buy one.

http://www.canonrumors​.com …ndex.php/topic,​615.0.html

I have 2 580EXIIs, and have previously sold 2 430EXIIs that I had. Both are great flash units, but my gripe against the 430EXII is working the controls on the back. No one else has mentioned it here, but I find the controls on the 580EXII much more to my liking in changing settings.....just a thought.

CamFan01 wrote in post #12503231
I have 2 580EXIIs, and have previously sold 2 430EXIIs that I had. Both are great flash units, but my gripe against the 430EXII is working the controls on the back. No one else has mentioned it here, but I find the controls on the 580EXII much more to my liking in changing settings.....just a thought.

The dial is better, but I still have problems with either 'cause I'm all thumbs.

Oh yeah... we know that PocketWizard/LPA researh (to which you linked) is objective.

HastyPhoto wrote in post #12503187
There are many cases where the pocket wizards have nothing to do with the flash frying. It's a bad design period and why I would never buy one.

http://www.canonrumors​.com …ndex.php/topic,​615.0.html