430 or 430 II with 7D

Hi,

I was all primed to pick up a 430EX II as suggested to me by forum members here but people keep offering the MK1 version and ~I started wondering what would I be loosing by getting one of those instead as its a cheaper option.

My uses will be macro (bugs for the most part) and family shots - I would be tempted by HSS to help capture my daughter running about like a nutter, plus bugs can fair shift too!

Oh, I am a total noob when using flash so it needs to "just work"

Cheers,

John

Without getting too deep , I have a 430 MkI and if you can save reasonable money, I say go for it.
Flashes are not as long term as lenses though, they don't last for ever so I'd only buy used if big saving over new.

Cheers - the 430 Mk1's tend to go for £110-120, where as the Mk2 for £150-160, but thats second hand.

So is it not worth risking the Mk1?

Your decision. Just pointing out flashes do wear out more than some other equipment.
A flash is also easily abused, 430EX manual states "no more than 20 continuous burst,after 20 continuous burst allow a rest time of at least 10 minutes"

Extreme case, but common for people to just assume they can just shoot away with flash not realising it cannot keep up with the body and lens.

Not common for people to read the manual either....

hehe, that sounds like me!

Good to know before I get one - thank you.

I went with the II because of the locking mechanism and metal foot. I'm too lazy to turn the wheel lock every time to mount/dismount the flash, so the lever mechanism alone is worth the money to me

At the mo I'm thinking if I can get a 430 mk1 for £100 then I'll go with that otherwise I'll get a mk 2

I dont see this mentioned but the MKII gives you in camera menu control, I dont think the mkI gives you that, that means that you have to go into the menus of the flash to make adjustments, while you can do it on the camera friendly menu on your 7D with the MKII
Plus the MKII is noiseless charging , the MKI gives you the wining hight pitch noise while charging
Add to that the new locking mechanism and metal foot is important to me
The recycle time is a bit faster on the MKII
Now he 7D gives you wireless command control and will work equally fine with both as you will be making adjustments on your camera anyway
Is a matter of saving some cash for the features mentioned, Id get the MKII IMO

Even at £50 or £60 less?

Sorry if it seems an odd question but being new to flash I don't know how much using the menu matters

Changing the menus in the flash ( I am not talking about FEC, you do that in camera with both units) but changing the in flash custom menus can be done in the 7D menu without touching the flash with te MKII.
Depending on how you use your flash and how much you know your 7D menus it can be a great deal of saving time in the field
The custom menus and manual settings changing touching the flash controls can be sometimes confusing and time consuming while much more direct and friendlier user feedback looking at your camera menus, again assuming you know your 7D menus (eJ reading the manual).

This can be a big deal for you Or it can mean nothing depending on the type and style of photography of use you give your flash

The good thing is that if you use the Commander mode of you 7D on wireless settings, pretty much both flashes will do what you dial on your settings in camera, but not when the flash is on the hot shoe, for that the MKII is friendlier.

Here is a pretty concise explanation of some of the differences between the 430EX and 430EXii.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=xDEU_sdhFA8