430EXII versus 580EX II

I got a 430 EXII when I bought the camera. Reading the manual, I tried some OCF and got hooked! I got a second one! The 7D/60D/T3i wireless control is great to get you into studio portraiture in a minimalist kind of way... Love it!

The scroll wheel and the range of motion on the head are what do it for me. All of the other features are a plus. Navigating through the menu system of either flash will leave you wanting a scroll wheel. This becomes crucial in OCF setups where you are shooting the flash in "M".

Tiberius47 wrote in post #14363006
This.

If you haven't started playing around with flash yet, keep your 430 and start playing. The 430 is a good flash and you won't feel limited.

Play around with off camera flash as well. You already have every thing you need to do it. Check the link in my signature for a tutorial on the Canon wireless flash system.

Thanks, will do.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #14360280
The 430ex2 cycles faster than a 580ex2

I have both, and this isn't my experience. The 580ex ii recycles much, much faster than the 430ex ii

I'm guessing than the typical number that are quoted are for a 'full power' recycle, which isn't a good statistic, since the 580ex ii power is much greater, it requires a smaller fraction of the full power to obtain the same exposure as the 430ex.

good thing about the 430 EX II over the 580 EX II?

the 430s won't get fried from the Pocket Wizard Flex system

If you get the 580 lets us know. Also is it worth the extra cost. I am currently looking here to buy a used one but not sure to get the 430ex II or 580ex II.

I just got my second 580-EXII today. Looking forward to getting some play time with it...

I upgraded my 550EX to a 580EX II and now have both. I use the 580 EX II exclusively, as I haven't yet tried multi-flash work. Like the other respondents, I am awestruck on the super fast cycle time on the 580 EX II, especially with Eneloop batteries! The 550 literally sucked down 4 Energizer Bunnies with 30-40 shots before it got too slow to cycle for my needs.

I'm just in the process of getting started using a flash bracket. As I don't shoot posed situations, unless I set up the 550 remotely in a corner somewhere, I don't know as I'll be in a multi-flash situation very often, if at all. Maybe someday, however...

bratkinson wrote in post #14382493
I upgraded my 550EX to a 580EX II and now have both. I use the 580 EX II exclusively, as I haven't yet tried multi-flash work.
...
As I don't shoot posed situations, unless I set up the 550 remotely in a corner somewhere, I don't know as I'll be in a multi-flash situation very often, if at all. Maybe someday, however...

Check out the link in my signature. I;ve got a wireless flash tutorial that will tell you how to set it up. Well worth having a play with!

Tiberius47 wrote in post #14384627
Check out the link in my signature. I;ve got a wireless flash tutorial that will tell you how to set it up. Well worth having a play with!

Bookmarked! Very well written, thanks for sharing.

I would suggest looking for a (2?) 550EX used. You can get both of them for the price of a new 580-2. Once you start playing with multiple flash, you will want 3 of them. One for main, one for fill, and one for back light. There exactly 7,209,003,382 different ways to use 3 flashes together. Try them all. Oops! Just thought of another...

Really the 550EX is a very good unit. The main problem is that you can't control it from the camera like you can the 580-2.

quick question. for 430 ex II or 580 ex II, simply by putting it into manual mode off camera will make it act like an optical slave, correct? Or are their other settings that need to be done? You don't need a separate optical slave trigger, right?

weegee wrote in post #14384841
quick question. for 430 ex II or 580 ex II, simply by putting it into manual mode off camera will make it act like an optical slave, correct? Or are their other settings that need to be done? You don't need a separate optical slave trigger, right?

Manual mode just means that you set the power. You need to put the flash into Slave mode. Read the manual for that. You'll need a Master (7D, 60D, 580exII, 550ex, etc.) to set off the Slave flashes. Usually when we mention optical slaves, we mean the devices that trigger a flash/strobe when it sees any flash of light. While the Canon system is light based, it's not quite the same thing.

So if I'm using a 580 exII or strobe/monolight, I set up the 430 in slave and put in manual since there's no ETTL communication, and it'll fire on the light from the other flashes?

I have a 5d2. Do you need a certain camer to trigger like this?

I have the green sonia infared triggers, but I wasn't sure if I was redundantly using them if I can just set up the flash to go off on other flash.

430EX II is a VERY good flash. I have no experience with the 580... but I feel like I dont need it. My 60D triggers the 430EX II wirelessly in either ETTL or manual mode. Seems to activate it pretty far too. The 430EX II cycles fairly fast and has a very powerful flash on full power. There is also a mod that can be done so that the head swivels much like the 580EX II. Just requires sanding down a metal ring.

I say save the money and get the 430EX II now for a single flash, then later if you want a second then consider the 580 for the master ability.