430EX II or 550 EX for 7D

Hi all,

Sorry for the relatively simplistic question. I know this is one thing the Sticky was meant to address, but I did a thorough forum search and didn't really find a topic that covered everything I was interested in.

For starters, I have a 7D and a 420EX currently and I am looking to get a more advanced flash to have more control over how much I am outputting for flash photography. I like the idea of having a built in bounce card on the higher end flashes, and I am also interested to know how big of a difference it makes that the 430EX II does a better job with recognizing crop bodies (than the 550, at least thats what my reading seems to indicate).

As far as other advantages that the 550 has:

• Wireless Master: Do I really need this? I don't anticipate doing much off-camera work, and if I do, is there any major advantage that a true wireless master will have over my 7d's built in wireless trigger? I believe there are less limitations in the line-of-sight for a wireless master flash, but I am interested to hear more thoughts on this.
  
• More Power Output: I am perfectly fine with the power output of my 420EX, so I can only imagine I will be more than fine with the output of the 430EX II. This won't be a big motivator for me.
  

singer.rick wrote in post #15577348
Hi all,

Sorry for the relatively simplistic question. I know this is one thing the Sticky was meant to address, but I did a thorough forum search and didn't really find a topic that covered everything I was interested in.

For starters, I have a 7D and a 420EX currently and I am looking to get a more advanced flash to have more control over how much I am outputting for flash photography. I like the idea of having a built in bounce card on the higher end flashes, and I am also interested to know how big of a difference it makes that the 430EX II does a better job with recognizing crop bodies (than the 550, at least thats what my reading seems to indicate).

As far as other advantages that the 550 has:

• Wireless Master: Do I really need this? I don't anticipate doing much off-camera work, and if I do, is there any major advantage that a true wireless master will have over my 7d's built in wireless trigger? I believe there are less limitations in the line-of-sight for a wireless master flash, but I am interested to hear more thoughts on this.
  
• More Power Output: I am perfectly fine with the power output of my 420EX, so I can only imagine I will be more than fine with the output of the 430EX II. This won't be a big motivator for me.
  

All this being said, I am very new to flash photography. I have been playing around with bouncing the flash, and have been very excited to play around with off-camera flash now that I have my 7D. It may be a silly idea to sell my 420EX for a 430EX II but I like the idea of having more control over my flash output.

I think the 580ex would be overkill for my needs.

I don't think it makes sense for me to keep the 420 for use as a slave, as I have the option to do off-camera flash with my 7d, and I already do limited flash work. Looking to try more though!


As always thanks for the help everyone! You guys are the best.

In case that was too wordy, these are my main concerns/questions

1. How large of a difference does the 430EX II being able to recognize that the camera is a crop body make?
   
2. Is there a significant difference or advantage to be gained by using the 550EX as a wireless master over my 7D's built in wireless trigger?
   
3. Do both of these have a built in bounce card?
   
4. General "which one is better for my needs" question.
   

The capability of the wireless optical master in your camera is similar to what the 550/580/580 II offers. It's actually a bit more, since the camera's master is independent of the slaves, but a flash used as a master must belong to the same group as all slaves in group A. But if you want to use a 550 as a master, you need more flashes to act as slaves.

As far as I know (don't have any, only 580 EX II and 600 EX-RT), the 430 EX II doesn't have any bounce card. But a regular playing card and some tape will do the same.

Note that the 430 EX II is the only one of those you mentioned which will be compatible with the setup through the camera's menu system. For a beginner, setting the flash up while reading plain text instead of looking at the display on the flash is easier. You don't accomplish more, but it's easier.

The power difference is about one stop, i.e. if the 430 EX II allows you to use f/5.6, the 580 EX II (or similar) will allow you to use f/8.

Zooming according to crop or not also improves the power. Look in the flash guide book and compare the power (guide number) of the flash at 50 and 80 mm zoom. That's what you'll gain.

singer.rick wrote in post #15579576
In case that was too wordy, these are my main concerns/questions

1. How large of a difference does the 430EX II being able to recognize that the camera is a crop body make?
   
2. Is there a significant difference or advantage to be gained by using the 550EX as a wireless master over my 7D's built in wireless trigger?
   
3. Do both of these have a built in bounce card?
   
4. General "which one is better for my needs" question.
   

My gut is leaning towards the 430EX II, since it is newer and I believe it interacts with my 7D better. I also believe it is more portable.

1. The 430ex2 will adjust for crop. I'm not sure about the 550. One advantage of the 430EX2 is that you have more in camera control via the 7d's flash menu.

2. Sort of. The 7d's flash will quickly get hot and it will limit how fast you can take shots. Also the 7D can not fire slaves via high speed sych, but the 550 can. On the other side, you will not be able to control slaves in manual mode via the 7d's in camera menu and will have to adjust it from the slave directly.

3. The 430EX2 does not have a bounce card built in

4. I went with all EXII version flashes to keep in camera control. Seeing that you already have a 420EX that does not support the in camera control that a 430EX2 gives, I would probably get the 550.

430exII because they are more compatible with uber trigger 622s.

FEChariot wrote in post #15579703
On the other side, you will not be able to control slaves in manual mode via the 7d's in camera menu and will have to adjust it from the slave directly.

The 7D can indeed control slaves in manual mode. They must all be in manual mode, though. But that limitation is the same with an external flash as a master.

Get the EXII version so you have the use of in camera menuing when you eventually start using RF style controls that are compatible with them.

apersson850 wrote in post #15580068
The 7D can indeed control slaves in manual mode. They must all be in manual mode, though. But that limitation is the same with an external flash as a master.

Maybe I just wasn't clear enough. I am talking about using the 550 as a master and being able to control the slaves in manual mode via the in-camera menu. I believe the slave and the master need to be EXII type flashes or newer to have this control.

I would go with the 580EX over either the 550EX or 430EX. The 550EX's tend to eat batteries more so than the newer EX series Speedlites. The cost of buying a used 580EX over either of the 430EX's variants is minimal especially when you consinder that the 580EX offers one stop more flash power, the option of using it as a Master flash in a wireless setup and the flash head will swivel a full 180 degrees both right and left for bounce flash.

I think considering the YONGNUO YN-568EX is worth while. It won't act as a master and it may be a bit less powerful than the 580ex2. But it will do everything else a 580ex2 does for under $200 and I believe they have been proven to be very reliable so far.


http://www.ebay.com …ashes&hash=item​5d379e04c6

If you are excited about bounce, wait till you get it off camera. (check out strobist.com)

FEChariot wrote in post #15579703
2. Sort of. The 7d's flash will quickly get hot and it will limit how fast you can take shots. Also the 7D can not fire slaves via high speed sych, but the 550 can. On the other side, you will not be able to control slaves in manual mode via the 7d's in camera menu and will have to adjust it from the slave directly.

4. I went with all EXII version flashes to keep in camera control. Seeing that you already have a 420EX that does not support the in camera control that a 430EX2 gives, I would probably get the 550.

Right, but I am not happy with my 420ex haha. Also, I am upgrading, not purchasing another. I am planning on selling the 420 most likely. I am just starting to get into flash work and I already have the ability to do off-camera flash, I think having two flashes would be overkill for me at this point.

I plan on buying used most likely no matter what, so there would still be a large price difference. I really think given the fact that I am not looking for a boost in power the 580ex would just be a waste of money for me, I think it would be overkill for what I am doing.

Would the YONGNUO have issues with off-camera flash capabilities of the 7D? I assume I wouldn't be able to control it with the in-camera settings like I would with the 430EX II
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Thanks for all the input everyone!

singer.rick wrote in post #15580769
Would the YONGNUO have issues with off-camera flash capabilities of the 7D? I assume I wouldn't be able to control it with the in-camera settings like I would with the 430EX II

The Yongnuo 568EX, like the 430EX II, is fully compatible with the camera's flash control menu.

Found a used 430 EX II locally on craigslist for $200. Good deal? Anything I should particularly be looking for to see if there are any problems with the unit? Any issues it could have that wouldn't be externally or visually apparent?

Aside from being sure in flashes through it's range, be sure the wide angle diffuser works and that it puts the flash into the wide and angle zoom. Does it work with the camera menuing is another.

windpig wrote in post #15583199
Aside from being sure in flashes through it's range, be sure the wide angle diffuser works and that it puts the flash into the wide and angle zoom. Does it work with the camera menuing is another.

When you say it works, do you mean physically? LIke it comes out and hinges ok etc or is there a way to test that it is actually diffusing the way it should