If i am not using multiple speedlites as slaves is the 580EX worth it?

its only a $100 difference but im trying to decide. I basically need a good hotshoe flash for times i cant set up real strobes.

thanks

Well... I opted for the best model when I was buying so that I wouldn't be wondering if I could be getting anything better. I'd be really interested in getting a 430 now and comparing.

Quite honestly I almost never use it at full juice or at long distances (mostly fill flash) so I'm not sure that the 580 has any significant advantage over the 430 in these situations.. I'm sure someone with more knowledge can comment there.

The Canon 580EX is a very nice flash unit.

But, do you want an ad hoc studio based on off camera hotshoe type flash units?

If you have a very large pile of cash (at least $1,200.00 for a three light setup), then get the Canon gear.

If you want about the same thing, and do not have a high stack of cash to spend, get some Sunpak 383 flash units (only $80.00 each) and use them as the basis for you battery powered ad hoc studio.

See these threads for info:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=242847

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=246797

Enjoy! Lon

When bouncing the flash in large rooms or filling shadows in midday sun there are times when my 430EX falls just a little bit short. When indoors, I can just up the ISO, but if I need to overpower the sun, especially on HSS, my only option is to get closer as my main light (the sun) has no manual controls

I sometimes wish i'd spent a little more cash for the extra stop of light.

Good compare of 580 and 430:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …eedlite-Flash-Review.aspx

go for the 430

I bought the 580EX first, and just now got a 430EX. The 580EX absolutely is a deeper device, has a lot more control, and has a much better combination of UI and control surfaces...with a bit of a higher learning curve.

The 430EX is nice but the dial on the 580EX makes changing your settings way faster and easier (like the dial on the back of the 30D and 5D, et al.). The 580EX dials down to 1/128 power...the 430EX, only to 1/32. I prefer the swivel head on the 580EX. Of course, the 430EX is a great unit. Nothing wrong with it at all, but I just prefer the controls of the 580...the press-buttons on the 430 depress unnecessarily deeply, makes it more of a burden to use for me. The 430, of course, is smaller and lighter, a big benefit to some.

But back to your question: assess both, read the aforementioned review, go into a shop and use both. If the better interface and deeper control set of the 580 isn't worth $100 to you, then you can't go wrong with a 430EX for your first Speedlite. Either way, it's (once again) a matter of what you want the unit to do and how much time you want to invest learning its in's and out's.

I love my strobe and shoot with it when ever I need it and am able to, but I have a 430EX that just stays in my camera bag and is quite handy on occasion.

Regards,
Zac

Just a thought. To change your FEC with the 350D which you say you have, you have to access the menus. This can be burdensome (is that a word) to do on the fly. The 580 allows you to do the same with a turn of the dial. That feature alone plus the increased power (capable distance) are great benefits to this flash. I have the 580 and 420 and while the 420 is a bit smaller and easier to carry around I find that I am more fond of the 580. I of course may be speaking out of turn. Can you change the FEC on the 430 on the fly. If so that would probably sway me towards the 430 if I have no intention of a master/slave setup in the future. Just something to think about.