Advice on flash choice

Hey all,

Currently i'm using a 330EX speedlite.

I want to get a new flash and am looking at the Sigma EF-530 DG Super, Canon 430 EX, or the 580 EX II.

I'm wondering what advice you all can give about them. The 530 is about half the price of the 580, and $70 cheaper than the 430. are the Canon flashes worth the extra?

Thanks,
-Dusty-

how do you plan on using them? on camera/off, ettl, manual, wireless/wired

Mostly on camera, or with flash bracket. Mostly shooting indoors, like churches and what not.

As far as manual, etc, not sure cause my current flash has no special settings.

I'm curious where you found a $70 difference between the Sigma and the 430EX. Seems like they're usually $20 to $30 apart.

If the Sigma is that much cheaper, then it's probably a better value for most people. The 430EX is still a very good unit for the money.

With the 580EX, you're paying for features and capabilities most people never use.

aafes has the sigma one for 219.00 which is the cheapest i've found it new.

ratindahat wrote in post #4484429
aafes has the sigma one for 219.00 which is the cheapest i've found it new.

I'm not familiar with aafes, and I don't know where you live. But B&H has the 430EX for $240.

AAFES is a military thing.

is it better to go with the 430 or the sigma?

They're both good units. The differences are minor. For example, the Sigma has an annoying quirk that cancels HSS mode if your shutter speed drops to flash sync speed. Score one for the 430EX if you use HSS a lot. The Sigma has a built-in optical slave that's a sweet feature for off-camera use. Score one for the Sigma if you ever get a second unit.

If price was the same and I was only using it on-camera as a single flash, I'd probably get the 430EX. But either one will perform similarly.

Good question then, do i have to use another sigma flash to trigger the first when using as an optical slave? or is it just triggered by a flash?

Here's where it starts to get complicated.

An optical slave can be triggered by any flash. Another flash unit in manual mode, an old automatic flash, a studio strobe, whatever. This inherent compatibility with other brands is the beauty of optical slaves. Canon Speedlites have no built-in optical slave and most don't work right with slave adapters, so Sigma is the obvious choice if you want this capability.

But the "master" flash cannot by used in E-TTL mode if you want to fire an optical slave. So for instance you can't use the camera's built-in flash to trigger an optical slave because the E-TTL pre-flash will trigger the slave prematurely. So the downside to optical slaves in the digital world is that you need to manually adjust the flash power on both master and slave.

Then you have a completely different technology which is Canon's wireless flash system. You can have E-TTL control with this system which can be nice. The Sigma Super supposedly can be used as either master or slave with this wireless system. But most people who have tried it indicate that the Sigma units do not perform reliably in this mode. So if you have the intent to someday use the wireless E-TTL system I would definitely steer you toward Canon Speedlites.

guess i have a few things to think about before i make a purchase.

ratindahat -- have you bought your flash yet?? I just purchase my 430 for like $200. I the BX / AAFES does not have the best price that i've found.

i haven't bought anything yet.. I was saying that they had the best price on the sigma that i've found. The canon, on the other hand, can be had cheaper than at aafes.

alright, i ordered a 430EX. I should have it here tomorrow, or friday at the latest which is good cause i will need it this weekend.

now, a valid question.

Is there any way to fire my 330EX as a background light? If not, it is no big deal, but if i can it would be really cool.

-Dusty-