430ex question for you flash experts

smartshooter says to get a flash that does ttl,auto,and manual,,which the 430 does. to put the 430,,flash only,, in auto mode,,not the camera,,this is where im confused. smartshooter says to use custom function 5 on the 580. im assuming its the same on the 430. put the 430 in custom mode and leave it a 0 for being enabled-------im talking for outdoor fill flash where you want to fill in and get some pop in the eyes

is this righ and am i on the right track ?? would like to try this.

The 430 doesn't have auto, just ettl and manual. The only Canon flash with auto is the 580EX II. What you're trying isn't possible.

so i have to do the aperature/f/stop method?

Or use ETTL, Canon's version of auto. Auto means there's a sensor in the flash that decides how much light to put out, ETTL works by metering Through The Lens that's fitted to the camera.

tim wrote in post #6011644
Or use ETTL, Canon's version of auto. Auto means there's a sensor in the flash that decides how much light to put out, ETTL works by metering Through The Lens that's fitted to the camera.

so if i use it (ETTL) in the custom modes (m,av,tv),, i should be measuring the light with a lightmeter and shooting a stop below measured light for fill flash purposes. the 430 doesnt have a fill flash type mode

what would custom 5 functions,,or the other custom flash function be used for ?? now i am confused because the owners manual that came with the 430 is not clear to me on custom flash functions. custom 5 is a madeling flash function. guess im not sure how it would be used. i was trying to apply for fill flash purposes for outside shooting

thanks in advance

slowdad wrote in post #6012289
so if i use it (ETTL) in the custom modes (m,av,tv),, i should be measuring the light with a lightmeter and shooting a stop below measured light for fill flash purposes. the 430 doesnt have a fill flash type mode

what would custom 5 functions,,or the other custom flash function be used for ?? now i am confused because the owners manual that came with the 430 is not clear to me on custom flash functions. custom 5 is a madeling flash function. guess im not sure how it would be used. i was trying to apply for fill flash purposes for outside shooting

thanks in advance

Forget about trying to equate the custom functions of the 580EX II with that of the 430EX. They're not the same. AAMOF, they're not even consistent between the 580EX and the 580EX II.

If you set the flash to ETTL mode, the camera will do all the flash metering for you. There's no need to do it yourself. AAMOF, I wouldn't even attempt doing that if you want to keep your sanity (the flash output is next to impossible to meter accurately in ETTL mode). Just use the FEC on the flash or camera to control the relative output of the flash. And you don't have to worry about setting any of the custom functions for any of this.

PacAce wrote in post #6012406
Forget about trying to equate the custom functions of the 580EX II with that of the 430EX. They're not the same. AAMOF, they're not even consistent between the 580EX and the 580EX II.

If you set the flash to ETTL mode, the camera will do all the flash metering for you. There's no need to do it yourself. AAMOF, I wouldn't even attempt doing that if you want to keep your sanity (the flash output is next to impossible to meter accurately in ETTL mode). Just use the FEC on the flash or camera to control the relative output of the flash. And you don't have to worry about setting any of the custom functions for any of this.

yup guess i was hoping:o. thats what ive been doing. the flash output controls in ettl works trick. ill keep doing that. guess i may have to consider the 580 after all:p. going to look at the metz and the quantom before stepping up. this 430 really is a great flash and im not really having problems. just trying out different things. saw this modeling mode and was really hoping.

anyone know if the 430 is compatible with the metz or the quantom if you set up and try to use the 430 with a slave to either one

slowdad wrote in post #6012530
yup guess i was hoping:o. thats what ive been doing. the flash output controls in ettl works trick. ill keep doing that. guess i may have to consider the 580 after all:p. going to look at the metz and the quantom before stepping up. this 430 really is a great flash and im not really having problems. just trying out different things. saw this modeling mode and was really hoping.

anyone know if the 430 is compatible with the metz or the quantom if you set up and try to use the 430 with a slave to either one

The Metz 58 AF-1C can be used as a master for the 430EX so those two should work out OK togheter. However, a Quantum flash can only be used as a slave just like the 430EX, so, you'll be short a master with the Quantum/430EX setup unless you get an ST-E2 or another flash that can serve as the master.

PacAce wrote in post #6012565
The Metz 58 AF-1C can be used as a master for the 430EX so those two should work out OK togheter. However, a Quantum flash can only be used as a slave just like the 430EX, so, you'll be short a master with the Quantum/430EX setup unless you get an ST-E2 or another flash that can serve as the master.

thanks alot. appreciate that piece of the pie. the metz looks like a great product

The Metz 58 AF-1C cost $389, 580EXII $419 - I would (did) take the Canon one without a second thought. If there was $50-60 difference on the other hand...
So what is different on the Metz which makes it look better than the Canon?

cvt01 wrote in post #6013172
The Metz 58 AF-1C cost $389, 580EXII $419 - I would (did) take the Canon one without a second thought. If there was $50-60 difference on the other hand...
So what is different on the Metz which makes it look better than the Canon?

I agree (although I have both)!

Pros for the Metz 58 AF-1C:

1) Better exposure using Auto mode <the 580EX II tends to underexpose horribly in Auto mode>

2) Automatic setting of the aperture and ISO in Auto mode (but can be set manually, too) <the 580EX II is set automatically only with the Mark III and newer cameras; with older cameras, settings have to made manually>

3) In ETTL wireless mode, 4 groups instead of three (i.e. A, B, C and M for the master which is in its own group)

4) Dual flash head

5) USB port for future firmware upgrades (without this, I'd be a really unhappy camper with my Metz flash right now)


Pros for the Canon 580EX II:

1) A more erogonically designed user interface <it takes longer to get used to the Metz UI>

2) Fully compatible with future Canon cameras <the Metz may or may not work with future cameras although it is firmware upgradable if it's not and they come out with a "fix" for it>

3) Can make use of the max sync speed at full power output <the Metz is limited to 1/125 at full power output due to a longer flash duration>

4) Looks and feels more solidly built than the Metz

5) Whether sealed

6) Faster recycling time than the Metz

PacAce wrote in post #6013646
I agree (although I have both)!

Pros for the Metz 58 AF-1C:

1) Better exposure using Auto mode <the 580EX II tends to underexpose horribly in Auto mode>

2) Automatic setting of the aperture and ISO in Auto mode (but can be set manually, too) <the 580EX II is set automatically only with the Mark III and newer cameras; with older cameras, settings have to made manually>

3) In ETTL wireless mode, 4 groups instead of three (i.e. A, B, C and M for the master which is in its own group)

4) Dual flash head

5) USB port for future firmware upgrades (without this, I'd be a really unhappy camper with my Metz flash right now)

Pros for the Canon 580EX II:

1) A more erogonically designed user interface <it takes longer to get used to the Metz UI>

2) Fully compatible with future Canon cameras <the Metz may or may not work with future cameras although it is firmware upgradable if it's not and they come out with a "fix" for it>

3) Can make use of the max sync speed at full power output <the Metz is limited to 1/125 at full power output due to a longer flash duration>

4) Looks and feels more solidly built than the Metz

5) Whether sealed

6) Faster recycling time than the Metz

well thats a no brainer isnt it,,,that why talk to you guys. looks like its going to be a 580

great summary Leo, thanks

Anyone know how to do 2nd curtain sync on the 430EX using a 40D?

Reign wrote in post #6014996
Anyone know how to do 2nd curtain sync on the 430EX using a 40D?

Yes. Set it on the flash. You can't set it on the camera because that's just for the 420EX and lower models that don't have the 2nd curtain sync function available on the flash.