Canon 40D with the 430EX Flash???

Hi, I have a question for anyone who might have the answer.

I just bought on ebay the Canon speedlight flash unit, 430 EX, and my friend seems to think that my camera may be too powerful for this older flash. I read in my book and it say's that, my camera is compatible with all the EX series but I had not considered power of the flash... before I start to panic will this work with my camera or should I start to look for the 550 or 580 flash?

Thanks in advance to all who may find the time to answer my (oh so simple) question.

It will work with no problem the Type of in terms of age has nothing to do with Flash Power .

@ "my friend seems to think that my camera may be too powerful for this older flash"

David

Thank you for the very quick response, much appreciated.

It will work fine. I have a 420 EX that is older than the 430 EX and mine works fine also. The 430 isn't that old. They do have a new version though, the
430 EX II

Hi shybull,

I had seen that there was a newer version of this flash out there but I was 'mumble mumble' trying to save a buck. No really, I didn't see too much difference in the two so I jumped on the ebay deal and saved myself a hundred bucks or so.

I had to purchase the flash bracket, and shoe cord as well and I would also like to look for a nice monopod to complete the setup.

I just hope I won't regret it.

Don't worry there are People here that are using Flashes that are 20+ Years old .

David

The only thing in the 40D that's "too powerful" is the fact that the 40D supports setting up the flash through the camera's menu system, but the 430 EX doesn't support that.
The 430 EX II does.

What bracket did you get and will it work with a mono pod?

apersson and Titus, sorry I didn't get back to you two sooner. I do appreciate any help or advise at this time, thank you.


"40D supports setting up the flash through the camera's menu system, but the 430 EX doesn't support that."
I'm going to take it that the 430EX II would have been more convenient.

"What bracket did you get and will it work with a mono pod?"
I bought the Custom Brakets QRS-35 and I will have to purchase the monopod mount. I will get this mount once I find the monopod .

I've tried that Custom Bracket - it is one of the smoothest moving brackets I've seen. Nice, well made piece of gear.

joeyjoeyjoey,

I will be using the flash unit with a bracket and shoe cord.Let me get this straight now if I should decide to use it just on my camera without shoe cord then I will have to adjust it manually versus the 430 EX II, I would have been able to use my camera to adjust it.

I do know one thing for sure is that I will have a lot of studying once I get this flash unit. Probably why I have put it off for so long. Back to the books for me.

Titus, yes I did read up on this bracket and it got some great reviews, I also liked the idea of the camera turning instead of your flash unit.

Your 430EX flash will work fully automated, full ETTL on your camera. And you can adjust the FEC on the flash via the camera body, you just have to make sure there is no FEC set on the flash as that overrides the camera setting (for FEC).

The 430EX can be used as a slave in a Canon wireless master/slave system and needs a 'master' of some sort to adjust it.

Titus,
Got it, taking notes so when flash unit gets here I may have a little more of an understanding.

I think once I get the tutorial in my hands and can actually read, touch and feel (LOL) then maybe it will process. I tend to get myself worked up.

Anyways thanks for the tips...

Cindy,
You'll do well with the 430EX....I have one and use it a fair bit. Since you bought it used, in case you do not get a manual for it, you can download it in PDF from canonusa.
The custom bracket will also serve you well....I have the pro-m and I agree with Dave that the rotating part does in fact work very well....nice detents, and yet still easy/smooth to rotate.

joeyjoeyjoey wrote in post #8397190
Not necessarily. If you're using it via hot shoe in E-TTL mode there really nothing to adjust other than the FEC which is via your camera.

If you're doing off camera work with a set of Pocket Wizards, etc... you're adjusting via the flash directly. If you're doing off camera via Canon wireless, etc... you will be able to adjust the power of the 430EX via your Camera's on screen control just like a 430EX II/550EX/580EX I/II

So you're not missing much by choosing the first version over the revised one.

Well, the purpose of a flash with different settings is hardly to always use it in E-TTL mode, is it?
When you set your flash to other modes, and especially when you want to change some custom function in the flash, having the menu control is very convenient. To adjust the C.Fn on the flash itself you must remember which number controls what, and which number within that setting selects what.
On screen, it's all in plain text.

But most convenient it is when using a flash as a wireless master, since there are so many settings that are difficult to overview otherwise. Now you can't do that with the 430, whatever version, so it's a moot point there, but is something to consider when selecting a master unit. Out of the four possible, namely the ST-E2, 550 EX, 580 EX and 580 EX II, only the last one supports the camera's menu system control.