Anyone know power output (watts) of 580EXII and 430EXII

NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
edited May 14, 2009 in Accessories
I'm interested to know how their maximum output compares with strobes.

Thanks if you know this info.

Neil
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Comments

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited May 13, 2009
    NeilL wrote:
    I'm interested to know how their maximum output compares with strobes.

    Thanks if you know this info.

    Neil

    You'll need to convert their Guide Numbers to Watt-Seconds........might try GOOGLING...........
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited May 13, 2009
    Art Scott wrote:
    You'll need to convert their Guide Numbers to Watt-Seconds........might try GOOGLING...........

    Thanks Art. Yes I did a bit of searching, but this exact information was conspicuous by its absence.

    The info which is available everywhere is 580 = 58 meters @ 100 ISO and ~ 100mm, and 430 = 43 m @ 100 ISO etc.

    But max power as in strobe lighting watts???? Nobody knows apparently. ne_nau.gif
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  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,132 moderator
    edited May 13, 2009
    The short answer is that Watt-Seconds is an output power measurement (and there is both measured/actual and "effective" watt-seconds) and the Guide Number of small flashes is an illumination measure. The two measures have no direct correlation.

    Also, studio strobes tend to have bowl reflectors which may be changed. This can affect both the spread and the measured illumination, so you would have to qualify any illumination figures for studio strobes by stating beforehand which reflector and sometimes even which flash tube is being used.

    Occasionally a manufacturer will post multiple specifications, mostly only useful in comparing that companies' own units. For instance an AlienBees B800 is rated by Paul Buff at: 320 true Ws, 800 effective Ws, 14,000 Ls.

    Very occasionally a studio strobe manufacturer "will" post a Guide Number rating for their flash. Often these numbers are taken with a grain of salt, but then so are many third party speed lights as well.
    ziggy53
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  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    Art Scott wrote:
    You'll need to convert their Guide Numbers to Watt-Seconds........might try GOOGLING...........

    Well, Art, you prompted me to persist... and I found as good an answer as is possible, I think... but it's not straightforward...

    It could be summarised as follows (quote):

    The light meter was set up on a light stand with ISO100 and 1/250. The strobes were set up so that the base of the stand the strobe was on was 10ft away. The flash head was level with the light meter. Everything was shot through a satin shoot-thru that measures 38 inches from tip to tip when opened. All flashes were manually triggered at full power while the light meter was in non-corded mode. The room has white walls and 16ft ceilings.

    The strobes/flashes used were Alien Bees AB800, and AB1600; Canon 580EX, 430EX, and 420EX; Nikon SB600, SB-28, and SB26. The light meter was a Minolta Autometer IV F.

    The results:

    AB1600: f/11 + 1/10

    AB800: f/8 + 6/10

    580EX: f/5.6

    430EX: f/4.0 + 7/10

    420EX: f/4.0 + 7/10

    SB26: f/4.0 + 7/10

    SB28: f/4.0 + 5/10

    SB600: f/4.0 + 4/10


    http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157609375924090/
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  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    ziggy53 wrote:
    The short answer is that Watt-Seconds is an output power measurement (and there is both measured/actual and "effective" watt-seconds) and the Guide Number of small flashes is an illumination measure. The two measures have no direct correlation.

    Also, studio strobes tend to have bowl reflectors which may be changed. This can affect both the spread and the measured illumination, so you would have to qualify any illumination figures for studio strobes by stating beforehand which reflector and sometimes even which flash tube is being used.

    Occasionally a manufacturer will post multiple specifications, mostly only useful in comparing that companies' own units. For instance an AlienBees B800 is rated by Paul Buff at: 320 true Ws, 800 effective Ws, 14,000 Ls.

    Very occasionally a studio strobe manufacturer "will" post a Guide Number rating for their flash. Often these numbers are taken with a grain of salt, but then so are many third party speed lights as well.


    Thanks, Ziggy! thumb.gif Yes the information I've seen bears out all that you say.

    I did find a rough estimate of ~60W/s for the 580II from one guy who seemed to be confident about it.

    However, a more valid insight into the question of performance comparisons is in the link in my post above.
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  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    I find good guide numbers more helpful to me......like my sunpak 622's have a GN of 200@ [email]ISO100@10'.....this[/email] info allows a quick calculation of a starting aperture of F20 at 10'......Where as i never even started to try and calulate from the Watt-Seconds of a strobe......Paul Buff being the customer service oriented company they are have always provide me with GN's on any strobe I was every so slightly interested in ...........
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • pyrypyry Registered Users Posts: 1,733 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    NeilL wrote:
    Thanks, Ziggy! thumb.gif Yes the information I've seen bears out all that you say.

    I did find a rough estimate of ~60W/s for the 580II from one guy who seemed to be confident about it.

    However, a more valid insight into the question of performance comparisons is in the link in my post above.

    I have a hunch hot-shoe flashes are in the 30-60 Ws (also known as joules) league. Hunch based mostly on what I've seen on Strobist :D
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  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    Art Scott wrote:
    I find good guide numbers more helpful to me......like my sunpak 622's have a GN of 200@ [EMAIL="ISO100@10%27.....this"]ISO100@10'.....this[/EMAIL] info allows a quick calculation of a starting aperture of F20 at 10'......Where as i never even started to try and calulate from the Watt-Seconds of a strobe......Paul Buff being the customer service oriented company they are have always provide me with GN's on any strobe I was every so slightly interested in ...........

    Interesting, and seems to make sense. The f5.6 rating for the 580EX in the test linked above is pretty close to f5.8 derived as you do it from the GN of 58/100/10.
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  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited May 14, 2009
    pyry wrote:
    I have a hunch hot-shoe flashes are in the 30-60 Ws (also known as joules) league. Hunch based mostly on what I've seen on Strobist :D

    Yes, and your estimate fits with other guesstimates I have seen.

    This has been a very interesting discussion.
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