Help selecting Flash for Canon Rebel XTi

BradfordBenn

Hello All-

I have gone through and done various reading at the Canon Digital Learning Center website, Strobist, DGrin, and even the dreaded owner's manual and I have narrowed down my options to two flashes. However the part that I am not able to easily quantify is the upgrade path and the long term value to performance issues:scratch. Right now I have narrowed down the field to a Canon 430EX II or a 580EX II to go with the camera.

I want to be able to shoot people, equipment, pets, and general "hobby" photos. I do like architecture shooting but am not tied to solely that. I understand that the 580 has a greater output as well as more options for configuration, in addition it can be a master trigger for off camera use. The 430 can be a slaved triggered off camera unit and does not have as many options or power. It also has the advantage of having a lower price by about US$160 so it is very interesting.

The part I am trying to get my head around is will I outgrow the 430 faster than I would a 580? I go with the approach of buying a little more than I need at the moment so that I don't have to upgrade it immediately and so that it has a longer life cycle.

Any experience to share with this selection process?

ziggy53

I struggled with much the same issues until I took the gamble and purchased my first Sigma 5xx series DG Super flash. It has close to the feature set of the Canon 580EX, more power than the 430EX, but priced like the 430EX.

The current model is the Sigma EF 530 DG Super for Canon E-TTL II and I can vouch for the quality of light you can get and the accurate E-TTL II emulation. They just plain work and they work well.

They do not have the same user interface or the same durable construction as the Canon models, but I have 4 of the Sigma 5xx DG Super flashes and I am very impressed with them. I use them professionally and I have used them for years now.

I also purchased a Canon 580EX (model I) recently, only so I could have the ability to use an external power supply for faster recycling. I'm happy to say that's working fine, but it adds a lot of weight and I still prefer to use the flash alone even with the slower recycle times. I am happy to report that the Canon and Sigma flashes can also coexist and I can use either for master or slave in an E-TTL wireless configuration.

If you can afford a single Canon 580EX II, I suggest you seriously look at "2" of the Sigma EF 530 DG Siper flashes instead. The flexibility and safety you get from having 2 flash sources is far more important than the little extra output power of the 580EX.

http://www.photo4less.com/pd-productid-2289-k-sigma_169101_sigma_ef_530_dg_super_e_ttl_shoe_mount_flash_for_canon_eos_with_e_ttl_ii_operation.htm

Scott_Quier

ziggy53 wrote:

I also purchased a Canon 580EX (model I) recently, only so I could have the ability to use an external power supply for faster recycling. I'm happy to say that's working fine, but it adds a lot of weight and I still prefer to use the flash alone even with the slower recycle times. I am happy to report that the Canon and Sigma flashes can also coexist and I can use either for master or slave in an E-TTL wireless configuration.

OT and something of a hi-jack, but .... I'm happy to hear that the 580 is working out for you. Thanks for the update.

Art Scott

I found for me that the Sigma flashes were just too much of a pain in the A** to use.....unless you are constantly poping them, when using off camrea or in multi light set ups, they loose their programming and you have to remount each one on camera to reprogram.......this was my problem with them for my Nikon system.........so I am opting for Nikon flash units or Standard manual flashes.....since I use RF triggers and manual meter my shots it is not a problem and I am already trained in the "OLD SCHOOL OF FLASH SHOOTING"..................:D

Good Luck

BradfordBenn

Thanks for the comments. One of the frustrations that I am having is that the Internet is making it so that I have so many more choices. I was going to go to the local camera store and look/compare but since they can't price match to within reasonable amounts of the online sellers I am a little stuck as now I have many more options.

I didn't even think of doing multiples units at lower cost. The concern is that I travel a lot for work and the comment about the construction quality being lower on the Sigma. Often times my camera is packed inside a sleeve inside my briefcase not a standard camera solution. If something is not as robust it could be a problem.

WillCAD

BradfordBenn wrote:

The part I am trying to get my head around is will I outgrow the 430 faster than I would a 580? I go with the approach of buying a little more than I need at the moment so that I don't have to upgrade it immediately and so that it has a longer life cycle.

Bradford, I'm no flash expert, but maybe that's what it takes to see this issue clearly.

To me, it's simple - the 580ex has many more features and a lot more power than the 430ex. It's the one you want. You would outgrow the 430ex a lot faster than the 580ex, so the 580ex will have the longer life cycle you want, it has more output power, and the head turns more than the 430ex.

Here is a direct comparison between the two:
http://photo-tips-online.com/review/canon-430ex-ii-vs-canon-580ex-ii/

Get the 580ex.

cmason

I went a diff route: I bought a 430 to be my main flash. Then I got a 420 on fleabay, and purchased the ST-E2. The reason was this: I want two flashes off camera. A 580 + a 430 would require me to have one flash on camera and one off. In order to have two flashes off camera with a 580, you need to buy 3 flashes. It is cheaper to have two 430 and an ST-e2 than a 580 and two 430s.

By the way, i love this set up. It gives me tremendous flexibility, and I have never wished for a 580. It works great outdoors and indoors.

Another thought I had was that I would eventually get some studio flashes, like an Alien Bee, for use indoors. Therefore, power was not a driving issue for me, as I eventually would have all I want. I have never wished for more power with what I have anyway. Good luck.

ziggy53

BradfordBenn wrote:

Thanks for the comments. One of the frustrations that I am having is that the Internet is making it so that I have so many more choices. I was going to go to the local camera store and look/compare but since they can't price match to within reasonable amounts of the online sellers I am a little stuck as now I have many more options.

I didn't even think of doing multiples units at lower cost. The concern is that I travel a lot for work and the comment about the construction quality being lower on the Sigma. Often times my camera is packed inside a sleeve inside my briefcase not a standard camera solution. If something is not as robust it could be a problem.

I don't baby my stuff but I don't abuse it either. I have not had a problem with breakage with any of the Sigma flashes. If breakage is a possibility it can also happen to the Canon units.

The weakest point is the flash shoe base (the foot). That can snap off if too much torque or stress is applied. If the foot breaks off it is generally because someone stressed it too much while on the camer, doing something they should not have done. It has not happened to me but 2 units are much safer than a single unit by far.

I sometimes hear that people would rather have an even stronger flash foot, but then the camera's shoe mount is at greater jeopardy. If anything should break, let it be the flash foot. The flash is much easier to do without, should it happen, and a lot cheaper too. Many times you can find a replacement foot and even replace it yourself. The camera shoe is much more difficult to get at should it break (and they do break.)

Scott_Quier

cmason wrote:

I went a diff route: I bought a 430 to be my main flash. Then I got a 420 on fleabay, and purchased the ST-E2. The reason was this: I want two flashes off camera. A 580 + a 430 would require me to have one flash on camera and one off. In order to have two flashes off camera with a 580, you need to buy 3 flashes. It is cheaper to have two 430 and an ST-e2 than a 580 and two 430s.

You can set the 580 to be slave to an ST-E2 just like you can a 420 or 430.

But, your solution is quite a bit less expensive.

pathfinder

One reason to prefer the 580ex over the 430ex, 430ex II 04 the 420, that Ziggy alluded to, is that the 550ex, the 580ex, and th580ex II all accept Canon's external battery pack, and that can be quite helpful if you are shooting a lot of flash images, as the recycle time drops to about 1/2 second or so....

jeffreaux2

My vote is for the 580EXII.

You can add an STE2 later to use it off camera.

BradfordBenn

Well after all that I got the 430EX II and some accessories instead. Although now that I see the recycle time... well hindsight is always 20/20. I however am happy with the images I am getting and the difference that it has made in my shots. So it is a win for me, thanks everyone for the comments it was very helpful. I already know what the next flash will be....