the differece between speedlite: 580ex ii and 430ex ii?

[Gaider]

i've been wanted to buy a speedlite but still undecided between the canon 580 ex ii and the 430 ex ii? is there anyone know the differeces between both, please help! All i know is the 580 can reach further than the 430....
Thanks

[John]

Originally Posted by Gaider

i've been wanted to buy a speedlite but still undecided between the canon 580 ex ii and the 430 ex ii? is there anyone know the differeces between both, please help! All i know is the 580 can reach further than the 430....
Thanks

Not the expert, but here is my understanding. The 580EX can serve as a master and trigger other speedlites. It can also serve as a slave. The 430EX serves as a slave only.

[Abel]

moving to lighting section...

[toverman]

The 580 EX II is Canon's current top-of-the-line flash. It's bigger than the 580 EX II and throws out more power. It can be used to control other flashes (like John said). I have a 580 II and a 430 I, so the 430 II might have improved over it a lot, but my bigger flash recycles quickly and completely silently and gives me the power I need.

I do some portrait work, but most often it's journalistic-style event coverage for my employer. I have my 580 II (or a work issued 580 I) mounted on-camera and bounce the flash off a wall or ceiling. My 430 EX I just doesn't cut it in many situations I shoot in.

[canon_shooter]

The 580EX II:

- can act as a master
- has 1/3 of a stop increments, the 430 goes down in full stops
- lowest power is 1/128, the 430 is 1/64
- larger & heavier
- more powerful (by 1 stop)
- the 580EX II has a scroll wheel on the back, the 430 has buttons (I prefer the wheel)
- is weather sealed
- has more custom functions
- can tilt 7 degrees downwards, the 430 can't tilt down
- can be coupled with an external battery pack for better recycling time
- has a metal shoe mount with a lever lock (fast setup), the 430 has the screw type (slow setup)
- is silent when charging, the 430 has the slight ring sound when recycling
- has a stroboscopic mode

[Gaider]

thanks guy!!!! then, guess i'll go with the 580 ex then!!!