The 580EX is the newest in Canons line of shoe mounted speedlites. It is also from what I can gather their lead model (until a 600EX arrives which can’t be long now, this model arrived in 2004).
It might seem strange, a flash novice buying a top-grade flash? Well it was precisely because I am new to flash photography (other than the little camera popup flash that I hate) I bought a flash with all the bells and whistles. I had done my research and still didn’t know which features I would need and which I could do without. To make things worse the best info on flash and lighting on the web seem to be geared toward Nikon users. For safety I made the decision to get the best I could afford.
A bonus feature with the 580EX for myself, owning a crop body, is this flash knows my sensor size. Other E-TTL II compatible flash guns have the ability to match the camera function as you zoom etc. This model takes into account the focal length AND sensor to only illuminate the actual field of view rather than the theoretical field of view suggested by the lense – sweet!
In the package you get a small stand and a nylon padded case and a user guide. The flash itself has a catch light flap and a wide angle diffuser. Build-wise it seems sturdy enough, is completely plastic but not “plasticy” if you know what I mean. No more than my camera body anyway.
It is hard for me to judge performance, the only flash I have experience with is the built in flash and Damians gear that I only fleetingly tried out. From the short play I have had with it I am not disappointed. Directly pointed at a subject obviously you get the full-on horror that flash at its worst can only provide, but bounced (and boy can this unit bounce) it is very pleasant indeed. I did find for my uneducated tastes I had to go to full manual in order to get the portrait effect I was going for, my subject (Milton T Bear) was subjected to much testing and swearing to discover this (more on that in future posts).
Too early for conclusions but I am happy with this purchase. I know the product itself will not hold me back from learning, only my lack of ability and intelligence, heh.
After spending this heap of cash am I done? With photography I don’t think I will ever be done and adding “lighting” to the mix will only double or triple the amount of gear I “need”. For a start I will want to use this device off-camera, so all the stuff that makes that happen. I will need a stand, umbrella and/or reflector. Probably another flash unit. One of reasons I went with the 580EX is the 430EX can only be used as a slave, not a master. I now have a choice of a 430EX as a slave or a much cheaper model if I find I don’t need the more expensive features (the 580EX can communicate much of its settings so not all the intelligence is required on-board on the slave).
Of course I will post here as I progress. Better get the teddy bear back into his portrait position, looks like he is ready for his closeup …
Technorati Tags: canon, speedlite, flash, 580ex, photography, reviews
4 Comments
ooh nice – I’ve been eyeing this off too. You and I sound like we have a pretty similar taste in equiptment!
Hah, yeah. Have you got the new lense yet? :O)
Got two today in the mail – 50mm f/1.4 and the 24-105 f/4
had a good play with them both today – so far so good
Sweet, I look forward to seeing the review :O)
I looked at the 1.4 but the price of the 1.8 was too low to resist (had to buy from USA to get at half price of UK, mind), plus the 1.8 can be tricky to focus just right so I can’t imaging my clumsy sausage-like fingers trying to focus a 1.4 ;O)