Got 430EX, better than expected

mrk · 7 Jul 2006 at 19:54

Had the Sigma 500 before and was very happy with it but it was a bit big and also cheap feeling, the battery door "fell" off many times when changing batteries and I freaked each time but managed to wedge it back into place

Cost only £150 and immediately was surprised by the build quality, the stand quality, the pouch..they all felt really good...

Seems to expose colours much more naturally than the sigma too, the sigma I had for both nikon and canon bodies (500 DG ST mkII) and on both systems exposed a more bluey toned image, the 430EX seems to give warmer tones when bounced off the white ceiling - both using ettl-ii and ittl for the nikon. I also prefer the vertical AF assist IR beam instead of the sigmas central beam which can miss subjects when you are really close.

Sample:

Room has a daylight energy bulb, this is where the sigma would give a much more blue tone and give more saturation to yelow areas, not the case on this! it's as natural as I have seen straight from the camera

Now for some lenses...

dod · 7 Jul 2006 at 20:00

Definitely agree, I just picked up it's big brother and the light has a far nicer quality about it.

mrk · 7 Jul 2006 at 20:04

I trie dout manual power levels and at 1/1 it seems to pack some power in there, in low light it overexposed half the room and it's a big room so I think this flash will do me for the majority of things if not everything :cool:

dod · 7 Jul 2006 at 20:29

mrk said:
I trie dout manual power levels and at 1/1 it seems to pack some power in there, in low light it overexposed half the room and it's a big room so I think this flash will do me for the majority of things if not everything

Only reason I didn't go for the 430 was it can't take an external power source. I think it looks like a brilliant bit of kit for the price

mrk · 7 Jul 2006 at 20:33

Agreed there

For portraits and weddings this is going to totally rock!

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 7 Jul 2006 at 21:18

we have the same wallpaper

mrk · 7 Jul 2006 at 22:05

Ah but I bet I got it first

DRZ · 7 Jul 2006 at 23:00

Wow, really nice shot, perfectly lit by what looks to be a good flash indeed. I am certainly looking into this as my next flash, if only I can talk myself out of the ring flash ideas!

mrk · 7 Jul 2006 at 23:28

Just get the one you will use the most

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 8 Jul 2006 at 01:24

had mine 7 years nice flash by the way

Lostkat · 8 Jul 2006 at 07:41

DRZ said:
Wow, really nice shot, perfectly lit by what looks to be a good flash indeed. I am certainly looking into this as my next flash, if only I can talk myself out of the ring flash ideas!

Same here. Having had no issues whatsoever with my Cobra flash + Sto Fen diffuser for macros, I can't see what advantages a ring flash would bring. I have a manual ring flash, but it won't fit on the end of my 100mm macro, so I seldom use it. Yes, an all singing all dancing ring flash would be nice, but not essential imo. I just want something which has some automatic settings, faster recycle times and better battery life than my Cobra for pure ease of use. This flash looks like a good compromise. Never realised how cheap they were!!

Fireblade2K4 · 6 Mar 2007 at 14:18

Well rather than post a new thread I thought I would hi-jack this old one seeing as it is the same subject.

I need to get a flash gun for my Canon 400D but I'm not sure whether to get a Canon430, Canon580 or the Sigma500.

Cost is not an issue but what would the advantage be of having the Canon 580 over the Canon 430 so in value for money terms I can make a judgement call, also is the Sigma 500 worth looking at?

Thanks.
Stu

xolotl · 6 Mar 2007 at 15:10

If money really isn't an issue why settle for second best?

Get a 580EX.

Alternatively, if money is an issue the 430ex is very capable and only really lacking in power compared to the 580.

Raymond Lin · 6 Mar 2007 at 15:22

Canon made products are 90% better than any 3rd party usually, from lenses, remote, flash, vertical grip...etc. You can see why it cost more in the first place.

Fireblade2K4 · 6 Mar 2007 at 17:14

Some good points there for sure but what are the main difference's is it just the power output of the flash?

Stu

SDK^ · 6 Mar 2007 at 17:59

The 580EX has the following over the 430EX

more Flash power - 58 meters vs 43 meters (ISO 100)
Variable stroboscopic flash operation
External power options
Sophisticated manual control
Wireless controller for wireless flash operation and it can also act as a slave.
Ability to switch to TTL only on a film camera

If the above are requirements then go for the 580EX

Also worth remembering that the 580 MKII flash is out soon which adds weather sealing, silent and 20% faster recycling and a new quick release to camera mechanism.

DizMatt · 6 Mar 2007 at 23:29

i love my 430ex too, very handy to have the canon for the remote flash trigger too

Richard T · 7 Mar 2007 at 07:50

SDK^ said:
Also worth remembering that the 580 MKII flash is out soon which adds weather sealing, silent and 20% faster recycling and a new quick release to camera mechanism.

any idea when its due out?

scoop · 7 Mar 2007 at 10:30

Two quick questions:

i) What' the recycle time like in "real" use on the 430EX
ii) Can it do stroboscopic flash at all, i.e. multiple flash bursts per exposure?

mrk · 7 Mar 2007 at 12:45

scoop said:
Two quick questions:

i) What' the recycle time like in "real" use on the 430EX
ii) Can it do stroboscopic flash at all, i.e. multiple flash bursts per exposure?

i) On decent batteries it's very fast, i have never times it but then again i've never thought "oh that's not fast enough" and decided to time it to find out how long it it

ii) do you mean curtain sync flash? it does do that among some other things

Got 430EX, better than expected

Man of Honour