So I'm going to invest in an external flash. Just curious if any of you have either the 430 ex or the 580 ex, and what you do/don't like about them.
Also, anyone with a Gary Fong lightsphere? What do you think?
Thanks!
If you can swing it, get the 580 ex. The 430 has a somewhat limited range and just isn't as versatile. Now, I don't have the 580, but I'd like to! I do have the Gary Fong Lightsphere, though mine is an older model than what is out now. It works very well, but people do look at you and wonder why you have a toilet bowl mounted to your flash, LOL
I have the 580 and the lightsphere. I've used them both a few times and they do a great job. However, I rarely use flash - so my experience is very little!
I'm sure the 580 is way better. I'm just wondering if being new to external flash if I need the 580 right off the bat, you know? I'm not sure how much I will actually use it, but a friend asked me to shoot her wedding this summer and so I want to be prepared. Basically, I think I'm trying to find a way to not spend $450.00. :):)
I just bought the 430 ex last week. I haven't done much with it yet, nor do I know what I am doing with it when I have used it. After reading reviews at B&H I decided to go with the 430ex over the 580ex. They are both rated excellent but I'm not a pro so I thought the smaller one would fit me needs.
I mainly purchased it because the lighting in my house is horrible. I have played around with it a bit, and took photos of some projects at night and I was very happy with the results.
I wanted the 580 but it is twice the cost and I'm not a professional photographer so I couldn't justify the cost, nor did I want to tell DH that I paid $500 for a flash :)
Jen, if you are going to use it for a wedding I would get the 580ex because the flash can reach a greater distance that you may need in those circumstances.
That is one of the things that I picked up on in the reviews I read.
Thanks for the info Diane!
I am not a professional either, I just do shoots here and there. I don't know. I don't plan on doing a wedding ever again, just this one, and I'm actually going to be a second shooter. I think I'll probably go with the 430, mainly because I don't want to spend the extra money. I'm saving for a 7D sooooooooooo.......need to watch my pennies. :)
I have the 580 and Gary fong lightsphere. Not going professional but like Diane, lighting in house is bad and want to get decent shots of Christmas morning, Easter, etc. takes some practicing still but overall glad we made investment. Have even brought it to Disney and used while my daughter was in the very dark castle at bibbidy bibbidy boutique.
I have the 580 and I'm just starting to really learn how to use it. I also have the lightsphere. I recently compared bouncing the flash vs using the lightsphere. If given the choice, I prefer bouncing the flash. Unless you have nothing to bounce off of, I wouldn't recommend the lightsphere.
The light sphere, in my opinion, is good if you have no other options. If you are close to your subject and you use the light sphere, you will still get that flashy look compared to bouncing. Bouncing the flash is softer, I think.
I still have a lot to learn, but that's what I've noticed so far. HTH!
Vera
Vera, that is what I have noticed too. Photos still look flashy especially if too close. Sometimes changing the exposure on it helps. But my favorite is bouncing the flash too.
Jen, what about renting one. It really is a lot of money. And renting maybe better to at least try it.
I have both the 430EXII and the 580EXII and the Gary Fong. Here is my input.... 580 great as a master flash, great all around. The 430 great too. It goes on my 40d as a back up for events/parties the 580 usually sits on my 7d. The 430 it would be just fine to start with, especially to learn to use the flash. I have no problem grabbing it and using it at all. I usually just bounce it off the wall in my home.
Now for the GF...I no longer use it, for some reason using it as much as I did in 2010 and the beginning of 2011 it tore up my 580. It was heavy and after rotating my flash head so much it complete ruined my flash. $210 later and a nice note from canon repair about how they would not support that diffuser because of the size and weight and how they would not reccomend I use it. I stopped. It's back in the box.
My lightsphere is lightweight also, not sure why it would be heavy. Maybe it's changed. If you're doing a wedding, I'd do the 580. The 430 doesn't have the reach required at a wedding reception in my experience.
i just went ahead and purchased the 580 right off instead of the 430 and then upgrading. at the time i had several photo shoots lined up. however now i rarely do any photo shoots but i'm glad i have the flash when i need it. but i'm thinking now i could of probably just went w/ the 430.
Hi guys.
So I'm going to invest in an external flash. Just curious if any of you have either the 430 ex or the 580 ex, and what you do/don't like about them.
Also, anyone with a Gary Fong lightsphere? What do you think?
Thanks!
If you can swing it, get the 580 ex. The 430 has a somewhat limited range and just isn't as versatile. Now, I don't have the 580, but I'd like to! I do have the Gary Fong Lightsphere, though mine is an older model than what is out now. It works very well, but people do look at you and wonder why you have a toilet bowl mounted to your flash, LOL
I have the 580 and the lightsphere. I've used them both a few times and they do a great job. However, I rarely use flash - so my experience is very little!
I'm sure the 580 is way better. I'm just wondering if being new to external flash if I need the 580 right off the bat, you know? I'm not sure how much I will actually use it, but a friend asked me to shoot her wedding this summer and so I want to be prepared. Basically, I think I'm trying to find a way to not spend $450.00. :):)
Well, my logic was kind of the opposite, LOL. I figured I didn't want to have to buy a better one down the road if the 430 proved to not be enough.
And, a friend of mine, who is VERY knowledgeable, thought the 430 was too limited. SO, 580 won out!
that's a good point jennie. hmmmm.
I just bought the 430 ex last week. I haven't done much with it yet, nor do I know what I am doing with it when I have used it. After reading reviews at B&H I decided to go with the 430ex over the 580ex. They are both rated excellent but I'm not a pro so I thought the smaller one would fit me needs.
I mainly purchased it because the lighting in my house is horrible. I have played around with it a bit, and took photos of some projects at night and I was very happy with the results.
I wanted the 580 but it is twice the cost and I'm not a professional photographer so I couldn't justify the cost, nor did I want to tell DH that I paid $500 for a flash :)
Jen, if you are going to use it for a wedding I would get the 580ex because the flash can reach a greater distance that you may need in those circumstances.
That is one of the things that I picked up on in the reviews I read.
Thanks for the info Diane!
I am not a professional either, I just do shoots here and there. I don't know. I don't plan on doing a wedding ever again, just this one, and I'm actually going to be a second shooter. I think I'll probably go with the 430, mainly because I don't want to spend the extra money. I'm saving for a 7D sooooooooooo.......need to watch my pennies. :)
Jen, that sounds like a great plan!
I have the 580 and Gary fong lightsphere. Not going professional but like Diane, lighting in house is bad and want to get decent shots of Christmas morning, Easter, etc. takes some practicing still but overall glad we made investment. Have even brought it to Disney and used while my daughter was in the very dark castle at bibbidy bibbidy boutique.
well, i would save the extra $$ towards a 7D, if that is the case! ;)
I have the 580 and I'm just starting to really learn how to use it. I also have the lightsphere. I recently compared bouncing the flash vs using the lightsphere. If given the choice, I prefer bouncing the flash. Unless you have nothing to bounce off of, I wouldn't recommend the lightsphere.
The light sphere, in my opinion, is good if you have no other options. If you are close to your subject and you use the light sphere, you will still get that flashy look compared to bouncing. Bouncing the flash is softer, I think.
I still have a lot to learn, but that's what I've noticed so far. HTH!
Vera
thans for your help vera! i pretty much know nothing about flash photography so I appreciate the input! :)
Jen, a while back I got an email from Jessicasprague.com about a new flash photog course by Candice Stringham. Now, I'm not suggesting you take the class, but in the blurb it does have a video where she talks about the different flashes. I looked at it ages ago, but from memory, she does give her opinions on them. Here's the link to the class. If you scroll down, you'll find the link to the video.
http://www.jessicasprague.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.tabs.tpl&product_id=1872&category_id=18&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=310
I have the 430, but I'm still learning.
Vera, that is what I have noticed too. Photos still look flashy especially if too close. Sometimes changing the exposure on it helps. But my favorite is bouncing the flash too.
Jen, what about renting one. It really is a lot of money. And renting maybe better to at least try it.
I have both the 430EXII and the 580EXII and the Gary Fong. Here is my input.... 580 great as a master flash, great all around. The 430 great too. It goes on my 40d as a back up for events/parties the 580 usually sits on my 7d. The 430 it would be just fine to start with, especially to learn to use the flash. I have no problem grabbing it and using it at all. I usually just bounce it off the wall in my home.
Now for the GF...I no longer use it, for some reason using it as much as I did in 2010 and the beginning of 2011 it tore up my 580. It was heavy and after rotating my flash head so much it complete ruined my flash. $210 later and a nice note from canon repair about how they would not support that diffuser because of the size and weight and how they would not reccomend I use it. I stopped. It's back in the box.
I have the plastic Gary Fong dome thingy and it's very lightweight. I wonder if mine is different from yours. Hmm....
My lightsphere is lightweight also, not sure why it would be heavy. Maybe it's changed. If you're doing a wedding, I'd do the 580. The 430 doesn't have the reach required at a wedding reception in my experience.
i just went ahead and purchased the 580 right off instead of the 430 and then upgrading. at the time i had several photo shoots lined up. however now i rarely do any photo shoots but i'm glad i have the flash when i need it. but i'm thinking now i could of probably just went w/ the 430.