Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash

Description

dust- and water-resistant construction * heavy-duty metal mounting foot with improved locking mechanism * E-TTL II for compatible Canon EOS cameras and EF series lenses * stroboscopic flash setting * wireless E-TTL flash operation as a "master" or "slave" unit *

Features

  • E-TTL operation with all EOS digital SLRs; PowerShot G2, G3, G5, G6, and Pro1; and the following EOS film cameras - EOS-1v, EOS-3, Elan 7N series
  • Guide Number 190 (at ISO 100, feet) / 58 (meters); flash head at 105mm zoom setting
  • About 100 to 700 Flashes with fresh AA-size alkaline batteries / Uses Four AA-size batteries - alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable Ni-MH usable
  • AutoFocus Assist Beam
  • Fourteen Speedlite Custom Functions built-in; set on Speedlite's LCD panel

Reviews

This is a must have flash for indoor use. It's a reasonable cost for what results in much improved quality pictures. It makes the quality of the lighting much softer rather than the harsh often overlit results from a regular flash. People in your pics end up looking more natural and complimentary than having a hard flash that often makes them their complexions looks shiny and show the smallest flaws. We have tried pics side by side with the flash that came with the SD50 and this flash and it really is night and day. Highly recommend you purchase this!

I used to be anti-flash, but once you learn how to use it, you realize how many of your pre-flash shots could have been so much better. [...] and this guy; [...] have all kinds of ideas and tips. I found the flash fairly simple to understand, seems solidly built, and I like the quick hotshoe locking mechanism. It "talks" fine with my 20d. You can spin it around 360 degrees, which really is a must since it seems very rarely do you want to just blast away head on. The focus system will actually let you get a dead on focus in pitch black. I've tested and played with it for the last month, and I'm still on the same set of batteries (the pre-charged rechargeable kind). For another $60, you can get a stand, umbrella and pc cable, and go off-cam. Don't waste time with all the diffusers, just make one of these - [...]. [...] has all the stuff and it's cheap. White side in and you have a good diffuser. Black side in, you have Neil's snoot. I used to have a cheap SunPak - this isn't the same animal. If you're reading this you're at the point to just buy it.

One of the best flash y never had. Very help full in any kind of job y do.

I had a 550ex. It was a good flash. However I needed another flash for multi-flash application. The 580ex II is a good improvement over the powerful 550ex. With this new incarnation, Canon increased the guide nbr and therefore flash output a bit. What I am most happy with is the ergonomics. With my old 550ex, I had to press two buttons to rotate or angle the flash head. With the 580ex, it is done with one button. In addition, this flash is weather proof. Basic interface is intuitive. Overall good flagship flash from Canon.

The flash is very powerful and you'll know it when you try to stick your whippy NiMH batteries in this unit (or at least I did). They lasted for about 80 shots and then took a long while to prepare or just quit. One thing I wish this flash had was a battery meter and possibly a battery temperature meter. This would have been helpful.