SpeedLight Questions

[ToddH]

I have a Canon 380EX speedlight that I use with my Canon 5D II. Seems to work fine for my needs, but I was curious if their was any real advantage in either upgrading to a 430EX II, or even downgrading to a 270EX to get the E-TTL II instead of the 380EX's older E-TTL? Thanks





-Todd

[neuroanatomist]

E-TTL II incorporates the use of lens-to-subject distance in the exposure calculation (assuming you're using a reporting lens - if your lens has a distance window, it reports, AFAIK). Also, E-TTL II will be better if you focus/recompose while using flash, since with II the flash metering is no longer tied to the AF point.


I definitely would not 'downgrade' to the 270EX - you'd lose the AF assist lamp found in your 380EX (and the 430EX II, etc.), and instead AF assist would be provided by strobes of the main flash. Personally, I hate that!


There's also not a huge difference in the guide number from 38m to 43m. I'd say if your 380EX is meeting your needs, spend the $ on something else.

[iND]

I would go with the 590 EX II


Has almost twice the power of a single 480 EX, and can act as a master and a slave.

[peety3]

I would go with the 590 EX II


Has almost twice the power of a single 480 EX, and can act as a master and a slave.
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What?


I think you mean the 580 EX II, and the 430 EX/EX II.


I'm a big fan of the 580s. Full-rotation head, ability to take an external battery pack, catchlight panel, good stuff.


However, if you're going to go with PocketWizard Mini/Flex units, the 430EX II is the way to go. Those PocketWizards really squeak some great power gains out of the attached flashes, which is probably enough to push a PW'ed 430 a lot brighter than a non-PW'ed 580.


Also realize that the II versions are (nearly) silent. That can be mostly a blessing, but a curse if you're used to relying on the squeal to know when your flash is ready.