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 enlarge | Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
Buy New: Too low to display
New (52) Used (1)
Avg. Customer Rating:  167 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5 x 4
Warranty: 1 Year warranty
MPN: 1946B002
Model: 1946B002
UPC: 013803078800
EAN: 0013803078800
ASIN: B000NP3DJW
Release Date: May 10, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
The Best Flash Ever Made by Canon; or Anyone Else for That Matter January 22, 2008
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I got this excellent flash for a great price here on Amazon! I had been researching this flash for several weeks. It received rave reviews here on Amazon and so I decided to purchase it for myself. All I can say is, I completely agree with all of the rave reviews I have read. I have used many flash devices in the past, some cheap and some rather expensive, and this Canon 580EX II is definately the best flash ever made!
There are so many possible settings for this flash unit, so there is a bit of a learning curve. However, the instruction manual is very informative and straight forward. The easy to read manual is full of illustrations and step by step instructions. I have mated this great flash with my Canon EOS 40D, and find that the communication between the camera and flash are perfect. I have also been using the Gary Fong C4 Cloud Lightsphere II, Inverted Dome Flash Diffusion System with this flash. I can't speak highly enough about the lighting effects produced by the Speedlite 580EX II and the Lightsphere II. This combination makes for a perfect substitution to a set of umbrella lights.
The flash is quick to respond and refreshes instantly after a full discharge. The inclusion of a quick disconnect latch for hot shoe mounting is pure genius! Four AA batteries provide a large number of shots with this flash. The included padded carry case is a nice touch as well. My only complaints with this flash, although minor, would be the pull out, flip down diffuser, which sticks so far back into the flash head that it is hard to pull out unless you have long fingernails. I also don't care as much for the power switch, which has a lever type action, as I prefer a simple slide type switch. These are very minor complaints and don't lessen my complete satisfaction with this Canon 580EX II flash unit. Just don't pass up the opportunity to save a great deal of money by purchasing this flash from a local electronics retailer. Amazon has been offering this flash at a deep discount off the recommend retail price, and I highly recommend buying it from Amazon. Their shipping is fast, their price is great, and their return policy and customer support are second to none.
 Beware of slave trigger issues January 20, 2008
12 out of 18 found this review helpful
You want to use the 580EX II in a simple task by working as a hair or back light with your more powerful studio strobes? Then you will be in for a rude surprise when you connect an inexpensive photo-optical slave-triggering hot shoe to the 580's hot shoe foot. With the 580 set on manual, it will flash once and then lockup. Yes, the dreaded internal SCR lockup will require you to power off and on to reset the flash to fire another shot before it freezes again. Repeat off/on and shake your head at this dare-I-say expensive toy.
Is Canon trying to screw us by not telling about this issue in their instruction manual? Who knows. This is a well known problem since the 580EX. To our rescue is Michael Bass Designs' blog which walks us step-by-step on obtaining a compatible Sonia photo-optical slave trigger with the proper cord to the FINALLY new PC sync terminal to be able to perform a very simple task of using a slave triggered strobe.
But, not all is well with the new sync terminal. According to Michael Bass, the terminal is not active in the Manual-Master mode. Now, this would require a further modification by Michael to make this flash work as required.
Also, there are some compatibility issues with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III. This is Michael's quote, "When this flash is used with the Canon 1D Mark III, the sync jack will NOT output a signal to fire a radio transmitter, even if this mod is done. Doing the mod will, however, allow the flash to output a signal to fire a transmitter with all the other Canon bodies, and will also allow an input signal from a radio receiver in all 6 of the operational modes, regardless which Canon body is being used. Testing is in process to filter the trigger output so this combination of flash and body works just as it does with the other Canon bodies." Good grief!!!
The 580 is great as an on-camera walk about flash/camera combo. It even works well in the master/slave setup or with the expensive and 10 year old Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2. I also love the new metal hot shoe foot which slices like a knife into the tightest hot shoe umbrella adaptors. But, if you don't want the hassles of spending more money on third party parts to use the 580 as a slave with strobes, then buy (for example) a cheap Vivitar 285 and put a cheap photo-optical slave trigger on it for carefree studio work with the big boy lights.
Money not wasted here January 20, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I recently purchased the Speed light 580EX II. I don't have money to plunk down on a gizmo just because some magazine drools over the product specifications. Im a simple guy, and I just want a light unit that will allow me to grow my skills and be capable of doing what I want it to do. I dont have the time or money to hire a Geek to explain the operating guide to me. I figure for the price of this unit, I should be able to put batteries in it and go! If you do buy it, thats what you can expect from this flash unit. But I really suggest you learn to use all of its flexible settings, and you will not be sorry with your purchase. It has been easy to use, and I strongly suggest you enhance you purchase with a good diffuser. You friends will drool at your great pictures. There are plenty of knowledgeable reviews on this flash, please read them. I am just an average guy who does Photography as a hobby. I consider this unit as one of my best buys!
Great purchase January 18, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Speedlite 580EX II is amazing. I already had the 430EX and now I can use that as a slave. I am very happy with this purchase.
Just plain awesome January 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I just got this flash in last week with the Sto-fen diffuser. Great combo, if I don't want to light up the whole room with the diffuser I just angle the flash and bounce it. In the beginning, I considered the 430EX but figured it's only a little bit more. Plus, I didn't want to have a great flash like the 430EX then go through the "What if I got the 580 instead?" This is a powerful flash, I highly recommend it.
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