Canon Speedlite 580EX Mk2 & Batteries

[michaeljclark]

I am wondering if I should invest in a "proper" flash to go with my Canon EOS 350D and am considering the Speedlite 580EX Mk2

Obviously this will need some rather nice AA sized batteies and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of these little chaps Ansmann 2850MAH?

My limited knowledge tells me these will be quite powerful?, but was hoping that someone could either cornfim/deny my assumptions - or maybe recommend some alternatives?

I'm hoping to visit the US soon and am keeping my fingers crossed that the £/$ says roughly where it is!

Thanks

Mike

[tank slapper]

NiMh batteries work really well in flash guns - much better than alkalines. I had a Minolta 5400 flash, which was pretty powerful, and that would recycle much faster on NiMh than with alkaline, and I got longer life out of them as well.

The make of battery shouldn't make too much of a difference, but the higher the mAh figure, the higher the capacity and the longer you get between charges.

Edited by tank slapper on Friday 28th December 16:02

[mogul]

michaeljclark said:

I am wondering if I should invest in a "proper" flash to go with my Canon EOS 350D and am considering the Speedlite 580EX Mk2

Obviously this will need some rather nice AA sized batteies and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of these little chaps Ansmann 2850MAH?

My limited knowledge tells me these will be quite powerful?, but was hoping that someone could either cornfim/deny my assumptions - or maybe recommend some alternatives?

I'm hoping to visit the US soon and am keeping my fingers crossed that the £/$ says roughly where it is!

Thanks

Mike

Mike

I have a 430EX and it makes a huge difference to indoor photo's, not sure if there's a huge benefit in having the 580EX TBH. I've not yet played with anything other than ETTL so can't comment on the manual settings.

Interesting point re the batteries, I have gone through a set of four Duracell batteries in just over two days and had thought about rechargeable batteries.

[michaeljclark]

mogul said:

Interesting point re the batteries, I have gone through a set of four Duracell batteries in just over two days and had thought about rechargeable batteries.

I think a set of 4 is about £12 and the charger is £20

Dunno how much Duracell's cost, but I'd imagine that after a few sets.......

Anyone else care to comment on the 430/580?

Mike

[mogul]

michaeljclark said:

mogul said:

Interesting point re the batteries, I have gone through a set of four Duracell batteries in just over two days and had thought about rechargeable batteries.

I think a set of 4 is about £12 and the charger is £20

Dunno how much Duracell's cost, but I'd imagine that after a few sets.......

Anyone else care to comment on the 430/580?

Mike

Mike, the pictures in my current thread here were all taken using the 430EX

[stigmundfreud]

was going to say for first flash I would save money and get the 430ex instead - fanstic flash and a slave to the 5 series if you upgrade later

[michaeljclark]

Right, I'll save me cash and get the 430EX then

Thanks all

[LotusJas]

michaeljclark said:

Anyone else care to comment on the 430/580?

Mike

580 has more range due to having a more powerful flash. I don't know about differences in other features though, but suggest you check the Canon site. I've ordered a 580 myself, to collect on Monday I'm sure the 430 is great, but I'd hate to find I needed more power when using it later, so thought I'd get the 580.

[MonkeyHanger]

If you're off to the States you might as well just get the 580 for half the UK price and be done with it

[bramley]

430 doesn't do strobe mode, and it doesn't have the extra settings for triggering slave flashes. having recently experimented with a mates 580 and my 430 the slave flash thing is a fantastic option. If I could pick up a cheap 580 2nd hand I would do.

[stigmundfreud]

The range is seriously not an issue! I use the 430 out and about on location and it has a range far exceeding my needs. The strobe featuer is a bloody good one on the 5 series and can lend to some fantastic results if you get the timing right. I use the st-e2 with 2x430s, clearly with a 5 series the st-e2 is made partially reduntant but the set up works well.

[Legmaster]

michaeljclark said:

mogul said:

Interesting point re the batteries, I have gone through a set of four Duracell batteries in just over two days and had thought about rechargeable batteries.

I think a set of 4 is about £12 and the charger is £20

Mike

Under 12 quid for 4 x AA including a charger from 7dayshop.com

[mcgus]

MonkeyHanger said:

If you're off to the States you might as well just get the 580 for half the UK price and be done with it

what he said, and what I did

[stigmundfreud]

Quinny said:

My 580EX worked out at £195 from Kerso (with Canon Cashback)

Not bad when its £400 from Jessops and £339 from 7dayshop

kerso?