430 EX question

Sorry if this question has been asked a million times before, but search is down.

Im looking for an external flash to go with my Canon 20D. The 430EX jumped out at me because of the reasonable price. My question is, can the 430EX be used off the hot shoe? If so, can it be triggered wirelessly? I believe I read that the Sigma Super DG has that capability, but didn't see if mentioned in the info I've seen about the 430EX.

Mike
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Both teh 430EX and the DG500 Super have IR wireless mode. To get it to work, you need to buy the ST-E controller, or another 550EX/580EX/DG500.

The DG500 also has an optical slave mode. In this mode, the flash is triggered when it sees light from another flash. So basically you can trigger it with the camera's built-in flash, eliminating the need to buy something else.

You can buy a hot shoe adapter for the 430EX that will allow it to be triggered by the flash, just like the DG500. However, I wouldn't recommend this, because the 430EX will automatically shuts itself of to save battery, and thus requiring you to frequently come to it and turn it back on.

And you won't be able to use ETTL in optical slave mode, in case you didn't know.

Mike Kraus said:

Im looking for an external flash to go with my Canon 20D. The 430EX
jumped out at me because of the reasonable price. My question is,
can the 430EX be used off the hot shoe?

Click to expand...

Yes, if you want to retain ETTL, then the Canon Off Shoe Cord 2 can be used.

Mike Kraus said:

If so, can it be triggered wirelessly?

Click to expand...

Yes, it can be triggered wirelessly using a 550ex, 580ex, or ST-E2.

Mike Kraus said:

I believe I read that the Sigma Super DG has that
capability, but didn't see if mentioned in the info I've seen about
the 430EX.

Click to expand...

It can't be used as a master to trigger other ex units, but can be used as a slave or as a standalone unit. With one flash it doesn't matter, there is no slave/master relationship with only one flash.

If you were to buy a second flash, then it would be good to go for a 550ex, 580ex, Sigma 500 GDG super, or go for an ST-E2.

Brian A.

The 430ex can be triggered with the off shoe cord (which keeps the TTL and all other functions on), or can be triggered wirelessly by the 580ex (or 550ex) or the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 which keeps the TTL and all other functions on.

Unfortunately, the 430 cannot trigger an other 430. But the ST-E2 is about the price of a 430 (at around 210-230$).

So the best way if you do not want to move it more then 2-3 feet away, is the cord (about 50$), else, is probably to buy a 580 and a 430, or 2 580.

So choices are,
430 + cord = 280$ (you then can add a 580 later for wireless
580 + cord = 410$ (you then can add a 580 or a 430 later for wireless)
430 + ST-E2 = 440$ (not so great because you only have 1 flash not 2)
430 + 580 = 600$
580 + 580 = 740$

If you don't know exactly what you want, first choice is probably the best. Because if you feel you need wireless you can still add a 580 or a ST-E2.

But personnaly, I would get the 580 over a ST-E2, because the 580 is more capable than the ST-E2.
It has 3 flash groups, instead of 2,

the capacity to fire from the camera without swapping flash (eg: you have or wireless step up, but need flash from camera for one shoot, simply switch from master to off, and you're good for normal use),
batteries are standards AA, not uncommon 2RC5 6v.

Hope it helps

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Jean-Charles Thouin

It has the same capability as the 580ex, although a little weaker and a little slower in recycling, they can be bought used for MUCH LESS than the 580ex, and a lot of people buy them only to be commanders in a Canon ETTL arrangement.

I think I remember seeing 550ex flash units in good condition going for the mid $250 range on ebay, that's a steal!

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Once a Marine, always a Marine.

True for that, I just mention "new" products.
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Jean-Charles Thouin

well the cable dosent have one.

i was thinking about getting the st-e2 instead of the cable to use on a bracket because i sometimes shoot at socials with low light.

i can't imagine that the a'f assist beam on my 580 would perform as well on a bracket.

any thoughts ???

Nick

The af assist should fire, but, may not be aligned with your focus point... thus may not work correctly.

But again, if you have the money for another 580, you'll have two of those + the af assist (instead of one + the af assist)... (my 2 cents)
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Jean-Charles Thouin