Good Flash for Canon 60D

Hi All,

I wanted to buy a flash for my Canon 60D. Which one should I opt for. I considered Speedlite 430EX II, but require your kind inputs on the compatibility of it. And also this would be my stand alone flash, I am not thinking of buying any other flashes in the near future.
TIA

The 430 EX (II now) works well for me. If I had to do it over again, I would have got the 580 EX, though. The real-world difference in light output seems greater to me than the specs would have you believe. The 580 EX would also give you an additional option for wireless flash if you were to acquire another flash in the future.

I just got a 580EX II, which works very well though it is a big unwieldy (large heavy weight on top of the camera - it weighs about 1/2kg with batteries).

The main thing that I wanted was the higher output power over the 430, but either the 430 or 580 are incomparably better than the built-in flash (which doesn't even allow manual control over the output). However, the difference isn't that great and the smaller size of the 430 might make that a better option for many.

BTW, the 580 also has a fun strobe setting too... http://www.flickr.com/14989580@N00/5263820099
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http://www.flickr.com/14989580@N00

hisoy86 said:

The 580 EX would also give you an additional option for wireless flash if you were to acquire another flash in the future.

Click to expand...

The 60D has wireless flash built in.

--
Sam K., NYC

The 60D has wireless flash capability with the 430ex2 and the 580ex2. It will control multiple flashes with ratio control as well. The model #'s are the guide #'s (flash output power). The 580 outputs 30% more light allowing you to do bounce flash and diffusion flash way better than the 430. The trade-off is the size of the flash.

You flash photography may evolve to where you want to shoot multiple off-camera flashes. Single flash is very limited in lighting creativity. You can get a 430ex flash NOW and ideally a 580ex flash in the future OR vice-versa.

I've only scratched the surface here. You need to read the chapter on flash in your owners manual. Also go to strobist.com.

Another option is get 2 very inexpensive after-market flashes like Vivitar 285's. $85ea. and shoot in manual using the LCD screen on the camera as your guide to exposure. These are outstanding flashes and quite powerful. The Viv285 will work in auto-mode also however it is neither ttl or ettl.

prth said:

Hi All,

I wanted to buy a flash for my Canon 60D. Which one should I opt for. I considered Speedlite 430EX II, but require your kind inputs on the compatibility of it. And also this would be my stand alone flash, I am not thinking of buying any other flashes in the near future.
TIA

Click to expand...

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img7d

Most of my flash shots are bouncing light off the side walls, a wall or corner behind me, etc. For that you need a lot of power and the 580 EX does a nice job. I'd not get anything less powerful if you plan on doing bounce flashes.

--
Enjoying God and His Creation.

..Certainly agree about the 580(II)Ex - their power & control is great.

Re Manual Flash power, the 60D and 7D, alone among Canon built-in pop-up units, do allow Manual Flash power fractions to be set. And not just for themselves either. When used to control a Canon Wireless network they offer remotely adjusted Manual power fractions by group. That's in addition to ETTL/Autoflash + or - FEC, of course. Using a 580(II)Ex as a master adds range, HSS and staying power, but these built-in controllers are pretty good. Cheers

Actually the 60D built in flash does offer manual control! I don't know if the 7D has this feature but you can use full power down to 1/128! Even though it does offer manual control I still probably would not use it myself very often as I prefer off camera flash. The relative size and direct flash causes lighting that is too harsh for my likes.

----- Edit
Scratchdisk beat me to it! Lol.

--
Mark W
http://www.markwphoto.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markwphoto/

Buy the Canon 580EX II. If you don't you'll just kick yourself a couple months from now for not spending the $150 extra and not getting it now. It has high output power,ETTL II FEC and manual control in1/3 stops, an easy to follow menu system, wireless control and good build quality. The 60D has built-in wireless flash via the pop up flash and can control up to three groups of off camera 580's in both ETTL and manual mode. I just bought a 60D and a 580EX II and really like it.

I know that many people think that you should buy the brand of flash that is the same as the brand of camera you have. This is the safe way, but not necessarily the only way to go, and certainly not the cheapest way to go.

There are other brands of flash units that are cheaper than the Canon ones and still offer high power and full wireless capability. As in all things, there are trade offs, but most armatures don't really need to spend the extra money for a flash, like the Canon ones, that are rugged enough for a professional that will be throwing them in and out of a camera bag all day long. Non-manufacture flash units are fine for most of us.

First define what you need.

Do you need a flash that will offer zoom? How about tilt and rotate?

Do you need a flash that will work in a wireless mode when off-camera?

Do you need the power of a flash like the 580 or will one with the power like that of the 430 be sufficient?

Once you define what you really need then look at all the available flash units that will do what you want. Check out the dpreview forums for posts from people that have the units you think will suffice and see what people say about these units.

That is what I am doing.

I bought a 430EX II, and I find it powerful enough for most uses - I bounce it when the ceiling is white. I considered the 580, but it was awfully big. If they had been the same size, the extra cost wouldn't have stopped me, but between the larger size and extra cost, I didn't feel like the extra power of the 580 justified buying it and carrying it. Heck, I frequently leave the 430 at home if I'm trying to travel light.

There's some times when I'd probably benefit if I had bought the 580, but for my uses the 430 is good enough enough of the time. It's a VAST improvement over the built in flash!

Are there any third party flashes that work with the 60D if you are on a budget. I need one to use indoors that can be bounced off the walls/ceiling for portraits. I have been looking for used but don't seem to find and 430/580 Ex. I read about a yongnuo flash, is it any good?

The 580 is an excellent choice. You can always dial down the power.

I use a YN-560 as my second light. So far, it's been a great unit.

--
Eric

The 380 is cheaper , the 430 better and the 580 best . The 430 does not seem to eat batteries like the 580 .
I would forget the OC 3 flash cord - , you just don't need it .
--
1st it's a hobby
7D gripped XTI gripped
Canon - efs 10-22 , 17-55 , ef 18-55 IS
EF 28-90 , 28 @ 2.8 , 50 @1.8 , 28-135 IS
L's 35-350 , 70-200 MK II IS
Quantaray lens 70-300 macro
Sigma 135 - 400
2X III , Life Size converter
KSM filters for all
kenko auto tubes , EF 25

A slightly cheaper alternative is the Metz 58AF 2. I use one of these with a7D and it is brilliant with excellent exposure and a small secondary flash for extra modelling when bouncing the main flash

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10050-10598-10599

I'd recommend 430EX II. It's noticeable smaller/lighter than 580EX II while still powerful enough. You can get around $250 when in Instant Rebate. See the above Rob Galbraith's review of it. I also owned 580EX II that I bought first. My copy of 580EX II has fuzzy issues from time to time, ETTL -> TTL, over-flashing so white out the photos, and sometimes don't flash despite I used high capacity rechargeable battery (that improved but still having issues sometimes) as recommended in Rob's article. Also unlike 580EX II 430EX II doesn't have a problem with Pocket Wizard. In comparison 430EX II is trouble free and never failed single time and flashing very consistently. I will buy another 430EX II again.

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http://qianp2k.zenfolio.com/

Take a look at the 320ex, smaller and does all the basics. Plus it has an LED light for video. I use my flash for fill 90% or the time, just dont want to mount a flash bigger then the camera body

good luck
Dave
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7D with Zeikos grip, 17-85 EFs USM IS
Sigma 50 1.4 EX DG HSM, 24-70 2.8 EX DG HSM, 50-150 2.8 EX DC HSM II

If you need the ETTL, the 580/430 certainly are great choices, they're good flashes and the metering works fairly well with them. Keep in mind the 60d has the ability to control two off camera speedlite groups independently using ETTL.

If you want a manual flash, the YN-560 is tough to beat right now. Similar (maybe slightly less power) than a 580EXII, built almost exactly the same, and can trigger on an external flash or sync. Of course you lose HSS/FP Sync and ETTL, but you pay $65 vs $480 for a 580EXII.

prth said:

Hi All,

I wanted to buy a flash for my Canon 60D. Which one should I opt for. I considered Speedlite 430EX II, but require your kind inputs on the compatibility of it. And also this would be my stand alone flash, I am not thinking of buying any other flashes in the near future.
TIA

Click to expand...

I was going to ask you what you think you would use the flash for, but then read your last sentence and thought to myself which flash would I want if I could only have one and the pop up flash. I have a 270ex which is nice, but not always enough and which has to be controlled thru the camera's menu...not really a problem with the 60D, but a little problem with my 20D but not with my 50D. And I went several years before getting a 430ex, and always needing just a bit more.....

Let me tell you that the 430 ex has always been more than enough! Powerful enough but not too horribly big and heavy. Versatile!!! Good results whether inside or out, and I can go to high speed synch for outside fill flash with a touch of a button on the back of the flash.......

For the last two years I have only had one flash...430ex and it has been all I need. The 430ex II should be even better.
Go with the 430exII !!!!!!
whvick

Something which hasn't been mentioned here is the build quality of the 430EXII vs 580EXII. I have the 580 and recently bought a 430 for my company.

The difference is like night and day, the 580 oozes quality whereas the 430 feels like a toy beside it. The control wheel is also a lot easier to use on the 580 than the 430 buttons. The 580 is also weather sealed.

So again it depends on usage, if you are a light (no pun intended) user then the 430 will be fine but if you need something a bit more rugged, opt for the 580. Initially I thought they were pulling our collective legs on the 580 price but it really is worth the price difference.