Canon speedlites - difference between I and II?

[kitchenwench]

Hi guys,

I'm planning on investing in a flash unit for my 450D (planning to eventually get into strobing but just want a hotshoe flash for now). I'm looking at getting a 430ex speedlite, but noticed that the importers all have a standard 430ex and the Teds website only has listed 430ex II (I assume that means mark 2). I can't find any info on this elsewhere, can anyone tell me the difference between the mark 1 and mark 2 versions?

Thanks in advance,
Ellie

[dviv]

Hi Ellie,

I have a 580EX II - and used to have a 580EX. The main differences are the camera attachment lock is differnet (and much better), it has some weather sealing around the shoe, a different on/off switch, and a PC socket. It also recycles a lot quicker (or so the manual says)

So there are quite a few differences between the two. I would assumed from this that the 430EX II will be quite a bit differnet as well. As the 430EX II has replaced the 430EX and should be the same price, I'd make sure you get the second version

Hope that helps

David

[Doctor]

I have just ordered a 580 EX II off the net and then preceded to find a 580 EX elsewhere a bit cheaper and was wondering the same thing, ill stick with my order but was curious none the less, cheers for asking the question for me

[kitchenwench]

@ Dviv - Oooh, thanks for the info Will have to make sure that I get the mark 2 version then!

@ Doc - My pleasure May I ask where you bought your flash from? I'm still hunting around for prices...if I can find a good price for the 580 ex then I might go down that road, just not sure if the extra distance/strength is worth the $300 price diff that I saw on the Ted's site :/

[jdear]

I have both the 580 + 580ex II and some of the improvements the 580ex II have is:

weather sealed
newer locking mechanism (sooo much better)
silent operation - not the whine up when it discharges
sync port - important if you want to get into strobing etc
better zoom coverage
better battery door - I dont like the 580ex one.
20% faster recylce time

One of the only things I dont like about the newer II model is how you have to use menu options to put the flash into either slave / master for using canon's infared communication system. (canons equivalent CLS) The older just had a slider switch which was a million times easier.

Id try and get a 580ex II over the 430 if possible. From memory the 430 doesnt support high-voltage battery packs. (such as the canon CP-E4)

[dviv]

Ibetter battery door - I dont like the 580ex one.

Oh yeah, forgot about that one! And I agree - the old one was shocking

[daniel81]

430ex II has a 20% faster recycle rate, a metal hotshoe connector (mark 1 only had a plastic one) & control through the unit's LCD. That's the main difference between the 2 430ex's.

Here's the info from Canon's USA site: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=17302

I'll be pulling the trigger on a 430ex II shortly...

[kitchenwench]

What do you mean by pulling the trigger?

I've just seen a used 430ex mark 1 on sale for $200 ex postage...wondering if I should just buy it!

[dviv]

I've just seen a used 430ex mark 1 on sale for $200 ex postage...wondering if I should just buy it!

That's a pretty good price It would be worth picking up even to use as a second flash down the track

[Doctor]

@ Doc - My pleasure May I ask where you bought your flash from? I'm still hunting around for prices...if I can find a good price for the 580 ex then I might go down that road, just not sure if the extra distance/strength is worth the $300 price diff that I saw on the Ted's site :/

I ordered mine through DDP (Discount Digital Photographics), off the net, everytime i went to a store, Teds, camera house, diamonds, none of them wanted to deal with me, were hesitant to give prices and seemed uncomfortable answering my questions, so i put a 3.5k order in with DDP instead, havnt heard bad things, so gave them a try!

[Grev]

The main thing about the 580ex2 is the weather sealing around the mount and the PC sync socket.

The 430ex2 adds a better mount and faster recycling as far as I remember.