The Best Flash Ever Made by Canon; or Anyone Else for That Matter
Pros:
Quick Release Hotshoe Mount, A Plethora Of Features, Padded Case Included
Cons:
Flip Down Diffuser Is Hard To Pull Out, Steep Price Tag
The Bottom Line:
For the money you just can't get any better than the Canon Speedlite 580EX II
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I got this excellent flash for a great price from an on-line merchant. I had been researching this flash for several weeks, and found that it received rave reviews at many sites on the Internet, so I decided to purchase it for myself. All I can say is, I completely agree with all of the glowing 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 definitely the best flash ever!
There are so many possible settings for this flash unit, so there is a bit of a learning curve. I haven't even scratched the surface of everything that this flash can do. However, the instruction manual is very informative and straight forward, with many 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. Another point of interest is that this flash is completely silent when you turn it on. You don't get that increasingly high-pitched sound, emitted by a capacitor charging circuit, as you do with typical flash devices. 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. Look around on-line and you will save a substantial amount of money.
