Canon 580EX users, question ?

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Joey - 23 Apr 2006 23:26 GMT

I have the Canon 20D and have put off buying the 580EX due to the cost.
For those who use this flash, would you buy it if you had it all to do
over again or what flash would you get if you chose another ? Thanks

Joey

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Dave - 24 Apr 2006 01:10 GMT

Dear Joey,

I just got my Canon 20D and 580EX and the two work well. The following
article is very in-depth which I learned a lot about my system.

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

Hope this helps,
Dave

>I have the Canon 20D and have put off buying the 580EX due to the cost.
> For those who use this flash, would you buy it if you had it all to do
> over again or what flash would you get if you chose another ? Thanks
>
> Joey

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Pat - 24 Apr 2006 01:47 GMT

I bought a 580ex with my 20d. I just bought my second 580ex and I am
thinking about buying a third pretty soon.

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John McWilliams - 24 Apr 2006 03:11 GMT

> I bought a 580ex with my 20d. I just bought my second 580ex and I am
> thinking about buying a third pretty soon.

Pat, could you please expand on how you use multiple flashes? I have a
550 and 580, but haven't yet used them in tandem. Not until I finish the
current sports season.

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john mcwilliams

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Pat - 24 Apr 2006 05:02 GMT

I just got my second flash. With one flash I have been getting shadows in
my pictures. I figure two flashes will eliminate them. Two or three
flashes will provide more light. I have ordered light stands/umbrellas for
portraits. With two 20d's (his and hers) I can use a flash on each. With
two flashes I have a backup. One 580ex with its ability to control
additional flashes simply leaves you hungry for more. I was thinking two
580ex and one ST-E2 transmitter but now I am thinking 3 flashes. I need
another good deal.

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C J Southern - 24 Apr 2006 07:17 GMT

SNAP

I'm in exactly the same boat.

Additionally, you might be interested to see the results this chap has
achieved using only a bunch of 550EXes (smaller brother to the 580EX).

http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill

(or to read the full article get magazine #1 @ www.pbase.com/magazine )

Have a look at the "Wanda" series.

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Jim Redelfs - 24 Apr 2006 02:01 GMT

> I have the Canon 20D and have put off buying the 580EX due to the cost.
> For those who use this flash, would you buy it if you had it all to do
> over again

Yes.

The 580EX is a very capable, powerful flash. I have been completely satisfied
with its performance and the results.

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:)
JR

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Jørn Dahl-Stamnes - 24 Apr 2006 16:55 GMT

> I have the Canon 20D and have put off buying the 580EX due to the cost.
> For those who use this flash, would you buy it if you had it all to do
> over again or what flash would you get if you chose another ? Thanks

YES!

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Jørn Dahl-Stamnes
http://www.dahl-stamnes.net/Foto/

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Gisle Hannemyr - 24 Apr 2006 18:05 GMT

> I have the Canon 20D and have put off buying the 580EX due to the
> cost. For those who use this flash, would you buy it if you had it
> all to do over again

I am the odd man out: No.

I started buying Canon Speedlites when I was moving from film to
dital. I knew little about flash and E-TTL, and more or less thought
that E-TTL was the /only/ way to go with digital. I ended up with
three 550EX EX speedlites and the ST-E2 wireless controller. In
retrospect: What a waste of good money that I could have used for
lenses instead. I know that the 580EX is slightly better than the
580EX - but not so much better that I think it will make a difference

> or what flash would you get if you chose another?

I would have bought 3 x Sunpak 383 Super and some cheap radio
triggers, and possibly a cheap Gossen Digiflash flash meter.

Actually, that is what I use most of the time these days - so I am
thinking about selling the EX speedlites abd ST-E2.

The Sunpaks, radio triggers and flash meter would cost me less than a
single 580EX, give me the same wireless ability in a studio, and much
improved reliability out of doors. The "auto" mode on the Sunpak will
take care of exposure most of the time - and the Gossen will handle
the instances with brollys and softboxes where "auto" don't work.

More on choosing and using flash on Canon DSLRs here:
http://hannemyr.com/photo/flash.html

About my experiences with radio slaves here:
http://hannemyr.com/photo/gt301b.html

Signature

- gisle hannemyr [ gisle{at}hannemyr.no - http://hannemyr.com/photo/ ]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sigma SD10, Kodak DCS460, Canon Powershot G5, Olympus 2020Z
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John A. Stovall - 24 Apr 2006 19:41 GMT

Yes, nothing better...

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"I have been a witness, and these pictures are
my testimony. The events I have recorded should
not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

-James Nachtwey-
http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

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egb - 28 Apr 2006 14:04 GMT

> I have the Canon 20D and have put off buying the 580EX due to the cost.
> For those who use this flash, would you buy it if you had it all to do
> over again or what flash would you get if you chose another ? Thanks
>
> Joey

I have two 550ex and a 580ex. After I tried a Quantum T5D the Canon
flashes were relagated to family events.

I curently have two T5Ds and an X5D and they are reliable and
effective... and the radio remotes work much better then IR.

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