Flash ahhahh (Canon Speedlite 430EX II)

Member Name: beolens

Product:	Canon Speedlite 430EX II
Date:	21/06/09 (210 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Manual fetures great

Disadvantages: Not able to use as a master unit

I have only just become a user of decent flash, preferring in the past to use natural light, or just not take the photo, firstly as I didn't own a decent flash unit and secondly because I preferred the light given off naturally. However as my skill as a photographer improved so did my need to use flash grew, finding more situations where although the light was good it wasn't right, or taking more formal portraits etc.

Not having money to burn on something I wouldn't be able to use, I plumped to start with Canons small pro-flash the Canon Speedlite 430 EX II, this would give me most of the control of the bigger 580 EX (without the ability to use it as a master) and should I eventually decide I want the bigger version I could still with use the 430 as a slave etc.

So far I have used the flash mainly off camera to take static portraits, and find that the ability to use manual settings invaluable, varying the power of the strobe in 1/3 stop increments or changing the angle of the flash, rotates 180 degrees and from straight up to a 90 degrees giving a good area coverable. When I have used the flash on camera the ETTL system seems to work perfectly, only occasionally blowing highlights if small areas of white are included.

My only gripe is that you cannot use this flash as a master unit to control other flashes you might have, it can however be used as a slave if you have the right master unit (580 EX)

Full technical specs can be found on canons website, so are not included here.

Summary: A great flash which does almost all you could want.

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