Canon Speedlite 580EX II, Shoe Mount Flash with Guide Number of 190 Feet / 58m at ISO 100, U.S.A. Warranty

SKU: CA580EX2U

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Questions & Answers

Shopper : I have a Canon XTi with 18-55mm lense. I used a relative's Canon 430 EX II on several occasions to take pictures of my daughter martial arts performances. What I find is that because of the fast movement, even with the flash, the camera was not able to capture the fast movement. Another thing is that if the subject is more than 8 or 9 feet away, the pictures would come out to be much darker than I'd like. I'm now looking at possibly getting the 580 EX II because it's supposedly better than the 430EX II. Can anyone tell me if the 580 EX II be a better choice for what I need to use it for?HERVE H : Not knowing the camera settings of your shoot, I would assume you already cranked up the ISO and shutter speed. A flash should easily freeze just about any action, there are some excellent tutorial on Adorama learning center. check that out. I like to use natural light but also have 2 580EX II's. They have about 1/3 more oomph than the 430's and have used my speedlites in social events and got really good results at even 40-50 feet from the subject - although not action shots. I have a page on flckr; search for hhbh98 and set April 27 2012 Since you are shooting fast moving subjects you might also want to add a power pack to give you faster recycle time and more shots per charge. I use a Yongnuo SF-18, which looks almost identical to the Canon's. They also make a 580 equivalent for less $. I think the 580 would help, but then again i am bias since i won 2 of them, hope that helps. good luck ;P HWILMA C : Maybe. The 580 does produce more light than the 430. If you took the photos before in bright light, the flash wouldn't freeze the action. If you took the other photos indoors, what ISO was you camera on? It should be at least 640 and higher if you get bluring.James N : Thank you all for your quick reply. If I increase the ISO to 800 or 1600, using the 580 EX II and a snoot with the shutter speed of 1000 or higher, do you think I will be able to get a sharp and bright photo even when the subject from a distance between 6 and 20 feet is moving about at a fairly fast speed? I don't want to spend the money on something that may not achieve the result that I'm looking.YONG W : Maybe you want to do it off the hotshoe, using a cable or radio trigger.JIM C : Let me just say first, the Canon 580EX is an excellent flash. I don't know why your images are dark when shot at such a close distance (8-9 feet). The lack of sharpness is probably caused by a slow shutter speed. With the 580 I would use a faster shutter speed and you should have no problems getting the images you want of your daughter. The 580 is very bright and you will want to experiment with different speeds and angles of the flash head. I see no reason that the 580 won't give you the results that you want. JimC V : A few things affect your ability to do what you describe. One is whether you have a "fast" lens. Another is the ISO you choose. But the flash is a big component of how successful you will be in the situation you describe. The 580 EX is stronger than the 430 EX flash and has more options, which you may or may not need. You can get more "reach" with any flash with a snoot or similar device that makes the flash's beam travel a greater distance (nor wider distance) Look at the information at photo-tipscom (review/canon-430ex-ii-vs-canon-580ex-ii/nutshell/ I have both and, in my humble opinion, the 580EX will give you more capabilities than the 480EX does.
Scott C : Canon 580 EXII flash: Where and how can it sink with pocket wizard?HERVE H : Scott I have the Canon transmitter. It supposed to have line of sight but can work fairly well if you're not too fussy and need it to go through walls and the like. I don't have a PW, but you should know that the new speedlites are now radio capable so you can by pass the PW. the new speedlite is more expensive than the 580 but cheaper than adding a PW. I'll be updating to that eventually. hope that info helps a little. good luckWILMA C : It works with a standard Pocket Wizard with a PC cable or by attaching to the hot shoe on the Canon specific Pocket Wizard.CLARK E : You need two pocket wizards designed specifically for Canon camera mounts. On the camera shoe mount you need a Pocket Wizard miniTT1 and on the flash mount you need a Pocket Wizard FlexTT5. The flash can be up to 1200 feet away from the camera. I haven't tried it that far away, but that is what the specs say.
claudette a : what shoe mount flash will go with a canon rebel xs camera?JERRY B : All Canon Speedlte's work with all Rebel's and D series camera.claudette a : Thank you all for help.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2022-08-13T09:15:04

Rated 1 out of 5

Speedlite

Battery placement broken, and gross was not mentioned in description.

Ashley F.

2014-08-25T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

great flash

bought this flash used and it works perfectly. like the hot-shoe locking lever much better than the one on my old 430EX. produces much more light as well!!

DARRIN F.

2014-03-10T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great flash unit

I already had the 580EX flash when I got this unit. The 580EXII is much more solidly built - you can tell just by holding it in your hand. It recycles faster and while recycling you don't hear any sound which is nice. The only (minor) issue is if you use a Stofen diffuser you can't use the one from the original 580EX as the 580EXII head is a bit larger. The Stofen from the 550EX fits perfectly.

STEVEN C.

2013-09-28T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Exactly what I was looking for.

I use this flash as a wedding photographer - second shooter. I had borrowed this model from lead shooters (as well as other models) and this does exactly what I need it to. Since the 600 has come out, I knew that purchasing a used 580 was the way I wanted to go, and Adorama makes purchasing used equipment easy and worry-free.

James

2013-09-16T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great flash in perfect condition

This is my 2nd 580EX II and it arrived from Adorama quickly and in perfect condition. I love the flash and didn't want to switch to the 600 EX-RT's because it would have meant spending much more to convert to. I presently use 2 430EX II's and 580EX II with ST-E2 and RadioPoppers. Plus the new 580EXII. I would have had to sell my three flashes and radiopoppers, then purchase 4 600EX-RTs. Purchasing a slightly used (although it looked like new) 580 from Adorama was a great way to add another flash without spending an arm and a leg.

Richard F.

2013-07-24T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Good value

This unit is used on a regular basis as a solo on camera flash and as a master flash controlling slave flashes. Takes a bit of practice but works well. Only downside is that the slaves are controlled through IR so sensors must be able to see the master's IR signals. Radio would be awesome but drives the cost up considerably (600 EX-RT). Weather sealing when combined with xD bodies is a big plus over 580 EX

Food P.

2013-04-01T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Bought used and saved $$$

Great flash, I use it as fill flash mostly

CHRISTIAN B.

2013-03-11T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

3 Canon 580 EX ll speedlites used

Came in great condition, looked like new. very happy

Ora

2012-12-23T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love this speedlight!

I use this as a fill flash and lo-light for portrait photography. Very versatile and love the swivel head in all directions. The learning curve is a little hard at the beginning but otherwise I love it!

P2

2012-12-19T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

great

By buying this flash second hand not only did I save a lot of money but Adorama's 90 day warranty gave me confidence in my decision to buy. The flash is in excellent quality for a refurbished model.

JAY N.

2012-08-05T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Flash

Mostly for backlit situations.

Pat B.

2012-08-01T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Powerful Flash

None

Joe's P.

2012-08-01T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Distance

Recycles much faster than the 430EX.

JOANNE B.

2012-07-16T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great service and product quality

I purchased the Canon 580EX II as a used product from Adorama. The website stated that the flash had light use, etc. I was impressed to find that the flash did not appear to be used often and works well. This is my first flash, but one of my main reasons for choosing the 580EX II vs. a less expensive model is the ability to rotate, various functions, etc. I am still learning how to use the flash, but at this moment, it is an asset to my camera bag. Adorama also provided wonderful service.

Cate P.

2012-06-27T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Exceeds expectations for my work!

At the same time that I purchased this accessory, I purchased the Canon EOS 7d since I needed a digital camera, cropped-frame, with HD video capability for scientific research documentation purposes (I am a university professor). I preferred to stay with Canon since I already had an assortment of EF lenses and I have always been completely satisfied with Canon products. Most of the additional lenses and accessories I chose that were required for my work at this time (macro photography for specimens, location landscape documentation, laboratory training multimedia presentations) will all be usable in the future as I plan to invest in a full-frame Canon EOS within a few years. All of these accessories have met or exceeded my expectations! I am quite familiar with the earlier Canon Speedlites, and the 580EX-II surpasses them all in consistency, control, and options! Kudos also to Adorama, who has what must be the most extensive and impressive inventory I have yet to find online making one-stop shopping realistic (California does not have such a photography 'superstore'…). Packing was secure, shipping was fast, and personal contact service for advice was friendly and professional all the way. A wonderful experience – Thanks!

HAROLD R.

2012-06-17T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

"Just what I was looking for"

Worth the price if you are a novice. Pleased with the area coverage.

DAVID W.

2012-05-13T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

The best hands down

This flash does eveything plus more. I have shot a whole wedding with excellent results with this flash.

NORMAN T.

2012-05-13T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Love it! :)

I love the output & effect it has on my images. I haven't been using it that long, but can definitely tell the difference between the 580exii & the 430exii I was using. There are sometimes where it has a bit of slow recycling time, but I think that has to do with the batteries I'm using. I use the 580exii for portraits/weddings etc. for on & off camera flash lighting.

KT

2012-05-09T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great flash,upgrade from 550EX speedlite

Use it with a beamer to really reach out there for nature shots. Does a great job for portraits.

james k.

2012-05-07T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love my Canon Speedlite.

I do mostly nature photography along with some sports and ocassional portraits.It is amazing the reach you get when you add a beammer to this flash.

JimmyK

2012-04-27T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Good product!

A product you can count on, good for event photography

RAMONA M.

2012-04-22T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Very versatile flash

The fast recycle time and the reach are the most impressive to me. I have two 580EX II units and they both are super. I've used them both as on and off camera flash, as well as with ST-E2. The IR sometimes is a limitation, but impressive most of the time. The just released 600EX-RT is wireless but over $100 more than 580EX II.

TnPhotoMan

2012-04-22T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Good Flash

Im still learning how to use the flash but so far it has been a good inverstment.

amateur p.

2012-04-22T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Does it all. Powerful and reliable.

Works great with my T2I

ROBERT W.

2012-04-18T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Puts out a lot of light

I use the flash for HDR images the foot lock is much better than the 580EX spin dial. The flash power spin dial is hard to use when I have to be quick. I go though 2 sets (8 batts) of rechargables a day. Its a power horse.

wildimages

2012-04-18T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

So far so good

Very ease to use. I like the way it synchronizes itself with my 7D. Of course, I've only had it for a few weeks and are still trying it, but so far so good. I am very satisfied with this product. Especially the fast recycling and the consistency of output.

JOSE C.

2012-04-15T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love it!

I had never used a speedlite before and this one was actually pretty easy to get used to controlling! I've been using it in full manual and I have successfully used it as a bounce flash for fill light on a few fashion photoshoots. The next step for me is to purchase a set of triggers to get the light off of my camera. I am extremely happy with my purchase!

JL7 P.

2012-04-01T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Power full on umbrella shoot trough

This flash is very powerfull and it's usefull when your doing shoot trough umbrella on daylight for portrait. Fast and silent recycling I bought another one recently for event shooting.

M G.

2012-04-01T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

BEST CANON FLASH!

YES I KNOW CANON JUST CAME OUT WITH THE NEW FLASH UNIT ! I CAN'T JUSTIFY THE HUGE $ FOR THE NEW FLASH AS THE IMPROVEMENTS TO ME SEEM PIDDLY IN COMPARISON TO THE 580 EX II ! JUST MY OPINION .

MIKE S.

2012-03-17T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Essential

These are my current go-to flashes for both fill and off camera use. I run up to 4, and like that they're small enough I can take anywhere without much burden, and still get enough power for a wide variety of applications. Sturdy and reliable. Can't really go wrong with these.

Chris

About Canon 580-EX II

FEATURED REVIEWS

Excellent flash package. A great value.

By Michael S.

SBM Supreme Light Diffuser for the Canon 580EX & the 580EX II Flashes. Adorama did not have the Flashpoint flash diffuser so they sent me this diffuser instead. It is an excellent fit to the 580ex II. Not loose at all. Does a good job creting softer light from the flash. I have not compared it to other diffusers yet. Adorama 4 AA Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) 2900 mAH Rechargeable Batteries with 4-Hour AA & AAA Quick Charger, 110/220 volt. The 580ex II recharges quickly with these batteries an...

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great product and experience all around

By grizzhcky

I am just getting started in the world of DSLR and paired this flash with the canon rebel xti. I read from someone once that with camera equipment you should "buy once, cry once" which is what I did with this flash. Definately spendy for my budget, but at [$]than I could get locally I felt that I was getting a great deal. [...] It was easy to set up and use and the results were stunning! The only thing I noticed is that the flash turns off automatically after a few minutes. However it ...

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The popular Speedlite 580EX Flash has been replaced by the new Speedlite 580EX II Flash, which features a host of improvements, including a metal hot shoe withan improved locking mechanism for added durability, an external metering sensor for non-TTL automatic flash exposure control and a PC socket for use with non-dedicated slave triggers.
Fully compatible with all EOS SLRs, the Speedlite 580EX II is gasketed for dust and moisture resistance, making it possible for users of EOS-1 class digital SLRs and many L-series EF lenses to use flash safely when shooting in dusty or wet environments.