did a search and couldn't find a comparison between these two flashes-hope this isn't rehashing an old post...
i'm looking to upgrade my flash-i've narrowed it down to th 550 ex and 580 ex models-both the 550 and 580 can serve as masters, work on canon digital, and pack a decent amount of power, etc.-would someone school me on the finer differences between the two speedlights? thanks
Daniel, as the user of both I will tell you few differences that are important to me. First of all, buttons layout - 580 EX clearly wins, easier to dial in FEC.
Second, recycle times - if you use battery pack than 550 is fine but no batterry pack and recycle time is too loooong. 580 does it a lot faster.
Third, the button that you push to rotate the flashhead is awkwardly located on 550, 580 seems more logical to me. And the last thing is the size, 580 is smaller and I'd say a lot smaller to me.
580 EX II has one big advantage over 580 EX is that new locking mechanism as well as metal shoe which is a big deal.
The stupid bounce swivel button thing on the 550 is the reason I haven't repaired my dead 550. I replaced it with a 580 and haven't looked back.
The 550 has TWO separate buttons to press, one for bouce and ANOTHER one for swivel. The 580 has just ONE that unlocked BOTH functions. It's how it should have been from the beginning. The 580 is also easier to adjust with the wheel on the back instead of + and - buttons, as I recall. (I haven't used a 550 in a few years!)
I use two 550's for wedding and location work when I don't want to bring out the monos. I purchased them mostly for cost reasons: if you can get them used, good copies will run you almost half of a new 580. So, for the cost of the new 580, you can have a two light setup.
Yes they have their disadvantages like weight, button interface and the swivel. But I have yet to put my hands on a 580 because I know if I do, I may want one. If you don't know any better, they work very well and are a definite upgrade over any of the smaller models, including the 430 (I contemplated buying a 430 instead of repairing a broken 550 but the 430 will not accept the Canon CP-E3 battery pack which I use).
The major draw for me for a new 580 II would be the built in sync port. Now if Canon would start building in Pocket Wizards into their flashes, that would be amazing!
mlorne wrote:
The major draw for me for a new 580 II would be the built in sync port. Now if Canon would start building in Pocket Wizards into their flashes, that would be amazing!
Since after connecting a 580exII to a PW you also need to attach it to a lightstand somehow I don't view the sync port as being any huge advantage over using a $10 generic PC-hotshoe adapter with the PC end replaced with a 1/8" which solves both the connection and mounting problems quite nicely:
If you switch back and forth from single to dual flash as I do the elimination of the wireless mode switch in the base to make the MkII weather proof is a big minus. I never had a problem with the 580ex battery door (just pull it down before hinging it out) and having used Auto Thyristor flashes don't think the auto feature as has any advantage over TTL metering in average mode-metering flash based on what the camera actually sees is always better than an auto sensor on the flash. The only thing I like about the 580exII vs the 580ex is the metal foot.
mlorne, i like the idea of two powerful, less expensive units (550s) instead of one more expensive unit (580), but as far as i know, the 550 won't master a 430-as my setup grows, i want to be able to expand within the canon system-i still think the 550 is a great flash and wouldn't mind having one-but $100 is about the difference between the 550 and 580 used-thanks for the input
