[richard plumb]

I know this is discontinued and replaced by the 430EX etc, but is it still a decent flash, and can it still be fired by an ST-E2? Also, can a 40D control its output manually via the ST-E2, as the flash doens't have an LCD or manually settable power output itself.


Was toying with the idea of ditching the 580EXII and getting an STE2. then I'd have more flexibility with flash positioning with my current 430EX and another flash (either a 430EX or a cheaper 420EX)

[cedmondson]

I have a 420EX, a 580EX II & an ST-E2. The 420EX can be triggered by the ST-E2. You can also use ratios on the ST-E2 and FEC on the 40D with the 420EX but you can't get full manual control this way. Using the 580EX II as the trigger however, it seems you can manually control the 420EX.

I'd recommend keeping the 580EX II - it's more powerful than either 420 or 430 variants, cycles WAY faster and provides the means to have one flash on camera and one (or more) off. You can't do this with an ST-E2 and a 420 / 430 combo. Also the wireless range of the 580 is better than the ST-E2

[richard plumb]

yeah, I think i'd miss the 580EX. would it be a decent idea to pick up a cheap 420EX for times I might want to try two flashes off camera?

[cedmondson]

Depends what you can pick one up for. Since discovering they're quite powerful slaves when armed with a 580EX II and an ST-E2, I've kept an intermittent eye open for bargains but not seen many going for less than £100.

There was a thread here a couple a days ago saying that 430EX's can be had for £137 new. Not sure I'd bother with a S/H 420EX for that sort of saving....

[richard plumb]

how do you tend to use your combination of kit?

580EXII on camera for one flash situations? if you want off-camera flash, do you use the STE2 or 580EX for master use? Is your ST-E2 only used when you want to use both flashes off camera?


I have a 580EXII and a 430EX, so just wondering whether its worth looking for a cheap 420EX or 430EX and use the 580EX as master, or pick up an ST-E2 and use the 580EX + 430EX off camera. Probably about the same cost for both options.

[cedmondson]

I'm not sure I have a particular 'recipe' yet. For sure, if I only use one flash, it's the 580. Generally I dislike the harsh light of flash so any combination of dialing the flash down with FEC, bounce, diffusion or off-camera is preferable IMHO. I had the STE2 before I got the 580 so used it for a while with the 420 as sole flash but I've since used it with (just) the 580 off camera. I'm aware that I could use the 580 as trigger only for the 420 with longer range than the STE2 but this remains an experiment for the future. I guess it's nice having a range of options .

I'm not sure which way I'd go in your situation. Buying another flash would give you the possibility of 1 on / 2 off camera but you don't get the option to use the powerful 580 off camera. FWIW my experience of using two flashes has been fun but challenging - particularly in terms of balance. I'm therefore not sure that bringing a third into play would be easy to do. If you haven't already done so I'd poke your nose into the strobist website and also invest in a copy of 'Light:Science & Magic' - slightly heavy-going and textbookish in places but worth persevering with.
Your £100 budget would also buy one of these (possibly with change to spare?). I think that placement and control of light is as important as number and power of sources. I have one & whilst silly reasons prevent it getting as much use as it should (largely based on a small sports car with a tiny boot ) I think you'd find it at least as useful as your other options under most circumstances.