Product Description

Further development of Canon's flagship Speedlite has led to the production of the 580 EX II. This is the premier Speedlite for all photographers, including professionals. Newly designed to match with the EOS-1D Mark III in terms of improved dust- and water-resistance, body strength, and the ability to control flash functions and settings from the camera menu (EOS-1D Mark III only). Other features include improved communication reliability through its direct contacts, and recycling time is both 20% shorter than the 580EX and is completely inaudible.

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 1946B002
• Released on: 2007-05-10
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x 5.00" w x 8.00" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

• E-TTL operation with all EOS digital SLRs; PowerShot G2, G3, G5, G6, and Pro1; and the following EOS film cameras - EOS-1v, EOS-3, Elan 7N series, Elan 7 series, Elan II series, Rebel T2, Ti, K2, GII, G. / TTL operation with all other 35mm EOS SLRs, and Canon T90
• Guide Number 190 (at ISO 100, feet) / 58 (meters); flash head at 105mm zoom setting
• About 100 to 700 Flashes with fresh AA-size alkaline batteries / Uses Four AA-size batteries - alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable Ni-MH usable (we advise using optional rechargeable batteries for long lasting service)
• AutoFocus Assist Beam
• Fourteen Speedlite Custom Functions built-in; set on Speedlite's LCD panel

Manufacturer Description
Further development of Canon's flagship Speedlite has led to the production of the 580 EX II. This is the premier Speedlite for all photographers, including professionals. Newly designed to match with the EOS-1D Mark III in terms of improved dust- and water-resistance, body strength, and the ability to control flash functions and settings from the camera menu (EOS-1D Mark III only). Other features include improved communication reliability through its direct contacts, and recycling time is both 20% shorter than the 580EX and is completely inaudible.

Speedlite 580EX II Flash Highlights

• Approximately 20 percent faster recycling time compared to 580EX
• Superior build quality, including a metal foot for higher rigidity
• Max Guide No. 58 at 105mm setting (GN 190, feet)
• Auto conversion of flash coverage with compatible digital SLR cameras
• White Balance info communicated instantly to compatible digital SLR cameras
• Full swivel, 180 degrees in either direction
• AF-assist beam, compatible with all AiAF points on every EOS SLR
• Dust- and water- resistance to match the EOS-1D Mark III

Customer Reviews

Buy this one -- not the other Canon flashes
I realize this is expensive, but it gives you A LOT more options and power. It's also measurably more bulky than my 420EX flash, but it's worth rearranging my photo bag to accomodate it.

There's a few complaints about the menu-based selection of MASTER/SLAVE/Etc instead of the easier to use, pushbutton version, but I'm not finding that much of a problem since I'm really configuring this from the camera's menu anyway.

Buy this.

Great Canon Flash
Currently the best system flash for my Canon EOS 40D camera. Don't make the same mistake as I did when I bought the less powerful and reduced feature set of the 430EX. The responsiveness and coupling of this flash with the camera cannot be beat. I haven't had so much with creative use of light for a long time.

Speedlite 580EX II
The 580EX II speedlite is the top end external flash for canon and should be.

I purchased it mainly for ettl fill-in flash. Fill-in flash in a bright sunny day is very difficult under any circumstances with any camera or flash unit. The 580EX does a wonderful job and is difficult to see any "overflash".

You do have to read the manual on this one as a thorough knowledge is required to get pleasing results. I am an advance amateur and take nearly all my daytime photographs with the flash on my 5D. Ettl fill-in flash lightens the deep shadows. What would have been a so-so photo, is now more like a professional one.

Note: Not all Canon cameras have the necessary electronics on board to function properly. If your Canon camera is an old one, read up first to see if yours will work the ettl process properly.