Product Description

This exciting new addition to the EOS System combines compact size and affordability with an added dose of features and sophistication. Improving on the previous model, Speedlite 420EX, the new 430EX can now be set into manual flash mode (full power~1/64). Flash compensation can be set on the flash unit, and manual control of the flash zoom head is now possible. Improvements in its circuitry make recycle time 40% faster, and since it is compatible with Canon's wireless E-TTL, it can be used as an affordable "slave unit."

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: SL-430EX
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 2.00" w x 6.00" l, 2.20 pounds

Features

• Replaces the Canon Speedlite 420EX Flash
• Automatic selection of camera white-balance settings and auto-adjustment of zoom flash position to match camera's sensor size
• Flash head zoom covers the range 24mm to 105mm; integrated diffusion panel allows extends coverage to 14mm
• Compatible with distance-linked E-TTL II system; supports other EOS cameras that do not support E-TTL II, when required
• Flash head moves up from 0 to 90 degrees, left from 0 to 180 degrees, and right from 0 to 90 degrees

From the Manufacturer
The Speedlite 430EX flash unit replaces the popular Speedlite 420EX. The Speedlite 430EX improves on many specifications of its predecessor and includes new features to maximize digital image quality when using a flash. These include automatic selection of camera white-balance settings and auto-adjustment of the zoom flash position to match the sensor size of the camera to which the unit is attached. The Speedlite 430EX has increased its guide number to 43 (m/ISO 100 at 105mm) and has approximately 40% faster recycling time than the Speedlite 420EX.

An ultra-bright, two-LED configuration focus assist-beam has been designed to be compatible with all focus points within the frame of all EOS AF systems, up to 9-point AF.

Optimum flash coverage
The flash head zoom covers the range 24mm to 105mm and an integrated diffusion panel allows extended wide-angle coverage to 14mm. When attached to digital EOS cameras with smaller than full-frame sensors (such as the EOS-1D Mark II N and EOS 20D) the Speedlite 430EX gives a more accurate flash coverage by detecting the model to which it is attached and automatically narrowing the angle of coverage. This has the effect of eliminating light loss in peripheral areas and extending the effective flash range.

Ideal white balance
The Speedlite 430EX automatically transfers color temperature information to recent models of digital SLR cameras . The camera then sets the white balance optimally for the flash shot. This feature works when the camera's white balance mode is set to Auto White Balance (AWB) or Flash white balance mode.

E-TTL II
The Speedlite 430EX is fully compatible with the distance linked E-TTL II system found on recent EOS cameras, and supports other EOS cameras that do not support E-TTL II, when required. For a complete multiple flash system, the Speedlite 430EX serves as a wireless slave when either the Speedlite 580EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, or Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 is used as a master.

Upgrade for control
An intuitive and ergonomic interface includes an LCD panel for clear indication of modes and settings. A single bounce lock release button provides immediate control over the bounce head angle for flexible positioning of the flash head. The flash head can be moved up from 0 to 90 degrees (5 settings), left from 0 to 180 degrees (7 settings), and right from 0 to 90 degrees (4 settings). Six custom functions allow customization of the flash operations. Despite high power and short recycling times, the unit is small and lightweight.

Fully synchronized
Features include 1st and 2nd curtain flash synchronization, plus manual adjustment of flash output from full to 1/64 power (7 levels).

Accessories
An optional Speedlite Bracket SB-E1 (not included--must be purchased separately) allows the flash unit to be mounted to one side of the camera. Designed specifically for press and wedding photographers, it eliminates the red-eye that can occur when mounting a flash on the axis of the lens, such as on the camera hot shoe. Flash batteries are replaceable without removing the unit from the bracket.

Customer Reviews

Nice design update. Works like a charm.
The 430 is plenty of flash for many photographers. and makes a nice walkaround flash, backup, or outstanding slave flash for someone who gets bitten by the photo bug in a serious way. The only current flash model that can compete is the Canon 580EX, which costs about a hundred bucks more. Forget the Sigma flash. The 580 is a much better unit (I'll explain in a sec), but it is bigger, heavier, and again, more expensive. The 430 can do most of the important things a 580 can do that an amateur is likely to use, and then some.

Here are the important differences... The 430 is pretty powerful, but the 580 is much more powerful than the 430 (GN 58 vs GN 43 (meters)). That's a lot of extra reach, or extra bounce capacity. Again though, the 430 is plenty strong in it's own right. The 580 has a fun strobe feature that the 430 does not have. The 580 has much greater manual control than the 430, by virtue of being able to adjust it's output in double the number of increments compared to a 430. The 580 has 14 custom functions, while the 430 has 6. The 580 has an easier to use function wheel than the 430's "button wheel". The 580 head can rotate 180 degrees in either direction, and be set to less than 90 degrees to the lens axis, while the 430 can only rotate to 180 degrees in one direction, and cannot dip below 90 degrees to the lens axis. The 580 can control other 580's, and 430's as slaves via it's infrared optical control transmitter/reciever. The 580 covers all focus sensors on EOS cameras up to the 45 points used by the pro bodies. The 430 covers up to 9 sensors, which is fine until you get beyond the 5D body (the Rebel line, 10D, 20D, and 30D are fully covered). Both flashes include a pull out wide panel that will cover a lens as wide as 14mm on a full frame body, or as wide as 10mm on a 10,20,30D, or Rebel body, but the 580 also has a pull out "catchlight" panel designed to put sparkle in the subjects' eyes when using the flash in bounce mode. There are a few more things, but that should cover the big ones.

OK, the 580 is the knockout champion, so why did I rate the 430 with 5 stars? Because it deserves them. Canon was wise enough to pack very good power, and a FULL feature set into the 430 without screwing the prospective buyer by leaving out one or two important features that would force them to spend the extra bucks on a 580. The 430 is built well, looks sweet, works like the fine instrument it is, and is significantly smaller than the 580. The fact is, I use the 430 as my preferred flash more often than not. A trip to the car races, a birthday party, general photo fun, family stuf, etc. It is more flash than most people will ever need, at a good price. For those times that I need more, or want to use multiple flash units, the 580 heavy artillery is brought out, and the 430 becomes a second unit under the control of the 580. Both units come with a clever little "foot" that allows you to position them on any flat surface, so you can set up your scene lighting without having to use tripods to hold your slave flash units.

If the photo bug bites you, you will end up owning both flash units. Get the 430 first. If you never get into serious multi flash setups, the 430 will serve you just fine. I you do, you will end up buying it anyway :).

By the way, someone complained about cycle time on the 430. That was nonsense. Either it was a defective unit, or the reviewer was on the cheap, and used alkaline batteries. All flash units are very current hungry when they recharge after a full blast of light. Alkaline batteries are not capable of delivering high current levels more than a few times when they are new. Internal resistance builds up, and they begin to deliver such small current rates that you could sing an entire opera between flashes (no matter what brand of flash). Always use a high current technology battery like NiMH in a flash unit. You can buy a set of four 2700 MAh rechargeable batteries at WalMart for about seven bucks, or buy a brick of 24 of them online for about a buck each, and get a good charger for cheap too. With the right batteries, your 430 will recover from a full power flash in less than 4 seconds (about 2.5 in real life), and for less than full power shots (fill flash, etc.), you can take several shots in one second. Alkaline batteries will work in a pinch, but that is the only time you should use them. Lithium is a good technology for flash units too, but is still rather expensive. Buy NiMH for now.

Great flash!
I am a beginner to SLR flash photography, and I spent several weeks researching various flashes, both by online reviews, and by going down to the local camera shop with my Canon 350D (Rebel XT in US), and I finally decided on the 430EX over the Canon 420EX, Canon 580EX, and Sigma 500ST Super for a few reasons:

1. Manual Control- Not only does this give you the obvious ability to have more creative flexibility, but as a beginner, it gives you the opportunity to experiment, and practice the more technical skills of flash photography. Another benefit of manual mode is the ability to use opitcally triggered slave flash units in a multi-light setup. Fully automatic E-ttl mode flash will trigger the slaves with the metering preflash, and make using optical slaves impossible while using the onboard flash. (there are work arounds, but they involve reducing the output of the onboard flash to a minimal level by FEC or covering the flash with something, limiting your flexibilty in creating a lighting setup). This manual flexibilty was the primary reason I choose the 430EX over the 420EX.

2. Remarkable recycle times. I have no scientific data for this, just subjective feel. The 430EX out-performed the 420EX here. Not by a huge amount, but it was noticable. Under the same conditions-bounce for fill, low ambient light (meter read .3 sec at f4), the 430EX would be able to fire off an extra few shots in succession without having to wait for recycling. Depending on the battery level I could get 3 to 5 more partial power fill flashes in low ambient light, pressing the shutter release quickly with the 430EX over the 420EX. Again, not a huge difference, but noticeable.

3. Build quality was better than the Sigma. I use my camera a lot, in the most hostile of camera environments (I am an elementary school teacher) and it swings around and bangs into things, and gets swung around and banged into things...etc. The build quility compared to the Sigma isn't that different for a casual user, who will take pictures at home, or in a more controlled environment. In particular, the Sigma battery door felt weak. This wasn't a decision point for me, but it helped me lean towards my decision.

4. Finally, the last factor was the ability to function as a slave in a wireless setup that isn't optical. Optical slave setups are great for experimenting, and studio type setups, when you have the only camera in the room. But they do not work when every mother and father is taking a picture at the school play, and in the future, I plan to upgrade/expand to include infared control of a flash setup. Again, there are other options for non-optically controlled slaves, but the 580EX plus Canon slaves is an easy way for a non-pro like me to go.

For me, the primary selling point was manual control. I probably would have gotten the 580EX otherwise, and just might do so in the future if I can save my pennies. The Sigma 500ST Super was very tempting as well, and if you want a powerful flash, manual control, and don't plan to use a multi-flash setup, or you use an optically triggered setup, I would recommend that flash highly as well.

One last point, the AF assist on the Canon flashes will cover all the focus points on a 350D (Rebel XT), and 20D, whereas the Sigma will only illuminate the center AF reliably. This AF assist is much nicer than the built in flash assist, and has a reasonable range for most portraits and group shots in low light.

I hope this review helps you! It took me a long time and lots of research to decide, and hopefully, I have presented my reasons in an intelligible manner!
Have fun and take lots of pictures!

A Wonderful Backup!!!
I added this flash to act as a slave to my 580ex in certain situations. This flash is phenomenal!!! The output is dead on and the exposure it gives is perfect, thanks to the ETTL-II that the 420ex lacked. Even when it's connected to the shoe mount on the camera it's awsome. The lighweight is very much appreciated as I now tend to shoot with this as a walk around flash. Highly recommended as a backup or main flash unit!!