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

• dust- and water-resistant construction
• heavy-duty metal mounting foot with improved locking mechanism
• E-TTL II for compatible Canon EOS cameras and EF series lenses
• stroboscopic flash setting
• wireless E-TTL flash operation as a "master" or "slave" unit

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

Quality Counts
I've tried many substitute Flash attachments for my Canon cameras over the years. Being as "cheap" as I am, I delayed this purchse for years. What a mistake. This is a great device and has exceeded my expectations in every way.

Do not fire more than 20 continuous flashes?
From page one of the manual:

"Cautions for firing continuous flashes
* To avoid overheating and degrading the flash
head, do not fire more than 20 continuous
flashes. After 20 continuous flashes, allow a rest
time of at least 10 min.
* If you fire more than 20 continuous flashes and
then fire more flashes in short intervals, the
inner overheating prevention function may be
activated to make the recycling time about 8 to
20 sec. If this occurs, allow a rest time of about
15 min. and the flash will then return to normal."

The business end of the flash head browned and melted during the first shoot. It would still fire, but not zoom. It was powered by Duracell 2650mAh NiMH rechargeable AAs and had an Expo Imaging Ray Flash attached to it. It was mounted on a 1D Mark III with 90mm TS-E. It started functioning normally after it cooled down, but I took it back anyway. The 580EX II with Ray flash is a GREAT light weight on camera fill, but this combo is no good for shooting continuously for extended periods (about 3 minutes or longer.) Maybe the Nikon SB-900 if you can live without ttl? Otherwise, Alien Bees or Profoto will do, but at greater expense and much greater weight. The Ray Flash did include two shims, which allowed me to mount it on an old Nikon SB-80DX, but I only took a few test shots with that combo before I returned both items. Good luck!

[...]

Great Flash!
My wife was anticipating getting this new flash, as it was for her photography business and it had come time for her to upgrade and update her equipment, so of course when she got it, she loved it. Just one of the things that she liked about it was the fact that it is a lot easier to mount onto the camera. No, more turning to tighten and un-tighten that pain in the finger wheel on her old flash. This is a must have flash.