When I just stepped into the world of photography, I don't dare to touch the flash.
I tried to use a flash for couple of times back in 80's, not knowing the basic concept of it, my result is a hit or miss. Actually, most of them are bad. With that experience, I declared myself as a outdoor photographer. I didn't take indoor pictures, if I really had to do it, I borrowed my parent's fancy Pentax point and shoot camera.
The technology used on flash lights came a long way. I don't plan to talk about the technology this time, just want to introduce Canon flash light line up.
Canon's flash light line up actually is very simple: Used to be 4XX (e.g. 420EX and 430EX) and 5XX (e.g. 580EX) series. Couple of years back, Canon introduced a light weight 2XX (e.g. 270EX) series. This year, Canon introduce the new flagship in its flash line up: the 6XX (e.g. 600EX) series. Although I mentioned "series", basically Canon discontinued the older model in the series when a newer one comes up. So I will just mention the model number from now on and you should know which series it falls into.
The number used in Canon's model name actually has its meaning. Take 430EX as an example, 43 means the maximum distance covered by this flash is 43 meters under ISO100. This is the so-called guide number (GN value. This will be explained in later installment). At this time, all we need to know is the greater the number, the more powerful the flash.
If you are a DSLR user, you might want to skip 270EX . So the remaining ones to be chosen from are 430EX II, 580EX II, and 600EX. The easiest suggestion I will give is: if your financial condition is healthy, you buy the top of the line model in the line up. Just that easy! But I know that's not the case, even if you are financially strong, you still want to know the options you have and find the one that fits you well.
I am going to jump directly to my buying logic. The following are the factors starting from the most important one.
1. Manual functionality: allow manually adjustment of the power. This is fairly important because in the long journey of learning flash photography, at one point you will switch to manual mode for better control. (Qualified flash: 430EX II, 580EX II, 600EX)
2. Being a master flash: allowed being used as a master flash in multiple flash lights set up. There will be a case that more than one flash are needed. In multiple flash lights set up, a master flash, which can trigger other slaves, is needed. Buying a flash that can be used as the master can be convenient. Of course you can also start from buying the flash that can only be used as a slave and grow from there.
(Qualified flash: 580EX II, 600EX)
3. Size for traveling light: 580EX II and 600EX are all quite big. Actually when using 580EX II with smaller bodies like Rebels, the whole camera is not very stable. 430EX II is a very good size for traveling. Actually I still keep a 420EX solely for this reason.
4. Power: the reason I put this factor as the last one is not because it's not important, it's because all these three flash lights all offer enough power for most of the cases. Especially 580EX II and 600EX. 430EX II has less power but it's adequate for many people.
If I just start to learn flash photography with spending being closely watched, I will buy a 430EX II following the factors I just mentioned above. It offers manual power adjustment, it's light, and it has enough power. Although it can't be used as a master, it will not be wasted since it can still be used as an slave in the future. I personally never owned a 430EX II. I built my flash lights system from 420EX but very soon realized that having no manual power adjustment is a big drawback (even used as a slave). I bought a 580EX II couple of years later and then bought another 580EX II last year.
Next time let's talk about the basic concept of flash photography in Canon's way.
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