Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

The Canon Speedlite 580 EX II has an improved design over its popular predecessor, the Speedlite 580 EX. New features include dustproof, water-resistant seals, a larger metal contact plate for more reliable conduction, and quicker, quieter recycling time that’s 20% faster than the previous model.

This Speedlite 580 EX II is Canon’s first weather-resistant flash so it’s no surprise to see a difference in build quality. It’s more rugged in appearance and slightly bulkier, holding more rubber seals around the body to protect vulnerable areas and external ports.

The round foot-locking screw that was growing old on the 580 EX model has been replaced by a superb lever lock system that makes it extremely easy to attach the flashgun onto the hotshoe of a Canon body, giving a pleasing click as it locks into place. The lock release button has been neatly placed just to the right of the lever, making unlocking easier than ever before. It’s now possible to take off the flashgun in under 2 seconds – impressive!

There have been some more subtle changes on the outside, too. The battery door has been replaced with a much neater arrangement that springs up allowing full access to all 4 AA batteries that sit in a square format compared to the former staggered format. The new power switch design has been made easier to operate and rotates instead of slides.

The E-TTL-II (or E-TTL), TTL and M modes are still present on this newer model, E-TTL being compatible with all EOS D-SLRs. E-TTL II advances E-TTL by incorporating distance information from the newer Canon lenses into the flash exposure calculation. If you’re unsure about E-TTL, it stands for Electronic–Through–the-Lens, that fires a pre flash to determine how powerful the following actual flash needs to be. If you need to be wireless, it’s fitted with a wireless slave unit that can be controlled remotely by using the Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter.

Like the 580EX, the 580EX II features a zoom-capable flash head. The zoom setting can be set manually (for creativity) or automatically by the camera communicating with the flash. A lens wider than 24mm requires the pull-out and flip-down diffuser panel to be used for complete frame flash coverage.

Overall, the newer 580 EX II may be marginally heavier than the previous 580 EX model but the increase in build quality is absolutely superb. If you’re looking for the ultimate Canon flashgun then the 580 EX II is definitely the best choice, but if your budget doesn’t stretch this far it might be worth looking at the lighter and smaller but less powerful 430 EX II.

Specifications