430EX or the 580EX II?

[Jerryjohn]

I now have enough for both, and I'm just debating, do I really need to go for the 580?

My main interest is live concert photography. So in not so well lit areas, flash is a big thing. And the stock flash is just annoying so I don't use it.

I do want to start portraits and other types of photography though, so I guess a good overall flash.

Thanks a ton.

-Jerry

[livin4lax09]

you're better off investing your money in fast IS lenses instead of flashes for concerts. a flash just ruins the whole mood of the concert...

[Jerryjohn]

I already have a 2.8 17-55 which I'm pretty content with.

What I used to do with my old camera, since I was able to change the amount of flash I was putting out (S2 IS) was I'd put a low flash, with a slightly long shutter. So I get the person I'm taking the picture of, and I still have enough shutter time to suck up the backround light. I just can't do that with my camera now because you can't range the flash at all. (XTi)

[DEvianT]

Most serious gigs and lots of smaller ones won't let you use flash. Get a fast lens like a 85mm f/1.8 and bang the ISO as high as possible.

When it comes to flash the 580EX II is a belter but grossly overpriced. Buy a used 580EX of ebay and save tons of dosh. Nothing wrong with the smaller flash either the guide no. is still plenty high enough for your requirements.

[Jerryjohn]

Most serious gigs and lots of smaller ones won't let you use flash. Get a fast lens like a 85mm f/1.8 and bang the ISO as high as possible.

When it comes to flash the 580EX II is a belter but grossly overpriced. Buy a used 580EX of ebay and save tons of dosh. Nothing wrong with the smaller flash either the guide no. is still plenty high enough for your requirements.

Most of the venues that I go to, at least here in So Cal, they don't mind about flash at all. Because I've had no problem with it before.

I have the 50 1.8 and I like it a lot, but I hated it at shows, Because if I was up front, or on the stage, the set zoom was just way too much.

I could get the 11 for about 475 total, and it'd be at my doorstep on monday. So it's kind of tempting.

[DEvianT]

Friend of mine uses the 35mm f/1.4 for gigs to very good effect. No flash though.

[Sebastian]

Buying a flash for concert photography is paying a few hundred bucks to get kicked out and ruin a potentially great shot with terrible flat lighting.

17-40 f/4 wide open:

[Jerryjohn]

Buying a flash for concert photography is paying a few hundred bucks to get kicked out and ruin a potentially great shot with terrible flat lighting.

17-40 f/4 wide open:

I've made up my mind. I'm just gonna go with the cheaper one, and get the battery crip as well. Both will less than the 580 alone.

Though I haven't gone to many shows yet with my new camera, I have some pretty good shots as well without flash. Really good shots actually. Here's a couple:



@ 17mm f/2.8

It's just that not all the venues around here have very good lighting. And a lot of the bands that hit me up to shoot them, are at those venues. So I need to have some sort of decent flash.

[Jerryjohn]

Friend of mine uses the 35mm f/1.4 for gigs to very good effect. No flash though.

Yeah the 1.4 would be amazingly nice. But the 35mm wouldn't be enough. Like if you looked at the picture I just posted, there is no way I could have gotten a shot like that if I were stuck at 35mm.

[DEvianT]

Full frame?

[poker]

I do want to start portraits and other types of photography though, so I guess a good overall flash.

Get the 580EX now and get a 430EX later so you can have the slave master setup for quick portrait setups. I have both and it is very portable, an easy setup.

[DEvianT]

16-35mm then?