Canon Speedlite 430EX II or 600EX-RT: Just can't make up my mind, I try to shoot without flash, but sometimes I may need one for fill...

thelazya Loc: Wendell, MN

Just can't make up my mind, I try to shoot without flash, but sometimes I may need one for fill

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

If you only rarely need flash and then just for fill, why would you even think about spending the $600 or so it takes to get a flash with the radio control system built in? It would have nobody to talk to.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

thelazya wrote:

Just can't make up my mind, I try to shoot without flash, but sometimes I may need one for fill

If you just can't make up your mind, then get the 600, as it has, "high speed sync". That alone is worth the extra money. And IF you got two, they could talk to each other through the wall. I saw them the other day on the Canon site as a refurb for $350. They are of course, on back-order. If you check every day(call them), they may come back before they go off sale! Good luck ;-)
SS

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

thelazya wrote:

Just can't make up my mind, I try to shoot without flash, but sometimes I may need one for fill

In my mind...it's a no brainer....430EXII..

"sometimes" and "for fill" are the operative words.

If you need to beef up your collection later...then a cheaper flash would do it...just a manual flash on slave mode.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

thelazya wrote:

Just can't make up my mind, I try to shoot without flash, but sometimes I may need one for fill

I'm not sure why you are limiting yourself to just those two choices. IMHO neither one is a very good choice for your situation. If I were to choose a flash for occasional, fill-in purposes only and had only those two choices, then I would opt for the 430EX. However, you might also want to consider a used or refurbished Canon flash (e.g., 550EX, 580EX or 580EX II). There are also many other third-party flashes to choose from for a Canon system (probably too many) such as Metz, Nissin, Phottix Mitros, Yongnuo, etc. that are worth exploring.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I had the same issue. Decided that the 600 would do all the 430 would do plus so much more. The 600 was only slightly larger and a few ozs. heavier. Price was only about 150 more new.

I opted for the 600. It will do what the 430 does, but the 430 will never do what the 600 does. I don't really need all the features now, but who knows where my photographic interests and needs will go. My thoughts have always been that it is better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Bill

thelazya Loc: Wendell, MN

Thank Billnourse, my sentiments too. That's probably why I'm so broke.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Get the 600. If Sharpie says to get the 600, then get the 600. He knows Canon inside and out, so why refute it? The 430 is fine, of course, for that occasional use, but what if you just once NEED more? You will have wished that it's the 600. That would do it for me, how about you?
Thanks, SharpShooter, for making photography more expensive for all of us! But it's only $150, not an arm and a leg!

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

I have a 430exII and a 580ex. I use the 430 most of the time I need a flash.
However, I will be shooting a wedding and will likely use the 430 on a tripod as a slave for back light and the 580 just off camera as a master.

So if you will only be using it occasionally, go with the 430.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

lukan wrote:

Get the 600. If Sharpie says to get the 600, then get the 600. He knows Canon inside and out, so why refute it? The 430 is fine, of course, for that occasional use, but what if you just once NEED more? You will have wished that it's the 600. That would do it for me, how about you?
Thanks, SharpShooter, for making photography more expensive for all of us! But it's only $150, not an arm and a leg!

I have to say...the 430EXII is fine for more than occasional use.

The only thing that the 600 has over the 430EXII is the slave function, wireless (if you have other flashes and don't mind using a 700.00 flash as a trigger) and it's a bit more powerful.

I can't imagine why everyone is bashing the 430EXII like this...it's a great TTL flash, a good first flash for sure.

If you need an optical slave, they are about $5.00 to add on.
Wireless triggers are $25.00...

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

rpavich wrote:

I have to say...the 430EXII is fine for more than occasional use.

The only thing that the 600 has over the 430EXII is the slave function, wireless (if you have other flashes and don't mind using a 700.00 flash as a trigger) and it's a bit more powerful.

I can't imagine why everyone is bashing the 430EXII like this...it's a great TTL flash, a good first flash for sure.

If you need an optical slave, they are about $5.00 to add on.
Wireless triggers are $25.00...

The 430exII can be an optical slave and the 580ex can be an optical slave or master. I have an ST-E2 which can fire them both.
The 600works with optical or RF.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

BigBear wrote:

The 430exII can be an optical slave and the 580ex can be an optical slave or master. I have an ST-E2 which can fire them both.
The 600works with optical or RF.

The 430EXII doesn't have an optical slave mode...nope. It can be triggered by a "master" (you point that out) but it's not an optical slave...there is a difference.

An optical slave fires when it sees another flash go off, the 430EXII won't.