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Canon Speedlite 580EX II vs Speedlite 600EX-RT
Jul 4, 2013 03:52:00   #
Lym Loc: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 
I am thinking of getting an external flash for my Canon 60D.

There are two options: Canon 580 EX II and Canon 600 EX-RT.

In Malaysia, where I am, I am told that the 580 is no longer in production, but some camera vendors still have one or two in stock.

The replacement for the 580 is supposedly the 600, which apparently comes in two options: one RT=remote, and the other "regular".

Does anyone have any advice for a relative novice as to how different these two are?

As additional information, the 600 "regular" is about $135 more that the 580, and the RT is about $200 more. The 580 is about $520.

Thanks for any advice and/or information.

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Jul 4, 2013 04:07:51   #
JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK
 
Why Canon

I only use Metz, there are other makes just as good if not better

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Jul 4, 2013 04:30:29   #
Charles Bury
 
The 600 is $499 at Amazon today. The 580 is $699. What gives? Is the older one now a collectors' item?

How do they compare, and where does the 430 ($259) fit in?

C.B.
Quebec, Canada

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Jul 4, 2013 09:59:03   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
The RT model needs a radio transmitter to work remotely in ttl mode. The receiver is built-in.
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/speedlite_flash_lineup/speedlite_transmitter_st_e3_rt

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Jul 4, 2013 11:42:21   #
Lym Loc: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 
Charles Bury wrote:
The 600 is $499 at Amazon today. The 580 is $699. What gives? Is the older one now a collectors' item?

How do they compare, and where does the 430 ($259) fit in?

C.B.
Quebec, Canada


As far as I know, the 430 is inferior to the 580, but the 600 is superior to the 580. For more technical comparisons, perhaps some more knowledgeable forum members can help.

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Jul 4, 2013 11:44:25   #
Lym Loc: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 
GoofyNewfie wrote:
The RT model needs a radio transmitter to work remotely in ttl mode. The receiver is built-in.
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/speedlite_flash_lineup/speedlite_transmitter_st_e3_rt


It appears, then, that if I do not want to spend some more big bucks for an additional accessory, I should not get the RT model?

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Jul 4, 2013 11:54:19   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
Lym wrote:
It appears, then, that if I do not want to spend some more big bucks for an additional accessory, I should not get the RT model?


Looks like you'd be paying for technology you won't use if you don't plan on using the flash remotely.
I am a Nikon user and I use speedlights a lot. I'm somewhat jealous of the Canon RT technology, but my equipment works fine for me.

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Jul 5, 2013 06:15:25   #
paulw Loc: nottinghamshire
 
the 580 does not have built in wireless and the guide number (power) is higher on the 600

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Jul 5, 2013 07:02:28   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Charles Bury wrote:
The 600 is $499 at Amazon today. The 580 is $699. What gives? Is the older one now a collectors' item?

How do they compare, and where does the 430 ($259) fit in?

C.B.
Quebec, Canada

Pay $200 less for a newer, better flash? Oooh, tough decision. :D

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Jul 5, 2013 07:04:28   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Lym wrote:
I am thinking of getting an external flash for my Canon 60D.

There are two options: Canon 580 EX II and Canon 600 EX-RT.

In Malaysia, where I am, I am told that the 580 is no longer in production, but some camera vendors still have one or two in stock. true

The replacement for the 580 is supposedly the 600, which apparently comes in two options: one RT=remote, and the other "regular". there is NO regular model and the RT doesn't = remote, it = Radio Transceiver

Does anyone have any advice for a relative novice as to how different these two are?

As additional information, the 600 "regular" is about $135 more that the 580, and the RT is about $200 more. The 580 is about $520.

Thanks for any advice and/or information.
I am thinking of getting an external flash for my ... (show quote)


"Does anyone have any advice for a relative novice as to how different these two are?"

The 600 has longer reach than the 580
The 600 uses radio technology to communicate with slaves of the same model instead of line of sight pre-flash as the 580 to communicate with it's compatible slave modes such as another 580, 430 or 270.
The 600 is compatible with your 60D, but the 60D can not take full advantage of all the 600RT's features via it's LCD menus. Only the new model Canon cameras released sometime in 2012 such as the 5D Mark III and the 1DX have full on screen control of master/slave via the menus. There are other Canon cameras that have this capability but I don't know which ones but I think all the new T4i, 6D, 70D, etc. will have the new menus that are compatible to fully control the RT series of Speedlites.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/speedlite_flash_lineup

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Jul 5, 2013 12:00:33   #
Lym Loc: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
"Does anyone have any advice for a relative novice as to how different these two are?"

The 600 has longer reach than the 580
The 600 uses radio technology to communicate with slaves of the same model instead of line of sight pre-flash as the 580 to communicate with it's compatible slave modes such as another 580, 430 or 270.
The 600 is compatible with your 60D, but the 60D can not take full advantage of all the 600RT's features via it's LCD menus. Only the new model Canon cameras released sometime in 2012 such as the 5D Mark III and the 1DX have full on screen control of master/slave via the menus. There are other Canon cameras that have this capability but I don't know which ones but I think all the new T4i, 6D, 70D, etc. will have the new menus that are compatible to fully control the RT series of Speedlites.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/speedlite_flash_lineup
"Does anyone have any advice for a relative n... (show quote)


I stand corrected on what RT stands for, but that was the simple explanation given to me when I called a camera shop to ask.

Anyway, thank you for the explanation of the differences.

I have today got the 600 EX (which I had called the "regular" model as, until I bought it, I did not know the name of the actual model).

I paid about $640 for it.

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Jul 5, 2013 16:41:43   #
Gio Loc: Bentonville, AR.
 
Check Pixsylated Syl Arena' blog about both of this flashes. I have a 580 and two 600... Love the 600's.

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Jul 8, 2013 10:53:25   #
RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas
 
Lym wrote:
I stand corrected on what RT stands for, but that was the simple explanation given to me when I called a camera shop to ask.

Anyway, thank you for the explanation of the differences.

I have today got the 600 EX (which I had called the "regular" model as, until I bought it, I did not know the name of the actual model).

I paid about $640 for it.


LYM: You made the right decision now post some of those great looking photo's when you get a chance to.

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