580 & 550 canon flash

[Richard Rickard]

I am looking to purchase a flash to use with a canon 500 4L. Using a beater beamer is the 580 going to shoot a light beam further that a 550 flash ? I do not want to buy the wrong flash, has anyone used both
Thanks
R Rickard

[Ben Rubinstein]

What could be relevant with the difference between these flashes is that the 580ex is easier to use (thanks to that large control wheel plus CF-13), is more accurate (to within a 1/3 of a stop vs 1/2), is smaller and less chunky and recycles faster.

[R Vestal]

Hi Richard:

I can’t directly address your question, as we don’t use the 580 EX, but we do own three 550 EX’s and we use them extensively with the 500 mm f/4 and the Better Beamer combo and with other long lenses. I’ve been very happy with them in this context for our bird photography and always use them as fill-flash in the usual range of -1 1/3 to – 2 stops. For some example images, take a look at our web site in the North American Birds gallery…….all of these were shot with the 550 as fill-flash and most were with the 500 mm f/4 (with and without a TC).

On the other hand, I have heard from other guys that I often shoot with that the 580 EX works better with the newer 1 series bodies than the 550 as Canon apparently changed the flash algorithms. (By “better” I think they mean more consistent results in general photography, not specifically birds.) I can not comment either technically or practically on this as we don't have the 580, but if you are using a 1 series body you might want to check into it some more.

Hope this helps.

[Richard Rickard]

I checked B&H today and I see that the 550 is discontinued, so the 580 is one to buy it,s lighter better. A 550 is available $250. used . But I think a new 580 is the best way to.
Thanks Ben and Randy for your infomation ,it helped a lot. Now have to save for the 500 4L