Canon Speedlite 580ex

[Wocka]

Gidday,

I'm about to purchase the 580ex from Ebay.
I'm wondering if I should also pick up one of those plastic diffuser caps that go over the flash or not worry.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Bounce-Diffuser-Dome-for-Canon-Flash-EOS-580EX-BN-O2G_W0QQitemZ200036033643QQihZ010QQcategoryZ15221QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or are there better devices to use?

Cheers

[Yi-P]

The diffuser cap stays on my Nikon SB800 90% of the time.

Alternatives may be Lumiquest, Lightsphere, or Stoffen diffusers... they all being rated really well. You may find many users of those products here as well.

[DaveB]

I have a Stofen Omnibounce for my 420EX, but for my 580EX I bought a Lightsphere (from qualitycamera.com.au) and love it! Much better than the simple facility of the diffuser shown in that eBay listing.

[bwhinnen]

Have a look at a better bounce card.

These will also give some very good results.

Cheers
Brett

[moz]

I'd get one - they're really useful. I use mine fairly often when I'm close up (less than ~3m).

[Wocka]

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I will get a stofen cap.
Although I do like the idea of the better bounce card. Seems very easy to make and trial.

Cheers,

[zafra52]

Silly question, but does any of you know how the Sigma EF-500 DG St compare with the Canon brand, apart from the price difference.

[adam]

I like this article
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

There's a mention there, and also on http://photonotes.org/reviews/sigma-ef-500-super/ there's a comparison there.

I'm not sure what the difference between the ST and the super is.
I've got the Super. From my own experience, it doesn't feel as nice as the Canon, also doesn't look as good - but it gets the job done.
Another thing I've read is that the Sigma can only use the centre focussing point for metering for flash, whereas the Canon can use any of them.

[zafra52]

Thank you Adam. The articles were very interesting and now I know there is a difference between the two and not just in price.

[surenj]

Wocka are you going wireless with Canon? In that case are you using the S2E2 commander?

[Wocka]

Surenj,

I am going a wireless flash system, but have chosen the cheaper Ebay knock off system. I purchased mine from Gadget Infinity after reading about them online http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Channels-Wireless-Flash-Trigger_W0QQitemZ170041929145QQihZ007QQcategoryZ64354QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem.

I ended up buying the Trigger + Receiver kit and an extra Receiver. Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow as my 580ex arrived yesterday.

Cheers,