Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II/430EX II

by Blue Crane Digital

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches ; 2.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0024JPE2E
• Item model number: zBC203
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #968 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 3, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II / 430EX II Training DVD
Your new EX II Speedlite from Canon can be the most powerful accessory in your camera bag! Understanding how the Speedlite controls work is important and this DVD takes you step-by-step through its operations.
 
Your host, Tim Mantoani, demonstrates these fabulous flash units in a series of real world examples. Whether you use one Speedlite or a hundred, Tim’s approach will help you create the best photograph possible.

Discover the settings that have the most impact on your shooting

Topics include:

• Flash exposure compensation
• The flash as key or fill light
• FP or high speed sync operation
• Slow sync demystified
• Controlling hard or soft light
• Auto and manual zoom control
• Flash bracketing
• Flash exposure lock
• Controlling flash from the camera
• Manual mode and exposure compensation
• Wireless operation
• A:B and C groups: why and how
• Group ratios
• Getting the flash off the camera
• First and second curtain sync
• Stroboscopic mode
• And much more!

Learn how to integrate flash photography into your image-making arsenal

This DVD picks up where the manual leaves off, helping you to integrate flash photography into your image-making arsenal.
 
Tim Mantoani has been a professional photographer for over twenty years. Shooting everything from professional athletes and celebrities to fashion and products, his work has appeared in numerous national ad campaigns and magazines.


Format:  NTSC video, All Regions
Running time: 65 minutes

Product Description

Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II/430EX II

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what you think it is, September 4, 2010

By 

E. Patacsil Jr. (Stockton, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II/430EX II (DVD)

I agree w/another reviewer, the title is misleading. 98% of the time they are using additional equipment, light stands, multiple flashes, reflectors, filters, etc. while in a studio setting. It was a helpful DVD on lighting but didn't teach me much about my flash and how to properly use it by itself and in various conditions. Its basically, "heres a model in our studio. Ok, now shes on a beach but we still have our reflectors. Heres some still life back in the studio." The first 20min is a lighting primer before blowing through the flash's buttons w/o a thorough explanation on each one. They went through certain things far too quickly and spent more time than necessary on other subjects. For example, I didn't need to see multiple times how to change a setting through the camera's menu or on the flash itself. They do give demos but they weren't sufficient enough for me and the flash was never used stand-alone other than to show you that it gives horrible pictures by itself. If this DVD taught me one thing, its that I need to buy more equipment.

A more accurate title would have been "Using your Canon flash in a studio setting" or "Unlocking your flash's potential" because obviously to get into lighting and really take advantage of the versatility of a Speedlight, you must buy additional equipment and take the flash off the camera. The flash is just one of the tools they use to get the pictures they want and it happens to be a Canon 430/580EX. You would not let your friend borrow your flash one day and hand them this DVD along with it, thinking it will teach them how to use it because it won't. They'll just sit there thinking, "oh, thats nice but I don't have any of those things..." and "hey, could you slow down when you go over the controls, what they do and how I should use them? More comparison photos would also be nice."

As for production values, well, it's fairly drab presentation and I'd have appreciated voice overs while showing them taking pictures instead of having to stare at the guy talk, constantly switching his eyes from the camera to nearby cue cards. You look at him seemingly for 1/3 of the DVD. The rest of the time is spent in the studio or looking at the back of the flash and it's buttons. So is it worth the coin ? Ehhh, its decent and helpful information on LIGHTING but you're able to find this sort of information for free online at various lighting/strobist enthusiast sites. Its not a complete waste of money but this DVD could certainly use a new name.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific DVD, May 17, 2009

By 

New York Photo Pro (Cleburne, TX (South of Ft. Worth)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II/430EX II (DVD)

If you're hesitating to buy this DVD because you're wondering whether it would be worth it, since obviously the manual covers the basic features, don't hesitate at all. This is a terrific DVD for the inexperienced stobist using Canon EX flashes as well as someone who only occasionally uses them.

What this DVD gives you is as close to "over the shoulder" instruction by someone who knows the Canon flash system inside and out. It provides a step-by-step intro to the Speedlite system, shows you how to set the various features on the 580EX-II and 430EX-II and leads you through clear and concise examples of planning a shoot and how best utilitize both ambient and flash lighting to obtain the best possible images.

It's not as comprehensive as a complete lighting course but it is very thorough when it comes to the Canon system and the thought process behind various choices in a series of staged lighting situations.

It is worth every penny of the $25 that I paid for it and I'll use it again and again.

49 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Only if you have a studio, April 15, 2010

By 

K. Lee "udeupa" (Rancho Cucamonga) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II/430EX II (DVD)

This DVD is not good. The major step by step example they have in this DVD are inside of the studio WITH a lot of special equipment that regular household WON'T have. They do NOT teach you how to use the flash in regular daily using bases. The concept they teach is SIMPLE! They do NOT teach you real technic on the 2nd curtin shot, or some other special shots. They only teach you how to use PROFESSIONAL SETTING on stupid simple shot. If you are wondering how to use your SPEEDLITE in your house, on your cat, dog, children, or anything that won't hold still and move constainly, this DVD teach you NOTHING! You can not apply anything this DVD teach you unless you own those equipments like extra stand, special tripod for reflacting board... If you do not have the equipment I mentioned, this DVD can not help you. You also need to have a flash light extented core... if you do not have it, forget about this DVD...

I think this DVD sucks!

The real educational DVD should teach you how to use ONE SINGLE 580EXII or 430EXII and your DSLR WITHOUT any other aditional accessories to shot picture well in live situation. NOT studio shot, NOT with all type of expensive professional accessories that people usually do not own.

I think they should have change the title to "Apply SPEEDLITE to Studio Shot", this title is more likely explain what this DVD really is.