Summary: This is my first off-camera flash. My previous experience has been limited to the underpowered built-in flash included on the camera body. I have to say that moving to an off-camera flash has significantly improved the quality of my flash photography.


For the past 2 months of ownership, I have used the 430EX primarily in a bounced configuration when indoors with low ceilings. I have found that the resulting images have a more natural appearance due to the softer and even lighting. The flash exposure has been very consistent, and I feel that in conjunction with ETLL-2, any exposure error will be my fault and not that of the flash.


I have not had a chance to do a hands-on comparison with other flash units. Regarding the build quailty of the 430EX, I have no complaints. I do recommend reading a resource for flash photography; the provided Canon manual does an adequate job of explaining the features and functions of the flash.


In conclusion, the 430EX offers most of the features of its bigger brother, the 580EX, for less cost. For photos of small groups of people (less than 10 I imagine) in an indoor environment with normal to low ceilings, the 430EX has not left wanting of the extra power that the 580EX provides. The 430EX has enough features to allow me to grow as a photographer until the day I require a professional flash for professional or commercial work.

Summary: I have been having this flash unit for more than a month. This is a very well designed electronic device. Various automatic functions allow even a first time user to use it without any problem. Just mount ant shoot! Zoom/power/distance is automatically taken care of by the flash. The exposure and whitebalance is accurate in most cases.
If you are a pro, it also allows you to adjust the power from full to 1/64. It also recharges much faster.
Compared to the top-of-the-line 580ex, it does NOT have the ability to trigger any remote flash slaves. It can only be a slave itself while doing remote. What a pitty, but that's what you paid for, right? It only costs 65% of the pricely 580ex model.
The flash range is smaller than 580ex (43m vs. 58m, as the names indicate), but that really doesn't matter, to me.

Summary: This is a very good value flash in the entire Yonex flash line. Comparing to 580EX, this flash has smaller GN and less controls, but lighter in weight and $100+ cheaper in price.

Since my Canon Digital Rebel XT doesn't have fancy features, this flash actually is the best flash for my camera. (580EX is great, but it will not be fully utilized on my XT.)

The recharge cycle is very quick and the flash is very power-saving. I used this flash to shoot in night event with 100+ pictures, and so far it's been pretty good.