What is the Canon 580 EX flash equivalent to in strobe lighting wattage ?
Kristan asked:
I currently have the Canon 430 EX flash, and am considering buying a 580 ex flash to put into a softbox, or buying strobe lighting, I was looking at strobe softbox kit with a flash light up to 300 watts. Would the 580 EX flash be as strong as a 300 watt strobe light ? What would it be equivalent to ?
I currently have the Canon 430 EX flash, and am considering buying a 580 ex flash to put into a softbox, or buying strobe lighting, I was looking at strobe softbox kit with a flash light up to 300 watts. Would the 580 EX flash be as strong as a 300 watt strobe light ? What would it be equivalent to ?
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This is difficult to answer because there is no single standard that everyone adheres to.
I recently saw a note by Paul C Buff (of Alienbees and White Lightning fame) that the Vivitar 285 is about 50 watt seconds. I have a 285 and a Canon 430 and I would call them approximately the same. The 580 is probably almost a stop more powerful than the 430, so maybe 90-100 ws?? Again these are just approximations so perhaps someone will come along and correct me.
Guide Numbers (GN) are frequently used with on camera flashes. The 580 has a GN of 190, while the 430 is 141 I believe. Those are the maximum GN, when the flash is fully zoomed out. I think you might find a GN on the AlienBees site for some of the equipment, but they don’t endorse that method of measuring power. Just like zooming an on camera flash changes the GN, putting different reflectors on an AC strobe will change the GN.
This is the discussion blurb I was referring to:
[who] cubfan745
In general numbers, the 580 would be somewhere between 60-100 watt seconds, depending on the position of the zoom reflector.
Not even close to a 300 w/s monolight. [who] Caoedhen