Best Flashes for Party

i purchased this flash to use during an anniversary party.

i broke mine in taking wedding party photos.

i have also used it with decent effects for those impossible flash shots - photos of people outside in the dark at a party, or photos of people dancing on a darkened dance floor in the distance.

did a 4 hr party, took 423 pictures on 1 set of energizer 2560nah rechargeable batteries and it's still got juice left.

i used the flash for the first time at a new year's day party and took approximately 80 shots both indoor and out.

i love mine -- i do next to do indoor photography, and once or twice a year will do some portrait or headshot work on request at a party with my g9.

there are several third party companies that make "cheat-sheets" for this flash.

if you are looking for more of a wedding or cocktail party flash, then i believe the 430ex is the flash.

bottom line: an excellent flash, may be a bit confusing at first if your a novice/amatuer as i am, but also a bit on the expensive side compared to the 3rd party flashes available for canon.

but, if you don't want the hassles of spending more money on third party parts to use the 580 as a slave with strobes, then buy (for example) a cheap vivitar 285 and put a cheap photo-optical slave

there are several third party companies that make "cheat-sheets" for this flash.

if you are looking for more of a wedding or cocktail party flash, then i believe the 430ex is the flash.

bottom line: an excellent flash, may be a bit confusing at first if your a novice/amatuer as i am, but also a bit on the expensive side compared to the 3rd party flashes available for canon.

but, if you don't want the hassles of spending more money on third party parts to use the 580 as a slave with strobes, then buy (for example) a cheap vivitar 285 and put a cheap photo-optical slave

after i purchased e-420, i couldn't find 3rd party flash fully compatible to my camera.

a tip i read that also works well: bounce the flash off your white t-shirt if you want to keep some of the party "atmosphere".