Highly capable and compact, the Speedlite 430EX III-RT and its simple-to-use control system will delight users who want to be able to carry out flash photography even during casual shoots. The light output is more than sufficient for photographing subjects such as portraiture, food, products, and many more. (Reported by: Teppei Kohno)

 

Speedlite 430EX III-RT: A compact, highly capable mid-ranged external flash

 

 

The Speedlite 430EX III-RT is a great help in such scenes:
- Portrait photography: Use the wireless flash capability to try different lighting angles.
- Food or product photography: To capture the atmosphere of the photos in an appealing way.
- Street photography: To ensure that photos of daily street scenes are well-illuminated.

 

3 strengths of the Speedlite 430EX III-RT

Point 1: It is both lightweight and powerful

The flash head can be rotated in 3 directions (0–90° upward, up to 150° to the left, up to 180° to the right) while remaining lightweight at only 295g. It has a guide number of 43, supporting a shooting angle-of-view equivalent to lens focal length 24-105mm. With its powerful light output, this Speedlite is suitable for a wide variety of scenes.

 

Point 2: Its LCD monitor makes operations easy

A: Dot-matrix LCD monitor
B: Control dial
The rear LCD monitor employs dot-matrix LCD technology to display detailed information in a large and easy-to-see setting. Furthermore, the cross keys, select/set buttons and dial functions have been combined into one single Control Dial, which makes it possible to edit settings quickly.

 

Point 3: Control multiple lights wirelessly with ease

The Speedlite 430EX III-RT is radio transmission-compatible, which offers a higher degree of freedom compared to infra-red shooting. This makes it a lot easier to coordinate multiple Speedlites during multi-flash photography. In the example here, 3 Speedlites (circled in red) were set up for the shoot.

 

Use the Speedlite 430EX III-RT to achieve shots like these:

1. Beautiful portrait photos indoors when using wireless multiple flash photography

EOS 70D/ EF24-70mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 70mm (112mm equivalent)/ Manual exposure (f/4, 1/60 sec)/ ISO 160/ WB: Auto

The Speedlite 430EX III-RT is convenient when you want to shoot wirelessly with multiple flash units, or if you want more flexibility in your lighting setup as is often the case for indoor portrait shoots. The powerful light output and the different angles possible with the rotatable flash head help to achieve even lighting on the subject.

 

2. Control light and shadow to create sophisticated table-top photos

EOS 760D/ EF50mm f/1.8 STM/ FL: 50mm (80mm equivalent)/ Manual exposure (f/5.6, 1/80 sec)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

For photographing food and products on a table top, the close proximity to the subject means that you do not need your light output to be as powerful as that from the Speedlite 600EX II-RT. I used the Speedlite 430EX III-RT for the above photo, creating the shadows by changing my lighting angle. This Speedlite is recommended to those who are particularly fond of still life photography.

 

Speedlite 430EX III-RT Main Specifications

Guide Number: 43m (Approx.) at ISO 100 and 105mm flash coverage
Flash Coverage: 24 – 105mm (14mm when wide panel is used)
Bounce: Up: 90°, Left: 150°, Right: 180°
Number of Flashes: Approx. 180 – 1200 flashes
Recycling Time: Approx. 0.1 – 3.5 seconds
Power Source: 4 AA-size/ LR6 alkaline or AA/ HR6 Ni-MH batteries
Dimensions (W×H×D): Approx. 70.5×113.8×98.2mm
Weight: Approx. 295g (Speedlite body only, without batteries)

 

Accessories

 

Considering other Speedlites? Check out the following articles for more information:
Which Canon Speedlite Flash to Choose?
Buyer's Quick Guide: Speedlite 270EX II

For information about the kind of photos you can take with Speedlites and tips on how to achieve them, check out:
In Focus: The Basics of External Flash Photography

 

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