Canon Speedlite 430EX III-rt, all sides
Industry News
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Canon Announces New 430-EX III RT Flash

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Canon has announced an update to the popular Speedlite 430EX line of flashes, this one dubbed the Speedlite 430EX III-RT. The most significant change to the flash is reflected by the “RT” designation: it contains a radio transceiver to be compatible with Canon’s proprietary RT flash system. The 430EX III-RT can be used as a  master or a slave in the RT system, much like the 600EX-RT. Like other RT system flashes, Canon claims that the radio system is reliable at distances up to 30 meters (about 100 feet). It’s also still compatible with the older infrared iTTL system at shorter distances, but it can only be used as a slave.

Aside from the radio control, the Canon strobe has a couple of new features:

  • it ships with an orange (CTO) snap-on filter to match incandescent lighting or for other creative effects
  • it has a built-in catch-light (fill-card) that slides out of the head like (like the 580 and 600 series)

We expect this flash to start shipping in September at a cost of $299. Will anyone buy it? I probably won’t. However, if it sounds appealing to you, you can pre-order it from B&H Photo now by following this link.

 

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Matthew Gore
Editor-in-Chief
Matthew Gore is the Editor-in-Chief and Administrator of Light & Matter Media.
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2 Comments

  1. Matthew, I’m very interested in your opinion of the Canon 430EX III. In your post you said you probably wouldn’t buy it. I can understand how this flash may not meet the demands of a professional but for us amateurs (on a budget) this sounds like a good buy. Any suggestions for those of us who are just not able to afford the “top of the line” Canon 600 EX-RT?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply

    1. Hi Cheryl,

      I had intended to write a second article on this subject and link that text to it, but I’ve been too busy to get that far, so I’ll have to summarize. Basically, the market is saturated with feature-rich, inexpensive flashes with radio control systems that are just as good or better. For example, there’s a Yongnuo clone of the 600EX-RT that costs $125, and while it may be a questionable choice for a professional, it is a great choice for an amateur… and it is only one of the many options from the company. I’d rather buy 2 or 3 of these than a single Canon 430ex III.

      Similarly, the Phottix and Nissin flashes are better than the Canon options in the same price range, and there are also plenty of other flashes that don’t have built-in radio triggers (including older Canon flashes), and we can simply use radio triggers with them (like the Phottix Odin or Yongnuos).

      Ultimately, for a professional, the 600EX-RT has some features like weather-sealing that make it the best choice for working professionals who will be in harsh environments. The 430EX III will not be sufficient for those types of photographers, yet it’s way more expensive than the other options that are just as good for amateurs.
      – Matthew

      Reply

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