Cost, weight, creative possibilities, design, can act as slave.

No internal wireless transmission, power.

If you are interested in learning about flash photography and its creative possibilities then this is the flash to get. The 220 is too small, too weak, and does not swivel, the 580 is too big and too expensive. The 430 (or the 420 if you can get a good used one), fits nicely in the middle. This is specially important if you are mainly interested in discovering whether you are into flash photography or not. The flash itself is designed beautifully and it gives you a lot of creative control (for example, you can decrease the output up to 1/64th). It provides easy Flash compensation as well and the easy swiveling allows for better looking bounced photos. Of course, it helps if you can get a diffuser either from Stofen or Lumiquest, but in case you are tight financially you can always take a look at the amazing video for the best FREE bounce card around:
http://abetterbouncecard.com/

Big LDC screen, High speed sync, Manual, Flash exposure compension and slave.
easy to use. Built in wide panel ( 14mm)

one things to say about the flash.

1: the metering on the LCD to measure the distance shows "m" like 9.0 m or 0.9 m meaning 9 meters or 90 cm it do make it less acuate when you are zooming the lens when you are trying to judge the distance. It would be good it they put in meters and centremeters/feet-inches this would help.

Hi
This is a good 430EX flash and cheaper to it's big brother the 580EX flash.
I had the 420EX flash for a few years and has serve me well but I had found out about the 430EX flash, I decied to order one on the net with a few dollars off on the price.
I found it was a big improvement on the 420EX flash it replaces "BIG"LCD screen that you can read information like, High speed sync, Custum Function, meter/feet reading, zoom and wide panel (14mm). I gave the 420EX flash to a friend along with the EOS 300. I had bought the EOS 20D digital camera which went well togetther because of there sizes. The 430EX flash also had recycle time 0.1 to 3.7 seconds and flash range has improve at 105mm focal length 43 meters/141 feet (ISO 100) just 1 meter up from the 420EX flash (42 meters) and Manaul zoom with button. The 430EX flash looks almost like its big brother 580EX flash which give it an almost professional look but at lower cost. I am very happy to use it with my camera EOS 20D and EOS 3.

Customer Service

Had no problem with it so far and still going stronge.

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I have use the 420EX flash the 430EX flash replacing it. The 420 EX flash was good for it size carry it in your bag with lenses and camera.