Looking at selling my Canon Speedlite 580 EX hot shoe flash and upgrading to the 580EX II. Most of you Canon camera guys may know about this flash if not here are the specs from Canon USA:

Overview:
Canon's top-of-the-line Speedlite has been thoroughly revised. It's smaller and lighter than ever, yet provides a bit more power and significantly faster recycling. A new Select Dial makes changes, like exposure compensation, a breeze. It now covers lenses as wide as 14mm, and has new features for digital SLRs - including the ability to transmit precise flash color temperature information, and vary the zoom setting to match the imaging sensor.


Features:
Approx. 25% faster recycling time compared to 550EX.
Superior evenness of exposure, center to corner of frame.
Slightly higher max. guide number at 105mm setting (GN 190, feet).
Auto conversion of flash coverage with compatible digital SLRs.
White Balance info communicated instantly to compatible digital SLRs.
Full swivel, 180° in either direction (first TTL flash with this ability).
AF-assist beam now compatible with all AF points on every EOS SLR.
New Select Dial for easy inputs and user control.


Specifications:
Flash
Compatible Cameras
E-TTL operation with all EOS digital SLRs; PowerShot G2, G3, G5, G6, and Pro1; and the following EOS film cameras -- EOS-1v, EOS-3, Elan 7N series, Elan 7 series, Elan II series, Rebel T2, Ti, K2, GII, G.
TTL operation with all other 35mm EOS SLRs, and Canon T90

Guide Number
190 (at ISO 100, feet) / 58 (meters); flash head at 105mm zoom setting

Flash Coverage
Flash head zooms automatically to cover 24mm to 105mm lenses (with a full-frame 35mm camera); Automatic adjustment for lens conversion factor with EOS-1D Mark II and EOS 20D (camera requires firmware upgrade) Wide-angle pull-down panel allows coverage with lenses as wide as 14mm (on a full-frame camera) -- full coverage not possible on EF15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens.

Number of Flashes
Approx. 100 to 700, with fresh AA-size alkaline batteries.

Recycling Time
Approx. 0.1 to 6 seconds, with fresh AA-size alkaline batteries

Flash Range
(At ISO 100, with 50mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4) -- Approx. 1.6 to 98 feet / 0.5 to 30m

AF Assist Beam
Built-in; covers all focus points in EOS cameras with 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 45 AF points; Distance range -- 2 to 32.8 feet (0.6 to 10m) at center; 2 to 16.4 feet (0.6 to 5m) at periphery

Custom Functions
Fourteen speedlite Custom Functions built-in; set on speedlite's LCD panel


General
Power Source
Four AA-size batteries -- alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable Ni-MH usable

External Power Source
External power supply -- compatible with Canon battery pack CP-E3, CP-E2, and Transistor Pack E

Dimensions
3.0 x 5.3 x 4.5inches /76 x 134 x 114mm

Weight
13.2 oz / 375g, without batteries (4 AA alkaline batteries add 3.5 oz. / 100g)

Looking at $350 O.B.O (for you lurkers from the mainland yes I will ship if need be) Its up on diffrent sites so it may go fast.

 

I never thought a flash could be so expensive! Check with Erwin, he might need one.

 

The 580EX new sells between $450 to $500 depending on the sales you catch and $350 to $400 used in good condition. The 580EX II runs in the mid $500's if you catch it. Once in a while you can get a new/used one on ebay for low to mid $400's.