The Following images have been taken of Canon's recent release (May, 2007) of their Speedlite Flash. I took a few test shots, with a 1dmk2N and am pleased with the perfect exposures, and the heavy-duty feel for the unit itself. I would swear that it is literally heavier than the 580EX version; the documentation says both units have equal weight. Being too curious, and having a candy scale, when weighing both units with Lithium AA cells installed, the 580EX-II is about 16.5oz and the 580EX is 15oz, not a big difference but clearly +1.5oz. In the views shown and displayed on this link, there is rubberization on all surfaces that would harbour water or dust intrusion. The Flash-shoe has been seriously re-worked with a heavy steel-angle-iron fitting. No more flimsey plastic fittings. The mechanism to lock the flash securely onto the camera flash show is clearly robust and locking, requiring an affirmative push-putton before one can slide the locking mechinism to the left; no more rotery-wheels... There is an image showing the infrared lenses, with the thyristor inserted for more accurate light measurement. The rotation of the flash head in all directions are secure and water-tight. As to operation, the unit is totally silient when charging the flash-energy. No more whining of the circuts, total quiet other than the "pop" heard for the flash itself. Then the a lens is zoomed, one can hear a quiet gear-motor moving the flash tube into the appropriate focul point for maximum delivery of the light beam, sychronized with the focul length of the lens/imager combination. The macro images were taken with Sony's DSC-T100 in its super-macro mode to show minute details of the body of the flash unit. Sorry for the dust...