580ex to trigger a 430ex

sam_cat

sam_cat

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Had a quick search and struggling to find the answer to my question.

Basically I want to use the 580ex on camera purely to trigger the 430ex, I dont want it to flash at all..

Is this possible and if so how?

Thanks,
Sam
 
Switch your 580EX to master and 430EX to slave mode. On 580EX press the zoom button so the display's "on" and little flash blinks and turn the dial to select "off". That's it. Now the 580EX will trigger 430EX (quick pre-flash pulses), but will not contribute any light to a scene.
 
dtartagonidis said:
Switch your 580EX to master and 430EX to slave mode. On 580EX press the zoom button so the display's "on" and little flash blinks and turn the dial to select "off". That's it. Now the 580EX will trigger 430EX (quick pre-flash pulses), but will not contribute any light to a scene.
Click to expand...

That's (almost) true ;) However, when the main flash is disabled, it does actually still fire, but at a very low level. It doesn't affect the exposure unless you are very close.

If that still might be a problem, get a couple of dark red cellophane wrappers from a box of Quality Street and wrap them around the flash with a rubber band. That will dull it down, but not hinder it's master capabilities.
 
Perhaps its me being dense, or perhaps its the fact its a 580EX II, but I cant seem to make this work....

Am I being thick?

**EDIT - scratch that, I was being thick... It works now :)

Thanks again,
Sam
 
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My blood begins to boil then I think about wireless controls on 580EX II :bang:. What designers at Canon thought when designing this feature and what was wrong with the original toggle switch.
When I had 5DMII, it was much faster and easer to control the flash trough the camera. I think the same can be done on 50D as well.
 
It can, but I have been playing with my classic 1Ds this weekend. :)
 
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