60D with Wireless flash

[crazychimpjimbo]

Hi Guys/Girls

Recently become the owner of a Canon 60D and today Recieved a Yongnuo 565EX flash. After a bit of playing I found out that you need the flash up to trigger the remote flash.

So then I decided it was low key photo attempt and soon discovered that in manual mode I cant change the shutter speed any quicker than 1/250 with the flash up, now put the flash down and of course I can go up to say 1/3200 but the remote flash will not trigger!

Am I missing a trick or am I right in thinking as this camera would require a wireless release to go on top in order to take such photos??

 

[Hisdem]

Not sure about the 60D, but check that the remote flash is in it's regular position (aka not tilted), as, at least with my Sony flash, High Speed Sync is only possible with the flash on it's regular position.

 

[Georges]

HI Jimbo,

On the 60D you can set it up to 1/8000. I can do this with my 580EX II when set to high speed. If your flash supports it enable that.

The pop up flash (built in) acts a a transmitter.

 

[Georges]

One more thing, although you have to pop up the builtin flash, you can however, tell it not to contribute to the output. That is it will still fire a pre flash to trigger the external flash but its output will not be recorded. You can do this in wireless menu option, "choose the 2nd option where it shows external flash only).

Hope this helps.

 

[hollis_f]

I know this is frowned upon but I've got to say it - Have you actually thought of looking at the manual?

After a bit of playing I found out that you need the flash up to trigger the remote flash.

Page 139.

I cant change the shutter speed any quicker than 1/250 with the flash up

Page 130.

 

[crazychimpjimbo]

Thanks for the comments guys! Read those pages and it basically tells me with the popup flash in manual I can have a top speed of 1/250 and the other page talks about using wireless flash with builtin flash triggering it however you can only have 1/250 shutter speed.

I guess my thinking is if your in manual mode you decide the settings, if you choose to ask for 1/350 and f/5 then the camera should just obey! haha!

So if I was to use a wireless trigger could I then achieve 1/350 as the built in flash isn't active?

 

[Georges]

Thanks for the comments guys! Read those pages and it basically tells me with the popup flash in manual I can have a top speed of 1/250 and the other page talks about using wireless flash with builtin flash triggering it however you can only have 1/250 shutter speed.

I guess my thinking is if your in manual mode you decide the settings, if you choose to ask for 1/350 and f/5 then the camera should just obey! haha!

So if I was to use a wireless trigger could I then achieve 1/350 as the built in flash isn't active?

Jimbo did you read my post?

If your flashgun supports High speed then Canon 60D will go up to 1/8000 whether in manual mode or AV

You have to read/research about camera and flash gun synchronization.

I don't know about external transmitter but as I said the pop-up builtin flash can be made to just trigger the flashgun/s. Have you tried it?

So the function is a combination of camera settings and compatible flashgun (flashgun must support highspeed synchronization).

 

[HoppyUK]

Hi Guys/Girls

Recently become the owner of a Canon 60D and today Recieved a Yongnuo 565EX flash. After a bit of playing I found out that you need the flash up to trigger the remote flash.

So then I decided it was low key photo attempt and soon discovered that in manual mode I cant change the shutter speed any quicker than 1/250 with the flash up, now put the flash down and of course I can go up to say 1/3200 but the remote flash will not trigger!

Am I missing a trick or am I right in thinking as this camera would require a wireless release to go on top in order to take such photos??

All DSLRs use a focal plane type shutter that is limited to a maximum speed with flash, in the case of a 60D, that's 1/250sec (most cameras are very similar). You can go longer, but not faster.

To go faster, you need high speed sync (HSS) which is a feature found on all Canon guns and some of the better third party ones. You can run any higher shutter speed with those which is obviously very useful, but it has the limitation of reducing range. The higher you go on the shutter speed, the shorter the range, but they're usually fine for portraits and small groups.

But you can't use the 60D's remote wireless mastering feature with HSS, even if the gun has it. You need a higher grade master for that, like a 580EXII or ST-E2, or some other third party products.

 

[crazychimpjimbo]

Thank guys! Happy UK I kinda found what you have written online but was unsure if I was reading it right so thanks for taking the time and putting it in black and white! And what I can achieve from my camera is a lot clearer too!

Its been a good lesson though kinda of learnt more about flashes



I basically trying to achieve a low key photo of my wife but found that changing the aperture to f/6.(something) and shooting at 1/250 almost got me there, just a little photoshop work and I had the end result! Guess if I had also explained what I was trying to do no doubt you guys would have had loads of tips for me haha!

 

[specialman]

Jimbo - exposure settings will get you there, as you're finding out, but subject-to-flash distance is important, as is background proximity to the flash and the subject. There's good piece on the Strobist: 102 section where it shows you how to kill the ambient but moving the flash close to the subject and metering from that.