Canon 7D, Speedlite Transmitter, flash slave unit

[Brian Sayle]

Can anyone help me with this, i read about the 7D Integrated Speedlite Transmitter, the 7D includes the ability to control multiple Speedlites without an ST-E2 or 580EX II.

What i want to know is I've got a 550ex flash unit, now i can flip the built in flash on top of the camera and use that and trigger the 550ex at the same time with out any added tranmitters or recivers, but can i get another flash gun and that will also fire at the same time as well, all controlled simultaneously from the camera body?
If so what units can i buy that don't cost as much as for example a 430ex...etc can i get any of the budget Yongnuo flash units for example? I'm after some cheaper items like the £50 range max even if second hand, cheers

 

[EOS_JD]

Yes
To use ETTL it would need to be a flash that supports it.

The Yongnuo one is Manual only but wioll still fire if it has an optical cell (basically sees the other flash fire and it fires too) - All done at the speed of light!

 

[Brian Sayle]

Excellent thanks, so i need a flash that supports ETTL and i should be ok, cheers.

 

[Kris]

No. Definitely not.

You need a ttl flash that can act as a slave to your 7ds master flash signals.

Do not confuse optical signals (whether manual or ttl) sent out by canons built in master on the 7d, 60d (or their 580exII or the st-e2 etc) with simple fire now optical response. They are totally different systems and are totally incompatible with each other.

To continue using the built in master on the 7d (whether manual or ttl) to fire a remote flash, you will need an EX canon flash, or a few of the nissins, or the newer Yongnuo 565 and a few others (dunno myself, only own 580exIIs). These can take the coded optical signals from the 7d.

A simple manual remote flash can't operate in ttl or controllable manual, such as the 560 yongnuo, though they can fire from simple 'fire now' optical if you set your 7ds flash to manual output.

 

[EOS_JD]

Excellent thanks, so i need a flash that supports ETTL and i should be ok, cheers.

Only if you need ETTL. If you shoot in M then any flash will do.