Beginner Guide / Tutorial to using external flash on Canon camera

Meeten

Meeten

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,728
Name
Meeten
Edit My Images
No
I'm looking for some advice.
I've had a search through this forum and have 'some' useful advice, but to be honest, a lot if it is over my head.

I'm looking for a tutorial / guide to help a newbie using an external flash. Off camera, triggers, soft boxes can all come later.

I've gone and bought a 580EX to go with my 40D (soon to be 6D), and have been using it on the camera to help when there is insufficient light.
But in reality, I don't think I am using any more than 20% of the functionality, and I'm on a quest to learn more.
At the moment it is a case of all the gear and no idea. This year, I want to have more 'idea'.

Any links to you tube tutorials would be helpful, or any other site that you may have saved that will assist.

Help appreciated.
 
I found reading the more general "lighting 101" from strobist.blogspot.co.uk was a really good start for me. It really inspired me to work with flash. I also picked up the Yongnuo YN-622C and a few YN-622C-TX. These allowed me to use off camera "TTL" flashes and have full control over them remotely without faffing about on the camera menus. Also you can mix in other manual flashes too.
 
All I can add to the above is that I don't use more than 10% of the functionality of my flash guns.

Because they do lots of stuff most of us never need.
 
Speedliter's Handbook is excellent :thumbs:

You can get great results just by bouncing off the wall/ceiling, and with the little pull-out highlight panel, or a simple bounce-card (white index card plus rubber band) that costs nothing and is good for learning. There is a mountain of flash accessories out there, some making dubious claims, though almost all of them are variations on the bounce-card principle and don't work any better. If you want something that looks a bit more professional, I like the Lumiquest Quik Bounce though the Rogue FlashBender is probably a good place to start. It's basically a glorified bounce-card but easier to use, more adaptable, and has a few other handy ticks/accessories.
 
Thanks all. I have a 580EX, and have hardly used a bit of the functionality it offers. Bounce off ceiling is fine, and using the highlight panel are both ok, but I feel that there is a whole lot more that it can do, Just my inability driving to be a major issue. Looks like hours of practise and reading ahead of me.....
 
Meeten said:
Thanks all. I have a 580EX, and have hardly used a bit of the functionality it offers. Bounce off ceiling is fine, and using the highlight panel are both ok, but I feel that there is a whole lot more that it can do, Just my inability driving to be a major issue. Looks like hours of practise and reading ahead of me.....
Click to expand...

As above, for on camera flash, tilt swivel and zoom. What else do you think you need your flash to do. Photography is about light not about how many buttons are on the back of your flash.
 
Meeten said:
rest assured, I could do with less buttons!!
Click to expand...
As per my first response, I use a tiny fraction of my flashes functions, and you can check my website to see whether you think I know enough about using flash.
On camera
Off camera
Multiple speedlights
Mixed with daylight
Mixed with artificial
Mixed with studio flash
And all that is possible for me using either Manual flash or ETTL flash with FEC set on camera,

90% of the 'functions' of a speedlight are a distraction. Not a necessity
 
moving on (and resurrecting this thread), I've gone and got some PWii.
they came with a connection cord, but I don't think that they are compatible with the 580s I have.

I've had a look online and it seems that this is what I need

3.5 mm to Male Flash PC Sync Cable

Can anyone confirm that is correct? Are there alternatives I should be looking at?

Help appreciated....
 
Meeten said:
moving on (and resurrecting this thread), I've gone and got some PWii.
they came with a connection cord, but I don't think that they are compatible with the 580s I have.

I've had a look online and it seems that this is what I need

3.5 mm to Male Flash PC Sync Cable

Can anyone confirm that is correct? Are there alternatives I should be looking at?

Help appreciated....
Click to expand...

I can't check the cable, but don't the PW's have a hot foot? (Edit it seems not, gut reaction, the cable should fit) And I have to ask; why buy PWii's?

Unless they were an absolute bargain (sub £50 all in), they're a bit like buying a minidisc player, great kit when they were launched, but somewhat overtaken by modern technology.
I'm just baffled.
 
Last edited:
Agree with Phil. Not long ago, it was either PWs or Radio Poppers. Neither perfect, nor cheap, but that was all there was. Today there is so much out there the main problem is choosing.

PWs have some cunning and unique features though, that I've always thought very valuable for certain applications (slightly faster x-sync speeds, brighter HSS output with Canon, enhanced second-curtain sync) but that hasn't been enough to keep them on the popularity list. I've recently swapped all my Canon 580 guns for four Yongnuo 600EX-RT plus Tx and they're excellent.
 
they weren't that much of a bargain :-(
I have 2x 580EX and wanted to go OCF, so saw these in the classifieds after looking at some online information and thought they would provide a good starter.

Appreciate that there are alternatives out there, but this is what I have at the moment .....
 
Meeten said:
they weren't that much of a bargain :-(
I have 2x 580EX and wanted to go OCF, so saw these in the classifieds after looking at some online information and thought they would provide a good starter.

Appreciate that there are alternatives out there, but this is what I have at the moment .....
Click to expand...

So you bought these PW Plus2 triggers? https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/pocket-wizard-plus-ii-x3.623510/#post-7399988

They are old hat now - basic manual-only triggers. Sold mine many years ago, bought a stack of YN triggers to replace, and still had change. All-manual is not the end of the world for OCF (most prefer it) but they also don't have a hot-shoe connection and since your Canon 580EX Mk1 flash doesn't have a PC sync port, you need a hot-shoe to PW jack connection. Personally, I'd sell them on (someone already using PW will want them) and start afresh. A set of Yongnuo RF-603 transceivers would replace them, without the hassle of the dangly bits (and you'd get remote wake-up, too). About £12 each on Amazon/ebay. You can't go wrong at those prices and manual is all you need :thumbs:

OR, for the Full Monty with ETTL etc, Yongnuo 622 transceivers would work. Although the 580EX isn't officially supported, I used that combo with no problems and I think PhilV uses them with an even older Canon 550EX. Best with the 622Tx master controller on-camera. YN685 is another good choice, or the YN 600EX-RT that I now have. Lots of other options, but nothing actually better/cheaper.
 
Meeten said:
they weren't that much of a bargain :-(
I have 2x 580EX and wanted to go OCF, so saw these in the classifieds after looking at some online information and thought they would provide a good starter.

Appreciate that there are alternatives out there, but this is what I have at the moment .....
Click to expand...
I don't want to sound harsh but what happens is that people sometimes buy the wrong stuff then ask how to solve the issues, instead of asking what to buy.

The only people using that type of PW nowadays are firing their cameras remotely (still the best kit for that job btw), as flash triggers for speedlights, they're just a bad fit (pun intended).

Mikes advice is bang on the money. YN dumb triggers work just as well for peanuts, but for convenience YN622 with a TX is like comparing an iPhone with a Nokia 3210.
 
Phil V said:
I don't want to sound harsh but what happens is that people sometimes buy the wrong stuff then ask how to solve the issues, instead of asking what to buy.

The only people using that type of PW nowadays are firing their cameras remotely (still the best kit for that job btw), as flash triggers for speedlights, they're just a bad fit (pun intended).

Mikes advice is bang on the money. YN dumb triggers work just as well for peanuts, but for convenience YN622 with a TX is like comparing an iPhone with a Nokia 3210.
Click to expand...

Good old Mike ;)
 
Dutifully told.... However much I liked my 3210, I'm sure it's not a patch on the iPhone (I'm an Android user)....

I am where I am, and having bought (not the most recent or best fit gear), I want to see how I get on with it before I decide to change / move to something else.

I do appreciate your advice, and I'm sure win good time I will see that you are right. However, at the moment I'm looking to make the best use of what I have....
 
Meeten said:
Dutifully told.... However much I liked my 3210, I'm sure it's not a patch on the iPhone (I'm an Android user)....

I am where I am, and having bought (not the most recent or best fit gear), I want to see how I get on with it before I decide to change / move to something else.

I do appreciate your advice, and I'm sure win good time I will see that you are right. However, at the moment I'm looking to make the best use of what I have....
Click to expand...

That's cool :) Then I think this is what you need, assuming it's a 3.5mm jack on the PW https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miniphone-...9135&sr=1-1&keywords=hot+shoe+to+jack+adapter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top