just got a 580EXII but now i......

onform

onform

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matt
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Ok I just got a 580EXII but i'm now wondering which cheaper flash models i can use off camera?

which ones will work with the 580 as the master flash.
 
will the ETTL still work?? and what sort of range do you get with this set up??
 
With the Canon range of flashes ETTL should still work (am in the middle of learning/debating which to buy myself!)

Not too sure on the range so can't help there sorry! :(
 
Ah OK.. then you have the stands and umbrella's to factor in too...:thinking:
 
the 580, 550, 430 and 420 should all work as slaves. Inside the remote system works surprisingly well as the optical trigger can bounce around. Outside forget it really, you'll need something that triggers with RF for any reasonably range and reliability outdoors.
 
What about with the ST-E2? does this boost the range?
 
420 works fine as I have one of these and recently got the ST-E2 as well so I can use both guns off camera
 
If your looking for a cheaper option I believe it can trigger the sigma 530 DG Super which is an awful lot of flash for the money.
 
onform said:
What about with the ST-E2? does this boost the range?
Click to expand...

By boost the range, if you mean "can I use a smaller aperture?" or "will it mean less likelihood of underexposed pictures?", then one answer is "possibly".

The correct exposure is governed by a number of factors: firstly, the power of the flashgun, indicated by its guide number. The second factor is the distance the flash is from the subject. With a totally manual flashgun, you had to calculate the aperture by dividing the guide number by the flash to subject distance. For example, if the GN was 48 (m) and the distance was 6m, then the aperture would be f8.
Thirdly, the other factor that governs the 'range' of a flash is the environment its being used in. Using a flash indoors means that the flash light is bounced of ceilings and walls, effectively 'increasing' its range. Use the same flash outdoors, and the results will be very different as there's no reflected light to help.
Finally, when you're using a brolly, quite a lot of light is absorbed - this can be as much as 2 stops. You can mitigate this by bringing the light in closer - halve the distance between the flash and the subject and you'll recover the light lost by the brolly.

So, if using the ST-E2 means you can position the flash closer to the subject, then the answer is 'yes'. It won't make the flash more powerful though, as it's just a wireless transmitter.

It's a bit of a long-winded answer, but I hope it's useful.

Cheers


Mark
 
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