OFF CAMERA TRIGGERING

[alexam]

With my 7D able to trigger up to 3 off camera speed-lights in ETTL when they are in sight of each other, has anyone experimented with one or more of the lights out of sight, but with mirrors that are angled so the camera can see them through the mirrors. (Say behind a subject)

Not sure if this would work well compared to having Manual setting and using triggers, but perhaps it's an option? Anyone know?:shrug:

Malcolm

 

[coldpenguin]

Don't know whether it really counts, but today I did have the 580 EXII on a shiny floor (grey polished porcelain tiles), with the sensor pointing away from the camera, and it worked. I would think that a mirror would work better, perhaps even slightly concave if you can manage it, to intensify the beam (as the intensity drops as L/R^2)

 

[vaizki]

I wouldn't go as far as real mirrors, I think silver reflectors should do the job? The range is limited though and will be further reduced. Canon is behind Nikon in the flash game and could - SHOULD - leapfrog with a 2.4GHz e-ttl. Just do it. Even my rc-controlled cars can use 2.4GHz radios with telemetry feedback etc.. and PW can do it for flash..

And btw, it's not 3 speedlights but 3 groups. You can have as many speedlights per group as you want, as long as they can all see the commander flash's signal. The flashes don't need to see each other.. (these systems are one-way from camera to flash).

Also consider the Yongnuo ST-E2 clone, they claim superior range and field of cover for the commander signal. Reviews are trickling in and it's looking pretty good. Also provides a focus assist light for low light shooting.

 

[alexam]

Thank you Jukka,
you have clarified 'groups' as against individual speedlights, which is good as I am just getting back to flash photography and have a 580 & 430 EXii's and a 3x Yongnuo RF-602, but was just curious about units/groups that were not line of sight and if the mirrrs worked when not using the triggers.

Also just getting used to the 7D and the programming of the camera for C1.2.&3, which I expect you have already done.

It would be interesting to know from other 7D owners, just what they have set their 3 camera user settings to and why? What are yours?

Malcolm

 

[vaizki]

I have just one C setting continuously in use.. that is for shooting food on the kitchen counter under ambient light. My wife keeps a food blog and takes the pics for it as well.. So basically ISO 1600, f/3.5, 1/100s if I remember correctly.

Another setting I often program is to put in a "birds in flight" setting when out and about in nature.. manual mode again and ready settings with usually f/4 - f/5.6 and a 1/500 or faster exposure with ISO accordingly, metered for This is because I'm a complete butterfingers when a bird shows up in the sky so I need a shortcut or I'll miss the shot (and I still do even with a C-mode).

Remember that when you activate a C-mode, the settings are applied but you can still change them freely on the fly. So it's just a starting point set of parameters..