Wee bit of off camera flash help please.

[scottduffy]

Guy's i am just about to buy either a 580 ex or 550 ex flash and i was wondering how these flashes work as master flashes? Do i still need wireless triggers/receivers or can i sit the flash on my camera and place another flash on a stand and both will fire?

I will also be looking for a flash to use as my second flash (sounds stupid as i don't even have a first flash yet ) and i was wondering would the canon flashes trigger one of flash in the pans flashes or would it have to be another canon flash?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[HoppyUK]

The 550EX and 580EX are both master flash guns (as are some other top of the range guns from Sigma, Metz, Nissin etc). Also, the pop-up flash in the 7D camera acts as a master, or there is the ST-E2 which is a master only unit - it doesn't work as a flash.

All these guns will control remote units wirelessly with full E-TTL auto control, via coded visible light pulses, or semi infrared. They work very well indoors or at close range outdoors providing the light isn't too bright. As a rule, they require line of sight between the master and the remote slave units.

For reliable remote wireless firing outdoors or in any conditions over long range, you need radio triggers. But these are manual only (no auto E-TTL) and they do nothing apart from fire the flash at the pre-set power output - you have to set the exposure level manually. The only exceptions to this are the TTL Pocket Wizard and Radio Poppers triggers, which are both £400-plus per set.

 

[On the Huh]

Can't add any more than Hoppy except I find the 580 a bit more user friendly, mainly for moving the head about. Been using the 550 and just got use to it while I wait for a new foot for the 580.

 

[scottduffy]

Thanks for the replies guys. Basically i can attach my new 580 ex mk1 to my hotshoe and have another flash mounted on a stand and as soon as my 580 flashes the other will too? I don't have to program them or anything to work together.

 

[HoppyUK]

Thanks for the replies guys. Basically i can attach my new 580 ex mk1 to my hotshoe and have another flash mounted on a stand and as soon as my 580 flashes the other will too? I don't have to program them or anything to work together.

You just switch the flash on the camera to master, and the remote/s to slave and away you go. That generally works very well, to the best of the metering system's ability.

However, the master can also programme up to three groups (a group is one or more guns) of remote slaves to fire individually at different power outputs/ratios which you set manually.

 

[scottduffy]

Thanks Richard. Does the other flash have to be canon to work with e-ttl or can i use a third party flash like sigma or one from flash in the pan?

 

[HoppyUK]

Thanks Richard. Does the other flash have to be canon to work with e-ttl or can i use a third party flash like sigma or one from flash in the pan?

No, many third party brands will act as remote slaves but you have to check the spec. Some say E-TTL compatible, but that's only on-camera. They need to have a slave mode.