STUMPED - Need Some Help

[flauri]

I have a Canon 550 EX and 420 EX Sppedlite Flashes. I'm trying to get the 550 to fire as the master and the 420 to fire as the slave and I've tried just about everything and nothing seems to work.

Any advice and guidance would be very much appreciated.


Thanks in Advance
Frank Lauri

[Longwatcher]

That should work in theory.

Try the following trouble shooting steps.
- I presume you have them set appropriately to master and slave
- Make sure they are both in the same mode.
- Then it is important to make sure the red plastic cover for the transmitter/recievers are pointed towards each other.
- Check batteries.
- Check distance limits.
- Check if any possible infrared sources maybe confusing the signal (the sun can do it under select rare conditions, but more likely man-made interference.
- Call Canon one of them is probably broken.

[Curtis N]

Lauri,
Are you using them indoors or outdoors?

[PacAce]

I have a Canon 550 EX and 420 EX Sppedlite Flashes. I'm trying to get the 550 to fire as the master and the 420 to fire as the slave and I've tried just about everything and nothing seems to work.

Any advice and guidance would be very much appreciated.


Thanks in Advance
Frank Lauri
It would help if you told us exactly what is or is not happening. For example, is the master firing but the slave isn't? Aren't either of them firing? Or maybe the slave is firing but not the master isn't?

Also, tell us what group the slave is set to and what channel the master and slave are set to.

[sub]

What's not working? Master/Slave/All

Master and slave should see each other. Also watch the distance between them.

[flauri]

UPDATE ON INFORMATION:

I'm using indoors now but do plan on using outdoors.
They will work in ETTL but not manual.
Batteries are good.
Distance is witnin limits.
Master is set to Group A - Channel 1 - 1 to 1
Slave is set to Group A - Channel 1

By work, I mean the master fires but the slave doesn't.

Called Canon and they said that because the 420 EX doesn't have a Manual setting, this is most likely the problem. If the scenario was 550 to 550, this would work.


Thanks
Frank Lauri

[sub]

The reply from Canon is ridiculous. 420EX is good for wireless slave. Have you check to see both are on the same Channel and Group for your case? Read page 42 on your 430EX manual.

[sub]

One more thing...make sure the 420EX slave's wireless sensor facing directly to see the master's sensor.

[In2Photos]

The reply from Canon is ridiculous. 420EX is good for wireless slave. Have you check to see both are on the same Channel and Group for your case? Read page 42 on your 430EX manual.
Actually it isn't rediculous. The 420EX does not have a manual mode and only works in ETTL. So if the 550 is set to ETTL it will work just fine.

[sub]

He said NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK and I thought he was asking ETTL wireless. And then I thought why Canon replied manual wireless.

[In2Photos]

He said NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK and I thought he was asking ETTL wireless. And then I thought why Canon replied manual wireless.

Gotcha! So did you miss this part:

UPDATE ON INFORMATION:

I'm using indoors now but do plan on using outdoors.
They will work in ETTL but not manual.
Batteries are good.
Distance is witnin limits.
Master is set to Group A - Channel 1 - 1 to 1
Slave is set to Group A - Channel 1

By work, I mean the master fires but the slave doesn't.

Called Canon and they said that because the 420 EX doesn't have a Manual setting, this is most likely the problem. If the scenario was 550 to 550, this would work.


Thanks
Frank Lauri

[sub]

Yes, I need new pair of glasses.

BTW, 430EX works on manual wireless.

[In2Photos]

Yes, I need new pair of glasses.

BTW, 430EX works on manual wireless.

Yes it does. The exact reason I bought it over the 420.

[flauri]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Frank