Anyone fire 550's with radio slaves or PC cords?

[dennykyser]

Can this be done, if so what do you use to conect the pc cord to the 550's?
I am not sure if those hot shoes with pc conectors work on Canon Flashes?

[robertwgross]

If you want to work cordlessly from the camera to the 550EX, then I would suggest using the STE2 transmitter.

If you want to work by cord, then you have two choices. You can attach by the off-camera shoe cord 2 and maintain complete E-TTL, or you can do something by PC sync cord only and forget E-TTL. Your choice.

If just seems to me that if you go to the time and expense of equipping yourself with 550EX and similar equipment, then you would probably want to use it to its fullest extent. If you didn't want to use any of the Canon wireless features, then you could have equipped yourself rather differently for less expense.

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

You could do that, but then you lose ETTL. Why pay so much for a flash and use it as a manual flash? I think most people would use the 550EX with an Off The Shoe Cord 2, or with an STE2, or in conjunction with another 550EX on the Hotshoe, or the 550EX on the hotshoe or flash bracket via OTSC2 and 420EX as wireless slave.
IMHO,
Scott

[dennykyser]

I know this is great for a lot of situations but eventually I will want to do some studio work using strobes and possibly use the 550 as fill. I know they are great to use for ETTL but can see a lot of cases where strobes could come in handy. The off camera shoe cord #2 is awful short.

[robertwgross]

The off camera shoe cord #2 is awful short.

I believe that an *unofficial* lengthening of the cord has been done by several users. That's probably not what Canon wants to see, but if it works, it works...

---Bob Gross---

[dennykyser]

I believe that an *unofficial* lengthening of the cord has been done by several users. That's probably not what Canon wants to see

I have considered that, but hate to run the risk of damaging flash or camera.

I guess I am looking for a way to light both, Studio and wedding situation. I feel that the 550ex is strong enough to use reflecting of an umbrella if 2 are used. I may be wrong. I can see situations where the transmitter on these could now work 100% (flash used behind subject for background) or (2 flashes straight accross from eachother) I have not used this system so can say for sure if this would ever be a problem. I just hate to get it all and find out that it is.

I realize that something like alien bees may be the way to go and use PC Cords or radio slaves. But they are not the most portable sorces.

I may be expecting too much ha.

[robertwgross]

I believe that an *unofficial* lengthening of the cord has been done by several users. That's probably not what Canon wants to see
I have considered that, but hate to run the risk of damaging flash or camera.


Somebody would have to really louse up the job in order to damage the flash unit or the camera. I can see a certain risk of completely fouling up the cord, and I can see a certain risk of it simply not working.

However, "There is a fool who can overcome any foolproof scheme."

---Bob Gross---

[slin100]

The absolute best third-party cords are made by Paramount (http://www.paramountcords.com). Order a custom cord with tip #33 (female hot shoe) and either tip #1 (PC male) or tip #19 (male hot shoe) to connect to your camera.

If you decide to go with radio triggering, then Pocket Wizards are the best. Order a cord with tip #33 and tip #15 to connect to the PW receiver.

[dennykyser]

Thats what I need.

[tracyh]

So... just so I'm straight on this. If you used a Paramount cord as described, you could maintain the E-TTL capability? If so, and I basically just wanted to replace my short, off-the-shoe cord with this longer, custom cord from Paramount, which ends do I want? #33 and #19? (as opposed to #1)?

If that works, it'd be great... because that's my biggest complaint with the off-the-shoe cord... it is way too short for what I'm trying to do with it.

[dennykyser]

I could be wrong but I dont believe that it would be TTL with this cord. For me that would be fine, when I used this cord would be metering Manual anyways. I just wonder if this cord will work with the 550ex, I have heard that many of these and photo slaves lock the flash up after one fire??

Ettl is great in certain cercumstance but when you want to change things up its a pain. then add in digital and an entire new set of problems. I have read that with the 10D and 550ex that it even fools the "Digital Photo Slaves"

[rodbunn]

The only way I could find that fired every time was to put the 550 on the off-shoe-camera-cord (whatever it's called) then the other end of the cord into a shoe-to-pc adapter. This protected the 550 somehow. This whole thing I fire with the Pocket Wizard's setup (xmtr -> rcvr). I use it this way because I can turn off the remote 550 via the pocket wizard. I meter the 550 I'm using like this for the background, then I have on/off control through the wizards'..... The whole thing is on a stand.
It's very portable. I use the transister pack on both the 550's (one on my camera and one remote on a stand) to fire them fast. Works great for weddings.

Thanks, Rod

[dennykyser]

thanks rodbunn, sounds like that will work thanks