550ex with slave

[Dan Kam]

Heres my problem. Am using a D60 with a 550ex on camera and another Sigma EF500-Super off camera. I don't want the 550 to fire but control the EF500. On the 550 I turn off the master flash but it fires anyway. Anybody have a clue why?

Thanks
Dan

[Cal Maier]

Hi Dan

I believe that you will need a Canon ST-E2 Speedlight Transmitter in order to fire & control your slave(s). I don't think that you can send control info to a slave without the master unit operating.

You could try using a small gobo in front of the 550EX to block the light from reaching your subject, this may work OK and is worth a try. You could also try bouncing the output from the 550EX into a corner of the ceiling or something in order to keep any direct light from hitting your subject.

Good Luck!
Cal

[Dan Kam]

Carl,

Thanks for your reply, but I wasn't saying that that the master unit would be turned off. It can be on but set so that it does not fire. Therefore it would control the slaves but not put out any light. This is according to instuction book pp 62-63. Mine fires anyway.

Dan

[chris maddock]

Dan,

I think it's just the preflash - my identical setup does the same.
If you use the modelling flash (DOF button) only the slave gun fires if the master is set to not flash - if the master is set to flash then both fire in the modelling flash. I asssume that it's the same for basic flash.
I've just done a brief test and the exposure definitely looks more balanced if the master is set to fire than if it isn't, and it still flashes.

KRs
Chris