Simple flash fire trigger???

[tunin]

I read through the forum on all sorts of remotes and other fancy stuff that one could use but It all got me quite confused. All I need is a reomote flash trigger for my 580ex. I wanna be ably to set my camera on bulb and long exp. and the flash elswhere and be able to press a button or time the flash so the flash fires when I press the button!?

Peace help.

[PacAce]

Have you tried just pressing the test button on the flash itself? Or isn't that going to work for your setup?

[tunin]

Can't do that as I need the flash to be on the other end of the setup.

[PacAce]

You can use a PocketWizard to fire the flash without a problem but if you have the first version of the 580EX, you'll need a hotshoe adapter to connect the flash to the PW unit. But this is a very expensive way of firing the flash unless you already have a pair of PW untis.

The cheapest way of rigging the flash to fire manually is to hook it up via a long sync cord or a two-conductor wire and attaching a push button switch on one end and a hotshoe adapter on the other end for the 580EX I or the appropriate plug for the 580EX II.

[Curtis N]

For about the same money as a PC cord and hotshoe adapter, you could get a radio triggering system from Gadget Infinity like this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=243987&highlight=review). The receiver will mount to a lightstand, the flash will attach to the receiver's hotshoe. Than just hold the transmitter in your hand and hit the test button to fire it.

[PacAce]

For about the same money as a PC cord and hotshoe adapter, you could get a radio triggering system from Gadget Infinity like this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=243987&highlight=review). The receiver will mount to a lightstand, the flash will attach to the receiver's hotshoe. Than just hold the transmitter in your hand and hit the test button to fire it.

How well does that work with the 580EX flash? I thought I read someplace that these units have issues with the Canon flashes.

[pepperoni]

No issues with Canon flash capability, just a lot of relibility issues with the triggers themselves.

[oni0n56]

How well does that work with the 580EX flash? I thought I read someplace that these units have issues with the Canon flashes.

I think that's just with ETTL not triggering them

[oni0n56]

Answering OP: if you have two cameras and two flashes you could slave the flash, then take the shot on bulb with camera A and then fire off the other camera B with a master flash whenever you want. Actually you wouldn't even need two cameras, just two flashes.

[PacAce]

Answering OP: if you have two cameras and two flashes you could slave the flash, then take the shot on bulb with camera A and then fire off the other camera B with a master flash whenever you want. Actually you wouldn't even need two cameras, just two flashes.

The only problem with firing the slave that way is that even though the command pulse from the master is weak, it will still register in the image and if you fire it enough times, it will affect the final exposure. That is, if the OP is going to be firing the slave multiple times during the bulb exposure. But now that I think of it, I'm not sure how I got the impression that he wanted to do that. :confused:

[oni0n56]

The only problem with firing the slave that way is that even though the command pulse from the master is weak, it will still register in the image and if you fire it enough times, it will affect the final exposure.

good point. but im sure you could cover it up with a piece of black paper or even your hand or something, all that needs to go out is the IR signal..

would the pocket wizards or radio triggers work with what he's trying to do? while the cameras is in bulb and recording.. i've never used em but i imagine they just trigger the flash once via the hotshoe at either the beginning or end of the curtain (depending on what you set it to)

[PacAce]

good point. but im sure you could cover it up with a piece of black paper or even your hand or something, all that needs to go out is the IR signal..

would the pocket wizards or radio triggers work with what he's trying to do? while the cameras is in bulb and recording.. i've never used em but i imagine they just trigger the flash once via the hotshoe at either the beginning or end of the curtain (depending on what you set it to)
If you cover the flash of the master with black paper, the slave is not going to see it. However, you can cover it with IR film so that the IR signal can get trhough to the slave while blocking the visible light from the flash.

As for the PW, each unit has a "test" button that you can use to fire it. And it doesn't even have to be mounted on the camera to use it. :)

[oni0n56]

If you cover the flash of the master with black paper, the slave is not going to see it. However, you can cover it with IR film so that the IR signal can get trhough to the slave while blocking the visible light from the flash.

As for the PW, each unit has a "test" button that you can use to fire it. And it doesn't even have to be mounted on the camera to use it. :)

Nice, I wasn't sure what the PW could do.

Also I didnt know the ir signals came out of the same head that the flash comes from. I was always udner the impression that it came from that red thing...

[PacAce]

Nice, I wasn't sure what the PW could do.

Also I didnt know the ir signals came out of the same head that the flash comes from. I was always udner the impression that it came from that red thing...
The red lens is where the focus assist beam is emitted from. The other lens which looks almost black is where the IR signal from the master enters and is detected by the IR sensor. But the command signal that's sent out by the master is actually emitted as a pulse of flash which is made up of both visible light and IR light. On the ST-E2, the flash head is covered with an IR lens so that only the IR light gets out.

[Curtis N]

How well does that work with the 580EX flash? I thought I read someplace that these units have issues with the Canon flashes.From what I have read, the new V2 version fares better with the EX Speedlites than its predecessor.

[FlashZebra]

From what I have read, the new V2 version fares better with the EX Speedlites than its predecessor.
I have read post after post on Strobist regarding the V2 units.

They do seem to work better than the V1 on the 580EX, but function with the 430EX is still very spotty.

This basic design shared by several units sold under various names (but likely all produced in the same factory) also has several other issues, including a PC sync terminal that spins causing the solder to break, gross breakage of the angle adjustment mechanism, and sundry other design or workmanship issues.

Enjoy! Lon

[tunin]

I was away for a day and just came in to find this long set of posts. This helped me quite a bit and THANK YOU ALL.