580ex II + sync cord - will not fire as master

[morris_jay]

I got the 580ex II yesterday, bought a sync cable, did some soldering, adding the correct terminals to the cable, tested with the multimeter and the connection is fine.

If I put the flash on E-TTL or M, via the sync cord it will fire - EXCEPT if I want it to be the master unit, and fire other flashes. Then it won't fire at all.

What the? I want to fire all the flashes on Manual, I don't want any of the E-TTL crap. But will it work? Or will the IR only work if I use the ST-E2 or the flash on the camera?

Reason being - I wanted a back up for the ST-E2 at an up coming job.

Cheers

[roman_t]

what does the manual say? is st-e2 an unrelyable so much you want a back up? i think its better get wireless.

[edwardc]

I have the same problem with my 580EXII when triggered by Pocket Wizard. It won't fire if set to master. It will only fire if set as a slave. The reason is I would like the 580 EXII to trigger the 430EX. I've read somewhere in the strobist discussion group that the original 580EX can do it.

[morris_jay]

I have the same problem with my 580EXII when triggered by Pocket Wizard. It won't fire if set to master. It will only fire if set as a slave. The reason is I would like the 580 EXII to trigger the 430EX. I've read somewhere in the strobist discussion group that the original 580EX can do it.

I think it can be done with a hotshoe adapter - but I need to be able to use the PC terminal to secure the flash to the lighting stand properly. (Defeats the purpose of having the PC terminal really).

It appears that not many people have the 580ex II or if they do, they don't use a sync cable to fire it...

[SkipD]

The only way to get a single Speedlite or ST-E2 to work properly off the camera as a master (NOT using the Speedlite as a slave, that is) is to use a cord such as Canon's Off Shoe Cord 2 or the newer (weather sealed) version. Those cords (and a very few third-party clones) take ALL of the connections from the Canon hotshoe to the base of the flash unit or the transmitter. Without all of those connections, the automation features of the devices will not function.

[morris_jay]

The only way to get a single Speedlite or ST-E2 to work properly off the camera as a master (NOT using the Speedlite as a slave, that is) is to use a cord such as Canon's Off Shoe Cord 2 or the newer (weather sealed) version. Those cords (and a very few third-party clones) take ALL of the connections from the Canon hotshoe to the base of the flash unit or the transmitter. Without all of those connections, the automation features of the devices will not function.

So it does need the other pins to transmit the infra red signals?

[René Damkot]

ISTR reading on POTN that it is possible to use a PC sync cord to connect a 580 to the camera, set that to master, and fire slaves from that (Using Manual flash off course).
No clue about the 580 II though.
Curtis?

[Titus213]

The joys of Canon ETTL.... There is a thread here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=123662)showing how to extend an Off-shoe Cord 2.

[edwardc]

Thanks for all your replies.
I have ordered a third party modified OCS with PW connection (where my 580EXII can park) and a hot shoe adapter for my remote flash (430EX). Both triggered by PW. My plan is to still have an ETTL on camera and a manual flash (remote).
When it arrives, I can test my 580EXII (as Master) on the hotshoe adapter fired my PW and see if it can trigger my 430EX as a slave. I know someone as done this using the original 580EX and it works.

[edwardc]

My modified OCS and hotshoe adapater arrived this morning and did a quick test with my 580EX II and 430EX. It works as intended. 580EXII park on the OCS on my camera's hotshoe firing on ETTL and the PW trigerring the 430EX on manual. Works wonderfully.
Another test I did is a PW on my camera hotshoe and another PW to trigger my 580EXII off camera set as master. The 580EXII trigerred the 430EX as slave. But this one can only sync at 1/160.

Morris_Jay, it seems like the PC port of the 580EXII is shutting down some features when used.

Michael Bass, yes I am pleased.