550EX Wireless Master Question

[scottbergerphoto]

I am using my 550EX as master and my 420EX as a slave. Wireless ratios work fine. When I switch the 550EX to Wireless Master Off to use it just as a transmitter to the 420EX it continues to fire like it was still on (f/19 by flash meter). Has anyone experienced this problem? Solution?
Regards,
Scott

[KevinO]

Hi Scott,

I could be wrong here but even with the 550ex flash set to off, it will still fire the flash because thats how it communicates to the other units.

Don't get it confused with the preflash to measure exposure.

Unlike the ST-E2, which uses IR (actually it has a kind of red filter I believe over normal light?) , the 550ex uses white light, hence the larger range of communication and bounce over the ST-E2.

Awaiting rebuttal.....

[robertwgross]

KevinO, I believe your statement is substantially correct. I would simply clarify it by stating that the 550EX, when switched to Wireless Master Off, will still fire its pre-flash.

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

KevinO, I believe your statement is substantially correct. I would simply clarify it by stating that the 550EX, when switched to Wireless Master Off, will still fire its pre-flash.

---Bob Gross---
It actually fires a preflash as well as a low power flash. I separated the two by using FEL and it fired a preflash and then a low power flash when I took the shot. The 2nd flash burst from the 550EX, while less then a normal flash, contributed a significant amount of light to the picture.
Scott

[robertwgross]

It actually fires a preflash as well as a low power flash. I separated the two by using FEL and it fired a preflash and then a low power flash when I took the shot. The 2nd flash burst from the 550EX, while less then a normal flash, contributed a significant amount of light to the picture.
Scott

In all modes?

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

I don't know what you are asking Bob. I did it in P and M in first curtain sync. Second curtain sync isn't available for wireless. You can'tmanually set it on the flash if the Master is set to off. You can force the flash to go into it via Cfn. 15 on the Mark II but it acts strangely. It fires the slave on first curtain and there is no 2nd pop.
Scott

[robertwgross]

I don't know what you are asking Bob. I did it in P and M in first curtain sync. Second curtain sync isn't available for wireless. You can'tmanually set it on the flash if the Master is set to off. You can force the flash to go into it via Cfn. 15 on the Mark II but it acts strangely. It fires the slave on first curtain and there is no 2nd pop.
Scott

Actually, Av mode is first in my mind. I rarely use second curtain sync, and I don't have any Mark II anything.

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

It actually makes sense that there are two discrete bursts from the Master. The first is the preflash that must be read by the camera and the second is the instruction set sent to the slaves.
Scott