off camera 550 Flash

[Aviva]

I want to use my flash off camera and all I have is the short ttl cord. What else can I use so that the flash isn't so close to the camera, either other cords, (please tell me if they are ttl or not) or wireless kits. Anything you can think of, please tell me.
thanks

[Headcase650]

The off camera shoe cord 2 is the only ETTL cord canon has right now. If you want your flash higher you can use a flash bracket. I use a Custome Brackets CB Junior, they are around $100. With the bracket slid all the way up it puts the 550ex about 14 inches above the center of the lens. Next is wireless, you can get another 550ex and use one as slave and one as master, and the master doesnt have to fire, or you can get the wireless transmitter that sits on the camera but doesnt have any flash it just trips your off camera slaves.

[Adam Hicks]

Or for a little less money slave the 420EX. Flash numbers are about the same, it just doesn't have all the fancies like the 550, but you don't really need them if you're just going to use it as a slave... it'll save you some $

Adam

[scottbergerphoto]

Or for a little less money slave the 420EX. Flash numbers are about the same, it just doesn't have all the fancies like the 550, but you don't really need them if you're just going to use it as a slave... it'll save you some $

Adam
Actually, while it is attractive price wise to use a 420EX as a slave, and using one 550EX as a master, it doesn't work out from a lighting standpoint. The off camera flash is usually the key light and the on camera flash is just for fill. So the slave has to be capable of providing the majority of the light for a picture. I use two 550EX's and a 420EX as a mobile lighting kit. One 550 for Master(A), one 550 for Key (slave B), and a 420 for the background (slave C). You can then set the ratios. I use (1:3):-1 [(A:B):C]
Scott

[Aviva]

What type of setup (cords,etc) could I use if I wanted to do off camera without ttl?

[scottbergerphoto]

What type of setup (cords,etc) could I use if I wanted to do off camera without ttl?
If you are using Canon speedlights, you are limited in your choices because the Canon flashes have a foot that doesn't fit most slaves. In addition, you can't use a standard Wein Peanut Slave to trigger them as they won't recycle. You can:
1. Use the Canon wireless set up with one on the camera as master and the rest as slaves. Just set each flash to Manual.
2. You can get these cords, PW-MHSF1, from www.paramountcords.com, which will allow you to attach your Canon 550EX's to a Pocket Wizard set up. You will need to get a cord and Pocket Wizard receiver for each flash as Canon 550EX's don't have simple optical triggers as slaves.
3. Buy some inexpensive Manual flashes with built in slaves and PC connections. Then you attach one to your camera via PC Cord using a Wein Safe Sync in between the cord and the camera, and set the others to slave.
If you are going to use off camera lighting and you don't care about ETTL, you might as well look at some light studio lighting kits.
Scott