Will this flash slave/master system work?

[lovesguitars]

I am hopefully going to but a Canon 580 ex(I or II) in the next few days but I have 2 questions I need to ask.(and 'scuse my ignorance on these please)
I use my flash off camera,but as pocket wizards are out of my price range(and I have given up on the cheap Chinese ebay triggers) I want to get a cord.What sort do I need?
Second question.I will be using the 580 as master,so I assume my 420ex will work as a slave.As a third flash will my Jessops own brand 280d(does work in the hot shoe) work too?
Hope this is clear enough?
Thanks in advance.

[Curtis N]

Hi guitar lover, welcome to POTN!

Several options for triggering a flash off-camera. This thread and the attached PDF file should help:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=308108

There are a few aftermarket flash units that are compatible with the Canon wireless system to some degree, but I highly doubt your Jessops unit is one of them.

[PacAce]

What flash do you currently have? The 420EX? If so, the 420EX does not have manual capability so you won't be able to use it in non-ETTL mode unless you plan to use it at full power. (If the flash is not connected to the hotshoe, it'll be working in non-ETTL mode.)

If you don't have the 420EX, then you can use a hotshoe-to-PC (female) adapter and a long PC sync cable to connect the flash to the camera.

Yes, the 580EX can be used as a master to the 420EX but you'll only have E-TTL functionality. You won't be able to use them in manual wireless mode because the 420EX doesn't support manual mode.

If the 280D is an E-TTL compatible flash, it may work with the 580EX as a slave but there are no assurances that it'll work flawlessly so you may want to thoroughly check it out first. If it's not an E-TTL compatible flash, you won't be able to use it as a slave to the 580EX.

[lovesguitars]

There are a few aftermarket flash units that are compatible with the Canon wireless system to some degree, but I highly doubt your Jessops unit is one of them.

Thanks for the welcome.
Yes I thought that the Jessops flash would be a long shot!

[lovesguitars]

What flash do you currently have? The 420EX? If so, the 420EX does not have manual capability so you won't be able to use it in non-ETTL mode unless you plan to use it at full power. (If the flash is not connected to the hotshoe, it'll be working in non-ETTL mode.)

If you don't have the 420EX, then you can use a hotshoe-to-PC (female) adapter and a long PC sync cable to connect the flash to the camera.

Yes, the 580EX can be used as a master to the 420EX but you'll only have E-TTL functionality. You won't be able to use them in manual wireless mode because the 420EX doesn't support manual mode.

If the 280D is an E-TTL compatible flash, it may work with the 580EX as a slave but there are no assurances that it'll work flawlessly so you may want to thoroughly check it out. If it's not an E-TTL compatible flash, you won't be able to use it as a slave to the 580EX.

Yes I do have the 420ex at the moment.
Would there be a better choice than the 580? What about the 550?
I wont be using them in WIRELESS mode for the forseeable future,so will they work with a cord running from camera to 580/550 as master and the 420 as slave?
Sorry for the qquestions but I am pretty new to off camera flash and I am struggling to get my head round it!!

[PacAce]

Yes I do have the 420ex at the moment.
Would there be a better choice than the 580? What about the 550?
I wont be using them in WIRELESS mode for the forseeable future,so will they work with a cord running from camera to 580/550 as master and the 420 as slave?
Sorry for the qquestions but I am pretty new to off camera flash and I am struggling to get my head round it!!
Well, if you are using the 420EX as a slave, then you are using it in wireless mode. ;)

But, to answer your question, you can use the 580 (or the 550) connected via a PC sync cord in manual mode. The reason you can't use the 420EX wired to the camera is because you need to work it in manual mode and the 420EX doesn't have that feature. Even if you wanted to use it as a slave to the 580EX(550EX) master, you'll still need to work it in manual mode because the master will need to be in manual mode, too.

BTW, the 550EX and the 580EX basically have the same features regarding their use as masters. The 550EX is the predecessor of the 580EX and both were top-of-the-class during their days. The 580EX does put out a tad more power but not much to make a difference.

[lovesguitars]

ahh---something just clicked!!!
Of course the 420 will be wireless(duh at me!)
Would you reccomend that I buy the 550 as I assume I will be able to get it a lot cheaper than the 580?
I only ever do model shoots and so a main light and a back light on a stand would be the general set up(outside),so my fianl question is would they work outside?(thinking of distances between the main flash and the slave.
Thanks for all the help on this.

[PacAce]

ahh---something just clicked!!!
Of course the 420 will be wireless(duh at me!)
Would you reccomend that I buy the 550 as I assume I will be able to get it a lot cheaper than the 580?
I only ever do model shoots and so a main light and a back light on a stand would be the general set up(outside),so my fianl question is would they work outside?(thinking of distances between the main flash and the slave.
Thanks for all the help on this.
As long as the 550EX is in perfect working order and costs less than the 580EX, then I wouldn't hesitate recommending the 550EX over the 580EX.

The IR wireless system works very well indoors but they can be iffy when used outside under the sun unless they are very close to each other with direct line of sight between the master and the slave.