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View Full Version : Question about multiple Speedlites

gooble
4th of December 2008 (Thu), 20:39
Is it possible when using multiple speedlites, to use one on camera as the controller without having it flash? In other words, use it like an ST-E2.

If not, what do people do when you don't want to light from the camera? Do you just turn the head behind camera or cover it? It seems like it ought to be easy enough to set it off. Maybe you could just turn power down to zero.
tim
4th of December 2008 (Thu), 20:43
Yes, with wireless ETTL you can turn the flash on the camera off. It's in the manual.
gooble
4th of December 2008 (Thu), 20:45
Yes, with wireless ETTL you can turn the flash on the camera off. It's in the manual.

So what you're saying is RTFM? :oops: Thanks.
PacAce
4th of December 2008 (Thu), 20:47
If you just don't want the master to contribute light to the flash exposure, then you can "turn off" the flash so that it doesn't fire a main flash when the shutter is open. The flash will still fire a command flash but it's intensity is low such that it really doesn't contribute much lighting to the overall exposure unless a very high ISO is being used.

If you are more concerned about any flash, even the command flash, going off from the master, then there really is no way to turn if off unless you place an IR filter/panel over the flash head. I've used unexposed but developed slide film taped over the flash head to keep the flash from being visible.
tim
4th of December 2008 (Thu), 20:59
So what you're saying is RTFM? :oops: Thanks.

Pretty much :p It's done with the zoom button, I don't remember exactly how, and it varies depending what flash you have. On a 580 zoom scrolls through the options, set and the dial changes it.
goblu
5th of December 2008 (Fri), 08:28
If you don't want "on camera flash" why not use a pc cord to fire the main flash, I'm supposing it is mounted on a light stand off camera. If the flash doesn't have a pc terminal you can get a shoe mount adapter for it.
PacAce
5th of December 2008 (Fri), 08:36
If you don't want "on camera flash" why not use a pc cord to fire the main flash, I'm supposing it is mounted on a light stand off camera. If the flash doesn't have a pc terminal you can get a shoe mount adapter for it.
Because connecting an EX flash to the camera vai a PC sync cable does not allow you to use ETTL.