450D and 430EX II

[penfolduk]

Does anybody know if you can get the 450D and 430EX to work together on a long exposure shot where by it flashes at the end of the exposure.

Want something like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagza/3351989273/

[The Moose]

AFAIK it's in the custom functions. It's called something like second curtain sync, I think. The manual should list the custom functions in greater detail than in camera so if you read that and read the definitions, it'll tell you exactly which CF it is and which option to change it to.

[jeromego]

are you talking about 2nd curtain sync? i think you can do that with your XSi

[penfolduk]

I know it does 2nd curtain sync but it fires the flash at the start of the exposure as well, but dont think I want that.

PS thanks for the VERY fast replies guys

[CliveyBoy]

The first flash is the pre-flash which cannot be suppressed, but as it occurs before the shutter is open, it should have no effect on the image.

[dagza]

I'm the person who took the image linked in the original post. I used 2nd curtain sync and bulb with a 450D.

I don't recall a first flash but I only used the built in camera flash, though.

[apersson850]

If you are using E-TTL (no other option for the built-in flash), then there will be a pre-flash.
However, by using FEL (Flash Exposure Lock), you can fire the pre-flash earlier than just before you take the picture. Check the camera's manual, as it's a bit too much to describe here.

With a separate flash gun, like the 430 EX II, you can also use manual flash setting, in which case there's never any pre-flash.

[dagza]

I never thought about pressing the manual flash button as an alternative.

For my money, this was a better shot from that evening:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagza/3352821002/in/set-72157613335137939/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3352821002_dfa055c52e_m.jpg

That said, I was told I should have waited until the rider's lights were in shot before opening the shutter. Something to try next time.

[400dabuser]

That is second sync