20D internal flash and 580 EX

[Eugene.S]

Can i use a 20D internal flash to remotely fire a 580EX without any accessories and cables ?

[tim]

No.

[tim]

To expand on that answer slightly: you'll need the Canon off-shoe cable 2, or the STE-2 (I think that name's right), which is a transmitter which fits on the 20D hotshoe. The EX series speedlights are triggered by an encoded Infrared signal, not another flash.

[pcDigiMan]

NO, for wireless operation you need a Transmitter ST-E2 or at least one flash 580EX (or similar) on the camera and one wireless to control. If I recall my 580 EX Speed Light manual had information on this. Look the manual up online.
It would be nice if canon had wireless control in the 20D.

[Eugene.S]

Thank you very much for complete answer.

[Nessus]

Eugene - - I had the same query some time ago, and found that the ST-E2 transmitter was close enough to the 420EX in cost (it may have even been less), that I bought the 420EX instead, and used the 580 as the master and the 420 as the slave (the 420 will not work as a master).

Adam

[DavidEB]

You can fire the sigma 500 super from the on-camera flash. Use flash exposure lock to separate the modeling flash from the exposing flash, and be prepared to fiddle a lot to get exposure right. Works like a charm. Half the cost of 550EX.
David

[Eugene.S]

Thanks. It's a good idea about 420EX as slave, but 20D + battery grip+ 70-200is + 580EX is too heavy.