Can I hold a speed light in my hand and fire it wirelessly?

[learjet035]

I have been thinking of buying a speedlight, and wondered if the 420 would do anything like that with my Rebel XT. Or do I have to go big and get a 520? Thanks!

[cmM]

hmm... I'm not sure what you mean by firing it wirelessly. If you mean as in a wireless setup, you need some sort of transmitter, whether it is pocket wizards, a ST-E2 transmitter, or another flash (550EX)...

[learjet035]

Sorry, I mean if I bought a 420, put bats in it and held it off to the side in my left hand and shot a pic with my right would it fire? I am lookn to take flash pics that look better than the built in flash without spending 1 billion. I saw a canon light with a little stand to it, and wondered if it just worked like that, or was there more to it? Thanks!

[cmM]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=12972&is=REG

[PacAce]

You'd be able to fire the 420EX wirelessly if you had an ST-E2 or a 550/580EX sitting on top of the camera as a master. However, with just the 420EX alone, you're out of luck.

However, you can get the Canon cord II and attach the 420EX to the camera with this cord. The cord is about 2 ft. long so it should be long enough to let you hold it in your left hand.

[robertwgross]

Sorry, I mean if I bought a 420, put bats in it and held it off to the side in my left hand and shot a pic with my right would it fire? I am lookn to take flash pics that look better than the built in flash without spending 1 billion. I saw a canon light with a little stand to it, and wondered if it just worked like that, or was there more to it? Thanks!

Basically, it is not that simple. Understand the difference between optical slaving and Canon wireless slaving.

If you go with Canon, then you need one wireless master to control the wireless slave (420EX).

---Bob Gross---

[learjet035]

Thanks all,

Basically, it is not that simple. Understand the difference between optical slaving and Canon wireless slaving.

If you go with Canon, then you need one wireless master to control the wireless slave (420EX).

---Bob Gross---
What is the diff between the 2?
That seem weird that it would fire wirelees only if I bought another speedlight. What if I bought a 520? I guess that would do the same huh?

[cmM]

What if I bought a 520? I guess that would do the same huh?
Dood! There is no 520 (at least in the EX series)!
There's a 550EX. :p

[learjet035]

lol, sorry I meant the 550

[Curtis N]

The problem with using optical slaves with the built-in flash on the DREBEL is that the camera uses E-TTL flash metering, which means it fires a "pre-flash" a fraction of a second before taking the shot. This would fire the slaves too soon, and the shot would be taken before they have a chance to recycle.

There are a few ways around this, but it's a royal pain. You can fire the pre-flash by pressing the * (asterisk) button. Then you need to take your shot within 16 seconds. If you go this route, you need to either cover the flash when you fire it or wait for the slave to recycle. This further limits your window of opportunity.

While this method obviously has limited applications, experimenting with it might give you an idea of how a good flash unit, on or off camera, could improve your shots.

[David1943]

You'd be able to fire the 420EX wirelessly if you had an ST-E2 or a 550/580EX sitting on top of the camera as a master. However, with just the 420EX alone, you're out of luck.

However, you can get the Canon cord II and attach the 420EX to the camera with this cord. The cord is about 2 ft. long so it should be long enough to let you hold it in your left hand.
I'm not sure if you're in the UK but, if you are, you can obtain an off camera lead dedicated to Canon from Jessops (their own brand) for £29-99. It isn't very long but might enable you to hold your camera in one hand and your flash in the other.

Regards, David :)

[tim]

Why would you want to do this? Sounds like a recipie for disaster to me.

[learjet035]

Why would you want to do this? Sounds like a recipie for disaster to me.
what's the best way you take basic flash shots without getting that deer in the headlights snapshot look. I have this camera I love but when I shoot the flash in low light is looks just like my sony 4mp. Not very special. So I was just going for a better look. is my best bet a speed light with the cord? Quick/easy/ and pretty cheap? I'm not really hoping for studio quality, just something a bit different than the norm. Thanks

[kong]

IMO quick and easy. Get a bracket to get the flash above the camera, use your 420 flash, and connect it with the canon off camera shoe cord. If you want to go one further get a diffuser for the 420. Again just my 2 cents.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ku=12972&is=REG

[tim]

Use a diffuser, like the LightSphere II, the Omnibounce, or an 80/20 bouncer. I prefer the lightsphere. Another option is to use a flash bracket, I use one of these (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=69327&is=REG) and they work well.

[Bamamike]

IMHO I would use the best, the 580EX to avoid future incompatabilities. As a second choice you can add 420s, ST-E2s or whatever, first you have to start with the most versatile flash. And remember, you spent a lot of money for camera and lenses, why all the sudden save on a flash and get bad results? A lot of discussions I really can't understand because of that issue, good camera, good lenses and then cheap flashes, tripods.... to be continued...)

[David1943]

IMHO I would use the best, the 580EX to avoid future incompatabilities. As a second choice you can add 420s, ST-E2s or whatever, first you have to start with the most versatile flash. And remember, you spent a lot of money for camera and lenses, why all the sudden save on a flash and get bad results? A lot of discussions I really can't understand because of that issue, good camera, good lenses and then cheap flashes, tripods.... to be continued...)
Couldn't agree more - I got hold of my 550EX only a week ago but it's one of the very best accessories I've ever bought. It has a diffuser built-in, an LCD screen and very easy to adjust Flash Exposure Compensation which has instantly upgraded my 300D without my needing to install the hack. Next items I now need are a Jessops Canon dedicated off-camera lead (£29-99) and a bracket so I can use the flash above and to one side of the lens.

Happy snapping, David

[tim]

Couldn't agree more - I got hold of my 550EX only a week ago but it's one of the very best accessories I've ever bought. It has a diffuser built-in, an LCD screen and very easy to adjust Flash Exposure Compensation which has instantly upgraded my 300D without my needing to install the hack. Next items I now need are a Jessops Canon dedicated off-camera lead (£29-99) and a bracket so I can use the flash above and to one side of the lens.

That's a wide angle panel, which I guess is a diffuser, but it won't do the same thing as a larger diffuser. Diffusers work by increasing the size of the light source, and some by bouncing light off the ceiling. This helps because we're used to seeing light coming from above - ie from the sun.

You might like to reconsider putting the flash to one side of the lens too, you'll get side shadow.

[learjet035]

IMHO I would use the best, the 580EX to avoid future incompatabilities. As a second choice you can add 420s, ST-E2s or whatever, first you have to start with the most versatile flash. And remember, you spent a lot of money for camera and lenses, why all the sudden save on a flash and get bad results? A lot of discussions I really can't understand because of that issue, good camera, good lenses and then cheap flashes, tripods.... to be continued...)
Excellent point, I guess after debating on spending $1k for a camera, then finding out you can't just have 1 or 2 lenses, and yes your camera has a flash but not really, it's a bit of sticker shock. Not sure why I always pick the most expensive hobbies. Thanks for all the input, I'll start saving for the 580 and keep you post... I mean, I'll start posting flash questions when I get it. Thanks again.

[Adam Hicks]

One thing I loved about my old Minolta SLRs (even the cheap ones) is they would fire slave flashes from the body, without an expensive transmitter. Wish Canon would include this... can't imagine why they don't (assuming it had enough addresses to keep it from firing other people's flashes in large groups)

Adam

[mgbeach]

Canon could easily make a custom function to disable the pre-flash. Of course, why would they when as it stands you have to spend $200 or more with them to accomplish the same thing. I wonder if any camera manufacturers will team up with Pocketwizard like Sekonic has and build in a transmitter

[David1943]

That's a wide angle panel, which I guess is a diffuser, but it won't do the same thing as a larger diffuser. Diffusers work by increasing the size of the light source, and some by bouncing light off the ceiling. This helps because we're used to seeing light coming from above - ie from the sun.

You might like to reconsider putting the flash to one side of the lens too, you'll get side shadow.
Many thanks Tim - I haven't actually used the wide angle panel yet, so will definitely bear in mind what you've told me. On the issue of having the unit to one side, I'll definitely make sure there's some fill light coming from somewhere to soften or eliminate any obtrusive shadows. Also, as you say, if there's a white ceiling, it may be best to tilt the flash head and bounce off that.

Regards, David

[Titus213]

Always buy the best you can afford - and need. Check out this link:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=78572

Maybe a 420EX would meet your needs for a very long time. At least it's less money sitting in a camera bag.