Speedlite 580EX II: Control through a laptop?

Hi all,

I would like to be able to control the flash unit using a laptop. In particular, I would like to set a 'schedule' to present a flash at specific intervals automatically, that means, without manually pressing the trigger each time.

Is there a way to connect this unit to a computer? Or, would anyone know of a flash unit that would allow me to do that?

Thank you in advance!

You could build a ckt to trigger flash from the computer. I think it is just shorting some pins like Radio triggers do.

At least one of the Pocket Wizards has in intervalometer built into it. That would probably be a lot easier.

Depending on the intervals needed, many flashes (including the 5880exII) have Multi Mode, also called stroboscopic, that will fire the flash a predetermined number of times and at different intervals.

I get the feeling that the question is sufficiently open-ended to send each respondent off on a different tangent. So, with your "flash firing to a schedule, automatically" are you thinking:-

• Open shutter and multiple flashes at pre-determined intervals on a single frame?
  
• Widely spaced flashes (ie multiple seconds / minutes / hours interval) or stroboscopic?
  
• Scheduled individual images in which the illumination happens to be a flash - ie basic intervalometer-driven exposures?
  

Whortleberry wrote in post #16153858
I get the feeling that the question is sufficiently open-ended to send each respondent off on a different tangent. So, with your "flash firing to a schedule, automatically" are you thinking:-

• Open shutter and multiple flashes at pre-determined intervals on a single frame?
  
• Widely spaced flashes (ie multiple seconds / minutes / hours interval) or stroboscopic?
  
• Scheduled individual images in which the illumination happens to be a flash - ie basic intervalometer-driven exposures?
  

Without being considerably more specific in your requirements, I believe that you're going to get a bewildering variety of unassociated responses - each perfectly valid in their own right but not necessarily addressing your specific requirements.

What is it that you are trying to photograph, exactly?

Thank you all for your prompt replies, greatly appreciated.

@Whortleberry: My apologies and please bear with me, I am not even an amateur photographer.

I am using this unit as apparatus for a scientific study in which I present pulses of light as a stimulus to subjects. More specifically, I see physiological reactions of subjects when reacting to a flash of light. The experiment is meant to have multiple pulses of light: 100 flashes with an interval of 10 seconds in-between flashes for example. The flash unit is not meant to assist in photography or videography- its sole purpose is to provide the pulse of light to stimulate the subjects' visual system.

@he's gone: While it's possible to do this manually, it will add some error based on my own timing (a few milliseconds off, either early or late, will negatively affect the results of the study). Also, the "Multi" function of the unit will flash at multiple intervals of 1Hz or above, meaning each interval has to be 1 second or less than that. If I want to have intervals of 2 seconds between flashes, then this function won't work.

I believe the basic intervalometer-driven exposures idea is the closest to what I am looking to get at.

@bobbyz: Do you mean building a circuit? I searched online a bit and there's a guide on arduino which I need to look in more detail.

@dmward: Thanks for letting me know, I see that MultiMax has an intervalometer and will look to demo this at a store to see if it would work for me.

Lastly, have you used or do you know of flash units that can fire multiple flashes at short intervals (300 pulses in 10 minutes) at full intensity without overheating?

Yup, short the pins, put some isolator. You can use cheap I/O board like from Measurement computing. Code in language of your choice.

croce wrote in post #16154022
Also, the "Multi" function of the unit will flash at multiple intervals of 1Hz or above, meaning each interval has to be 1 second or less than that. If I want to have intervals of 2 seconds between flashes, then this function won't work.

i understand that, now.

croce wrote in post #16154022
Lastly, have you used or do you know of flash units that can fire multiple flashes at short intervals (300 pulses in 10 minutes) at full intensity without overheating?

This is not possible with something like a 580EX II. Not even close.

Are you certain you need full power? Two reasons I ask. First, a flash with similar power to a 580EX II even at 1/32 power is quite bright if directed at a subject from short distance. Especially in a dimly lit room.

Second, assuming you're talking about testing humans (heck, even if you're talking about animals), firing 300 full power flash bursts from a speedlight over the course of 10 minutes cannot be good for the subject's eyesight.

That is strictly conjecture on my part, but even the thought of firing 300 1/4 power flashes at someone seems irresponsible.

To satisfy the specific requirements for your experiment, you will need a mains powered strobe light that is controlled by an intervalometer.

I would suggest something like an Einstein from Paul C Buff. It can be reduced in power to about 2.5 Ws and will deliver the flash pulse with quick recycling when the power level is below about 1/4 power (160Ws) The Pocket Wizard with an intervalometer capability has been used for testing repeated firing with the Einstein and many other monolights so it should work well for your purposes.

dmward wrote in post #16154557
To satisfy the specific requirements for your experiment, you will need a mains powered strobe light that is controlled by an intervalometer.

I would suggest something like an Einstein from Paul C Buff. It can be reduced in power to about 2.5 Ws and will deliver the flash pulse with quick recycling when the power level is below about 1/4 power (160Ws) The Pocket Wizard with an intervalometer capability has been used for testing repeated firing with the Einstein and many other monolights so it should work well for your purposes.

This is great, thank you for your advise, greatly appreciated!

@he's gone: I appreciate the feedback. I don't plan to present these many flashes at full intensity. But it's important to have a flash unit that is capable of this for calibration and tweaking. The subjects will receive a much weaker stimulus, at spaced intervals, this is a controlled study.