600EX help needed.

I hope someone can help me with this.

I bought an optical slave trigger (Wein HS-XL) for my 600EX, hoping to be able to trigger my flash by the light from my studio strobe. But I just can't get it to fire.

My question is why? The trigger is batteryless, and there is no on/off button.

Do I need to set the 600EX into some special mode before using it this way?

Ginga wrote in post #16347608
I hope someone can help me with this.

I bought an optical slave trigger (Wein HS-XL) for my 600EX, hoping to be able to trigger my flash by the light from my studio strobe. But I just can't get it to fire.

My question is why? The trigger is batteryless, and there is no on/off button.

Do I need to set the 600EX into some special mode before using it this way?

I am really just guessing here, but do you have wireless mode turned off on the 600EX? If it is in regular ETTL or Manual mode I can't see why it would not fire. Do you have another speedlite you can use to see if the trigger is at fault? Hopefully someone with direct experience with your trigger will respond.

Canon flashes are fickle when it comes to attached optical slave sensors. You need a slave sensor specifically designed for Canon EX flash units. You can find some here:
http://flashzebra.com

Do you have the 600EX-RT or the 600 EX without radio transmission built in?

A lot of studio strobes have a built-in slave mode. Have you tried setting your studio strobe to fire from the 600ex?

Thanks for the replies guys.

draderusa wrote in post #16347728
I am really just guessing here, but do you have wireless mode turned off on the 600EX? If it is in regular ETTL or Manual mode I can't see why it would not fire. Do you have another speedlite you can use to see if the trigger is at fault? Hopefully someone with direct experience with your trigger will respond.

I have tried with regular ETTL and manual mode. It doesn't fire even if I hold the optical slave right in front of the studio strobe.. So yeah, I guess the trigger might be broken. :/

Curtis N wrote in post #16347735
Canon flashes are fickle when it comes to attached optical slave sensors. You need a slave sensor specifically designed for Canon EX flash units. You can find some here:
http://flashzebra.com

Yes, but Adorama told me that the Wein HS-XL works with the 600EX. That's why I bought it.

Nick5 wrote in post #16347757
Do you have the 600EX-RT or the 600 EX without radio transmission built in?

I got the one with radio transmission. I know what you are getting at - that I should just use the radio trigger instead. Yes, but I want the optical slave trigger to work too.

Ginga wrote in post #16348282
Yes, but Adorama told me that the Wein HS-XL works with the 600EX. That's why I bought it.

There's nothing on Adorama's web site or B&H web site that specifically says it's Canon EX compatible. Someone spoke beyond his knowledge.

Curtis N wrote in post #16348580
There's nothing on Adorama's web site or B&H web site that specifically says it's Canon EX compatible. Someone spoke beyond his knowledge.

Yeah, it was an e-mail conversation with Adorama customer support.

Well. Guess I'm gonna have to look for another one.

Plus 1 on both of Curtis' posts. He knows his shiz!

Don't waste anymore of your time or money. go to FlashZebra and get the right item.

Although a number of web sites have confirmed that the Wein HS –XL can operate with Canon EX compatibility, many blogs have determined the operation is inconsistent, and will only fire 45% of time

Wein however, have told us that it WILL work.

I think if it were me, I'd go directly to Wein: Telephone #: (213) 749-6049

HelenOster wrote in post #16349862
Although a number of web sites have confirmed that the Wein HS –XL can operate with Canon EX compatibility, many blogs have determined the operation is inconsistent, and will only fire 45% of time

Wein however, have told us that it WILL work.

I think if it were me, I'd go directly to Wein: Telephone #: (213) 749-6049

Thanks! I'll give them a call.

Tried all that, just being mean I thought I would augment my Bowens by using the two 600 EX RTs - after all in studio mode they just sit in the bag!

A friend tried numerous optical triggers, with variable levels of success - to me as I have Pro Bowens kit and the bowens pulsar TX radio triggers if I press the shutter it must flash every single time. I just can't be bothered with hit and miss crap.

I did go the STE-3 route and that makes the 600s flash everytime, and that is my studio radio trigger backup if god forbid the Pulsar TX system died on me. {NB I had to have the 600s for outside work.

Actually I came across some real low tech Yongnuo 560 IIs £40 delivered on Amazon, GN 58 ? [my a*s*] more like a little more powerful than the 430IIs. BUT for targeted additional lights, where say you can't stick a thumping great Bowens Pro moonlight and a wide angle reflector, and power cables etc. they WORK EVERYTIME ON 'S1'.
Now got two!
For us brits it's about the same price or a pound cheaper; as a Flash Zebra Cell and adapter and postage! [that my friend says is the best]
AND THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS THEY ALSO WORK ON S2 with the 600s being triggered by the STE-3 even in ETTL2 mode!

Summary - for the same price as a flash zebra photo cell trigger and the required adapter, I get a fully functioning speedlight - that is fired from the bowens studio flash, no wires or attachments; as its photocell is built in. And they can be fired from the 600s in radio mode from the STE-3 trigger.

Submariner wrote in post #16350083
Tried all that, just being mean I thought I would augment my Bowens by using the two 600 EX RTs - after all in studio mode they just sit in the bag!

A friend tried numerous optical triggers, with variable levels of success - to me as I have Pro Bowens kit and the bowens pulsar TX radio triggers if I press the shutter it must flash every single time. I just can't be bothered with hit and miss crap.

I did go the STE-3 route and that makes the 600s flash everytime, and that is my studio radio trigger backup if god forbid the Pulsar TX system died on me. {NB I had to have the 600s for outside work.

Actually I came across some real low tech Yongnuo 560 IIs £40 delivered on Amazon, GN 58 ? [my a*s*] more like a little more powerful than the 430IIs. BUT for targeted additional lights, where say you can't stick a thumping great Bowens Pro moonlight and a wide angle reflector, and power cables etc. they WORK EVERYTIME ON 'S1'.
Now got two!
For us brits it's about the same price or a pound cheaper; as a Flash Zebra Cell and adapter and postage! [that my friend says is the best]
AND THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS THEY ALSO WORK ON S2 with the 600s being triggered by the STE-3 even in ETTL2 mode!

Summary - for the same price as a flash zebra photo cell trigger and the required adapter, I get a fully functioning speedlight - that is fired from the bowens studio flash, no wires or attachments; as its photocell is built in. And they can be fired from the 600s in radio mode from the STE-3 trigger.

Thanks for the tip. The Yongnuo 560 II looks great!

I'm gonna order two of them right away. They are cheaper than booze!