Sync cord and ST-E2 at the same time??

I'm just thinking here.........but can you use a sync cord to trigger your alien bees and the st-e2 to trigger your 580 as fill at the same time??

???

OR..........will the alien bee by itself trigger the 580 when its set on slave mode??

Thanks!!!

Ro1

Yes to first.

No to second. The 580 needs IR - not visible light - to trigger. Yes if you rig it up in manual mode and get a shoe adapter and CAN fire from an alien bee. Do they have switched output to daisy chain lights?

Make sure the 580EX is set for manual mode, and use the camera in manual mode as well. Otherwise, the camera and 580EX will try to communicate and establish the exposure settings based on a preflash.

• 580EX on camera could optically trigger an AB when it goes off (no sync cord in AB).
  
• Camera with ST-E2 on it could trigger a 580EX which in turn would optically trigger an AB (no sync cord in AB)
  
• Camera with ST-E2 on it could trigger a 580EX. If camera also has a sync cord running to the AB, the AB should trigger too.
  
• AB will not trigger a 580EX.
  
• Camera with PocketWizard transmitter on hotshoe will trigger both AB and 580EX if both AB and 580EX have a PocketWizard receiver attached.
  
• Toaster with PocketWizard receiver attached could probably be triggered from bed (currently working out details...)

roanjohn wrote:
I'm just thinking here.........but can you use a sync cord to trigger your alien bees and the st-e2 to trigger your 580 as fill at the same time??

???

OR..........will the alien bee by itself trigger the 580 when its set on slave mode??

Thanks!!!

Ro1

If you have more than one AB strobe and want to also fire the 580EX via the ST-E2, you'll have to make sure that all the ABs are triggered via the PC cord. If not, those not on the PC cord will fire optically and may be set off by the ST-E2 prematurely.

Thanks for the replies guys!!!

Questions: WHy is it when I set my 580 Ex on Manual mode that the M icon blinks??

Ro1

Is this when the flash is in Slave mode and after you press the Mode button for 2 seconds? If so, that's normal. I guess you're supposed to set the power output level next. I think it stops blinking after that but I'm not sure since I can't remember if it still does or not.

Yeah.........with an ST-E2 and the 580 on slave mode (I also have another flash which is the 420 ex......) Maybe this is the problem because the 420 is ETTL and the 580 is Manual?? .............

Ro1

There's nothing wrong with your flash. My "M" flashes, too. Probably to remind you that the slave is in manual mode? Just guessing.