Pre Flash ETTL and Remotes – All dumb questions I guess

Most of my photography is done out doors and so apart from using a 550 for fill in work I’ve never bothered much about flash. As I’m getting older (don’t tell the teenager on the inside) I’m thinking more and more about studio work where it is warm and dry all year round. The last time I was in a studio I used stage lights, easy to position by it gets very hot, quite quickly and is no good for the environment or my electric bill.

So, I sat down with the 550 book and decided to RFTM. I (think I) understand the concept of the ETTL pre flash, but of course the pre flash would set off any automatic remote. I can understand that I could slave other canon flash guns to the 550 but this doesn’t sound a long term answer if I’m to set up a semi permanent studio in the spare room.

What I’d like to achieve is 2 or 3 remote flashes that work wirelessly with a Canon EOS (20D in my case). I asked at the local up market camera shop and found myself explaining ETTL to them – not the best of starts.

Any specific recommendations as to equipment would be gratefully received.

Thanks Dave

Your 550EX will trigger optical slaves fine if you put it in manual mode.

See I told you they were dumb questions .... Off now to hide my embarisment ...