Control of the pre-flash

Some of you may be aware of my current situation...

XTi + SP Studio strobes..8 volts...Wein safe sync won't trigger strobes.

I'd rather not have to use my 430ex to trigger the strobes via slave on the strobes, but until I get a definitive answer from Canon on safe trigger voltage, I'm leaving the hot shoe alone.

As one member said, I can set my 430ex to manual. Not sure why I didn't try this, but I was so convinced that the pre-flash from the 430ex would trigger the strobes (even in manual) early unless I pushed the FEL button on the camera I didn't even try it.

I can set my 430ex to ETTL, and as long as I bounce the 1/32 flash from the 430ex to a side wall it doesn't seem to fire the strobes on the pre-flash. It fires the strobes very nicely without having to push the FEL everytime.

On both situations the histograms look good. I'll have to ask my daughter to model for me tomorrow and see what happens, but at least I'm more positive now than I was yesterday.

Thanks for everyone's help.
Scott

If you're using the 430EX just to trigger slaves, there is no reason to use E-TTL. Stick it in manual, aim it at one of the strobes, dial it down to 1/64 or whatever it takes to work, and you'll have a reliable system with no pre-flash worries.

Curtis N wrote in post #2769497
If you're using the 430EX just to trigger slaves, there is no reason to use E-TTL. Stick it in manual, aim it at one of the strobes, dial it down to 1/64 or whatever it takes to work, and you'll have a reliable system with no pre-flash worries.

Thanks Curtis!
You da man!