Firing an on and off camera flash at the same time.

I want to fire an on camera flash and an off camera flash at the same time, what will work? I have a 550ex and a 383 sunpak. Thanks

Yes, if the Sunpak can be triggered via a PC cord while the 550EX is fired via the hot shoe.

depends on the camera, on the xt you would have to use a optical slave to fie the sunpak. I don't think you can with the 580 though.

Bob

If you are working where the ambient is low (like inside), thy this.

Put the Canon 580EX on your camera and set it to manual mode.

Get an inexpensive "PC" based optical slave and attach it to the Sunpak 383 via the short cord that was supplied with it.

Set the Sunpak to manual mode and place it off camera.

You will need to put the camera in manual mode and set the shutter speed to 1/125 sec. Adjust the aperture, ISO, flash power settings, and flash placement until you are happy.

Enjoy! Lon

Londuck, I'm surprised at you! One important thing you left out....the on-camera flash unit CANNOT BE IN ETTL mode; the on-camera unit must be in Manual or its preflash will trigger the Sunpak prematurely!

Wilt wrote in post #2827446
Londuck, I'm surprised at you! One important thing you left out....the on-camera flash unit CANNOT BE IN ETTL mode; the on-camera unit must be in Manual or its preflash will trigger the Sunpak prematurely!

Wilt,

You are slipping.

See " Put the Canon 580EX on your camera and set it to manual mode." (in my post)

Enjoy! Lon

londuck wrote in post #2827476
Wilt,

You are slipping.

See " Put the Canon 580EX on your camera and set it to manual mode." (in my post)

Enjoy! Lon

Shuddup! I have a reputation to live down to!

You could also use a Wein Peanut Slave on the pc cord to the Sunpack and if it were a digital peanut ($35) he could still use the 580 EX on ETTL to set it off - or use the standard Peanut ($15?) and need to use manual flash.

How many times have the "can I fire this off-camera flash with a . . . " questions been asked? The search is great on this forum. Anyways, the people gave great suggestions.

sboerup wrote in post #2828485
How many times have the "can I fire this off-camera flash with a . . . " questions been asked? The search is great on this forum. Anyways, the people gave great suggestions.

Then try the lens forum where you can be entertained with novel offerings like.

"Sigma 24-70 F/2.8 vs Canon 24-70 F/2.8 L" or

"Canon 70-200 F/4 L vs Canon 70-200 F/2.8 L" or

well you get the idea.

At least the flash questions typically are more factually based (hey, I said typically), so you get to the bottom line quicker (and there is far less individual induced opinion pontification).

Enjoy! Lon

sboerup wrote in post #2828485
How many times have the "can I fire this off-camera flash with a . . . " questions been asked?

I will never discourage the use of the search function, but the truth is, this is not a simple question. Some flashes (Canon EX) won't work with (most) optical slaves. Some won't work with a hotshoe adapter. Some won't work with Gadgetinfinity radio systems. Some have no manual mode. Some systems work outdoors, some only indoors. Some can be used as slaves only if you have the right master...

So depending on what flash units you have, the answer is never the same, and there is almost always more than one answer.

So using the 550ex as the on camera, and the 383 (with optical slave) as the off camera it should work. Is there a way to do this without cords?

wroberts wrote in post #2831497
Is there a way to do this without cords?

Sure. Just get a hotshoe type slave adapter that will attach to the foot of the Sunpak.

wroberts wrote in post #2831497
So using the 550ex as the on camera, and the 383 (with optical slave) as the off camera it should work. Is there a way to do this without cords?

Stick one of these (or similar) under your Sunpak.

sboerup wrote in post #2828485
How many times have the "can I fire this off-camera flash with a . . . " questions been asked? The search is great on this forum. Anyways, the people gave great suggestions.

If we want people to just use the "Search" feature, this forum should be reduced to just consist of a page of FAQs so as not to bother anyone.

Instead, it is a discussion forum where people want to discuss photography. I say "Ask away!"