Approve the Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and our Privacy Policy.
OK
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Guest
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Register to forums    Log in

 
FORUMS General Gear Talk Flash and Studio Lighting 
Thread started 12 Jan 2008 (Saturday) 04:50
Search threadPrev/next
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

2 off camera flash units

 
davecropp
Mostly Lurking
14 posts
Joined Apr 2006
Location: Bradford , England
     
Jan 12, 2008 04:50 |  #1

I have a 580ex II and an older 420ex flash. Is it possible to set these up cheaply as portable flash units using cables and some form off hotshoe adaptor. I have the canon lead which is about 1.6m long but I want to put the heads on tripods at some distance away. I've looked at the infra red unit but think it is too expensive.


Canon 40d

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
dawnrogers
Goldmember
Avatar
1,190 posts
Likes: 1
Joined Sep 2006
Location: England
     
Jan 12, 2008 07:18 |  #2

Dave you can use one speedlite as the master on the camera and the second one as a slave off camera if that helps?? If you wnat them both off camera, skyports are pretty good, about £100 for the reciever and transmitter though....


Dawn
http://www.pivotalphot​ography.co.uk (external link)
My Blog (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Curtis ­ N
Master Flasher
Avatar
19,129 posts
Likes: 11
Joined Apr 2005
Location: Northern Illinois, US
     
Jan 12, 2008 07:19 |  #3

This thread should help some.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=308108


"If you're not having fun, your pictures will reflect that." - Joe McNally
Chicago area POTN events (external link)
Flash Photography 101 | The EOS Flash Bible  (external link)| Techniques for Better On-Camera Flash (external link) | How to Use Flash Outdoors| Excel-based DOF Calculator (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
rklepper
Dignity-Esteem-Compassion
Avatar
9,019 posts
Gallery: 2 photos
Likes: 14
Joined Dec 2003
Location: No longer living at the center of the known universe, moved just slightly to the right. Iowa, USA.
     
Jan 12, 2008 12:13 |  #4

I have a 580EXII and 2 420EX. I set them up wireless with the 580 as master. It is extremely easy, ie nothing to it.


Doc Klepper in the USA
I
am a photorealist, I like my photos with a touch of what was actually there.
Polite C&C always welcome, Thanks. Gear List

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
davecropp
THREAD ­ STARTER
Mostly Lurking
14 posts
Joined Apr 2006
Location: Bradford , England
     
Jan 12, 2008 13:04 as a reply to  @ rklepper's post |  #5

Thanks Guys.
I'd just got home with 2 KOOD flash slave units. Wished I read the Curtis N's post before hand as it is correct when it says they don't work with EX Flash. Can take them back on monday, but sounded a great option.
I did want to get both flashes off camera but I might be able to go with one on and one off. It's a group photo so I was hoping to have both flashes at about 45 degrees


Canon 40d

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
FlashZebra
This space available
Avatar
4,427 posts
Joined Mar 2006
Location: Northern Kentucky
     
Jan 12, 2008 13:19 |  #6

To get both off camera you could go with what I call "hybrid triggering". Part basic sync, part Canon infrared.

You would need a hotshoe adapter and cord going to the 580EX II (cannot use the built in sync port as it does not support Manual/Master mode). Then have the 580EX II act as a master to the 430EX.

Everything would need to be manual mode and your sync speed will be limited to about 1/100 sec (or so).

Another inexpensive option (not hybrid triggering) would be a hotshoe adapter and cord to the 430EX and an optical slave on the 580EX II (optical slaves will not work on the 430EX). The advantage would be higher possible sync speeds (to your cameras X-sync limit).

Enjoy! Lon


*
http://flashzebra.com/ (external link)
*

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
jrsforums
Goldmember
1,249 posts
Joined Feb 2005
Location: Cary (Raleigh), NC, USA
     
Jan 13, 2008 08:53 |  #7

davecropp wrote in post #4688546 (external link)
Thanks Guys.
I'd just got home with 2 KOOD flash slave units. Wished I read the Curtis N's post before hand as it is correct when it says they don't work with EX Flash. Can take them back on monday, but sounded a great option.
I did want to get both flashes off camera but I might be able to go with one on and one off. It's a group photo so I was hoping to have both flashes at about 45 degrees

Some advice on group photos....
http://super.nova.org …s/Photographing​Groups.pdf (external link)


John

Gear List

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
davecropp
THREAD ­ STARTER
Mostly Lurking
14 posts
Joined Apr 2006
Location: Bradford , England
     
Jan 13, 2008 10:43 |  #8

Thanks again guys
The info from John on group photos looks pretty good.
We'll see how I go on.


Canon 40d

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
ebann
Once an ugly duckling
Avatar
3,396 posts
Joined Jan 2003
Location: Chimping around Brazil since 1973! (Sometimes NYC)
     
Jan 14, 2008 05:42 |  #9

FlashZebra wrote in post #4688600 (external link)
To get both off camera you could go with what I call "hybrid triggering". Part basic sync, part Canon infrared.

You would need a hotshoe adapter and cord going to the 580EX II (cannot use the built in sync port as it does not support Manual/Master mode). Then have the 580EX II act as a master to the 430EX.

Everything would need to be manual mode and your sync speed will be limited to about 1/100 sec (or so).

Another inexpensive option (not hybrid triggering) would be a hotshoe adapter and cord to the 430EX and an optical slave on the 580EX II (optical slaves will not work on the 430EX). The advantage would be higher possible sync speeds (to your cameras X-sync limit).

Enjoy! Lon

The OP's flash is a 420EX, no manual mode. I was wondering the same question. From reading a few threads, most pro have the following setup: wireless transmitter (e.g. Pocket Wizard) to the master flash (580EX) which triggers the rest via Canon infrared. But this works only with flash that has manual mode. For the 420EX, we would need E-TTL mode on the master flash, and using wireless, you would lose that. An alternative would be to use a Canon off-shoe cord on the 580EX and set that up on a flash-stand. This way you will be able to use your master in E-TTL mode, which will trigger the 420EX correctly. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'm beginning to learn this stuff!


Ellery Bann
Fuji X100
6D | Rokinon 14 2.8 | 50 1.4
1D Mk IV | 24-70 2.8L | 70-200 2.8L IS | 135 2L | 400 5.6L

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
davecropp
THREAD ­ STARTER
Mostly Lurking
14 posts
Joined Apr 2006
Location: Bradford , England
     
Jan 15, 2008 11:54 |  #10

i have the canon off camera lead but it's only 1.6m long and I was hoping to be a little further away from the flash than that. May have to go that way and see what happens.


Canon 40d

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
ebann
Once an ugly duckling
Avatar
3,396 posts
Joined Jan 2003
Location: Chimping around Brazil since 1973! (Sometimes NYC)
     
Jan 15, 2008 12:03 |  #11

Look here for what you want: http://www.michaelbass​.blogspot.com/ (external link)
He sells a hacked version of Canon's Off-Camera Cord with a mini-DIN extension cord in the middle (6ft, 10ft, 15ft, 30ft, 50ft, 100ft)


Ellery Bann
Fuji X100
6D | Rokinon 14 2.8 | 50 1.4
1D Mk IV | 24-70 2.8L | 70-200 2.8L IS | 135 2L | 400 5.6L

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

2,002 views & 0 likes for this thread, 7 members have posted to it.
2 off camera flash units
FORUMS General Gear Talk Flash and Studio Lighting 
AAA
x 1600
y 1600

Jump to forum...   •  Rules   •  Forums   •  New posts   •  RTAT   •  'Best of'   •  Gallery   •  Gear   •  Reviews   •  Member list   •  Polls   •  Image rules   •  Search   •  Password reset   •  Home

Not a member yet?
Register to forums
Registered members may log in to forums and access all the features: full search, image upload, follow forums, own gear list and ratings, likes, more forums, private messaging, thread follow, notifications, own gallery, all settings, view hosted photos, own reviews, see more and do more... and all is free. Don't be a stranger - register now and start posting!


COOKIES DISCLAIMER: This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and to our privacy policy.
Privacy policy and cookie usage info.


POWERED BY AMASS forum software 2.58forum software
version 2.58 /
code and design
by Pekka Saarinen ©
for photography-on-the.net

Latest registered member was a spammer, and banned as such!
2157 guests, 127 members online
Simultaneous users record so far is 15,144, that happened on Nov 22, 2018

Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera -- all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age. Registering and usage is free.