Wireless Transmitter for Canon 580

da_teacher wrote in post #6293021
Dang, so $200 for two receivers and a transmitter? Can't afford that...just bought a 580EXII, two Sunpaks, some stands, etc....was going to use my cousin's Cactus triggers for the time being but they seemed to have died!!!

I fully understand that. If I hadn't bought into the Alien Bees RFT1 transmitters last year I could not afford the Cybersyncs either. The offer a year later to basically refund all of that purchase price allowed me to upgrade to 2 transmitters and 3 receivers for $170.

Titus213 wrote in post #6293834
Yes, I adjust my 550EX and 430EX with the power adjustment capability of their manual mode. The same would hold true with your 580EX. In manual mode your distance will also 'adjust' the light.

Dave, hate to be a pest, but sounds like you have already figured it all out. And honestly I have never used 580 in manual. Have always used on camera with camerar in manual (of fill flash) , but 580 in ETTL.

Now if I use flash meter and adjust camera for meter reading do I need to do anything with 580 other than put in manual and shoot? I will most likely shoot into umbrella not straight on, but that will be figured into the flash meter reading.

And assume if I use WL5000 as slave and set to 1/3 or 1/2 power and take flash meter reading with both units firing the results will show that there is a main light and secondard and not try to exposure to make the lighting even.

Does that make any sense??

Basically set up your lights, determine your key/main light and your fill position, meter them one at a time adjusting the light to your selected f-stop. Your fill will be lower than your key which gives your ratios. The meter will do nothing but tell you how much light you are putting on your subject.

Here is a good video that describes what you do. Your 580EX should be treated like another studio strobe in the mix as far as adjusting goes. Move the power up/down based on what you need.

http://sekonic.wordpre​ss.com …ography-1-on-1-episode-2/

Titus213 wrote in post #6295146
Basically set up your lights, determine your key/main light and your fill position, meter them one at a time adjusting the light to your selected f-stop. Your fill will be lower than your key which gives your ratios. The meter will do nothing but tell you how much light you are putting on your subject.

Here is a good video that describes what you do. Your 580EX should be treated like another studio strobe in the mix as far as adjusting goes. Move the power up/down based on what you need.

http://sekonic.wordpre​ss.com …ography-1-on-1-episode-2/

Dave you seem to have this down.

I did watch video and will need to watch again (and again and again).

Anyway when you say to to meter the lights one at a time, I lose you there. If I read the main light ...then I put camera on f-stop the meter says?? If so and I then read the fill light what do I do to the camera.

My meter can take two reading and average will that work, or will that just adjust the overall light lighter or darker??

At 5:25 into the video he describes metering each light. Use your meter to SET your lights to the f-stop you want. Set your main light, then your fill to the f-stop you want (based on your reading from the meter). Then turn both lights on, take a reading with your meter from both lights and set your camera to that reading.

Wow the more I get into this and the more research I try to do on this the more confused I seem to get.

I have watch video over and over again. It says when using two or more flashed to use flash meter to read each flash and set each flash based on that reading. This still confuses me, if I fire main flash and get an reading of f 8. How do I set the 580 or for that matter my WL5000 to a given f-stop?

I understand if I use only one flash and the meter reads f8 I would set camera at f8. But with 2 and videos saying to set the flash based on meter reading I am lost.

40D manual says the sync speed for compact flash is 1/250, but for studio flash it is 1/60.

What shutter speed do I set on camera if using the 580EX and a WL5000. I would assume 1/250???

Should have also said I am using an old flash meter that is from film days. It has ASA settings not ISO. is 100 ISO the same as 100 ASA

It won't cost anything to try. I generally use 125 on my 20D.