Off Camera 430EX question

Can I use a single 430EX flash off camera, without having to use, say, a 580 EX II as a master?

Sorry for the nubish question. But to this type of lighting, I am a nub.

-Kyle

You can use it off camera but you will need either a cord or some kind of a wireless trigger to set it off. I use Cybersyncs with my 430EX and they work great.

Here are the three major options for wireless off camera flash. If you use an RF system you will need an adapter that hooks onto the shoe mount of you 430 EX as these do not have a sync port. You can pick one up at www.flashzebra.com for about $12.

The first is to trigger the remote flash using Canon's proprietary infra red (IR) system which allows for use of E-TTL but requires another Canon 430 EX or 580 EX flash or an ST-E2 transmitter. The IR system has problems in bright sunlight and requires line of sight, (it's like an IR T.V. remote you have to point it at the T.V.) it has a limited range of about 30 feet.

The second option is to use a set of radio frequency (RF) flash transmitters/receivers or transceivers like Pocket Wizards. They do not allow for use of E-TTL so you must use manual flash settings. You will need one for the camera (to transmit) and one for each off camera flash (to receive). They cost about $190 ea. and you need at least two. If you don't want to invest that much money you can buy cheaper RF flash triggers. RF triggers do not require line of sight so you can mount a flash behind a wall or something and it will fire. They work like household cordless phones rather than the IR T.V. remote.

The third is an older device called an optical slave. Unlike the Canon IR system these can be used in conjunction with RF triggers like Pocket Wizards. Optical slaves will trigger an off camera flash when they sense the light emitted from another flash or strobe (The Canon IR system emits a pre-flash to judge distance this will prematurely fire an optical slave). These are cheap you can get one at www.flashzebra.com for about $12 or $14. They are nice if you only have two Pocket Wizards and you want to trigger more than one off camera flash.

You should check out www.strobist.blogspot.​com. Read lighting 101, this will help fill you in on all the good stuff that I left out. Also check out www.flickr.com/groups/​strobist/discuss/ this is a forum for off camera flash.

Matthew Patrick wrote in post #6339894
The first is to trigger the remote flash using Canon's proprietary infra red (IR) system which allows for use of E-TTL but requires another Canon 430 EX

430Ex can only be used as a Slave not a Master

Matthew Patrick wrote in post #6339894
The first is to trigger the remote flash using Canon's proprietary infra red (IR) system

The second option is to use a set of radio frequency (RF) flash transmitters/receivers or transceivers like Pocket Wizards.

The third is an older device called an optical slave.

Do you plan to use the flash in ETTL or manual mode?

If you use the first option, you can use ETTL just as if the flash is on the camera. (also available using an off camera shoe cord like OC-E3)

If you use any other option, you MUST use the flash in manual mode.
(in addition to wireless, you could also use a PC sync cord with adapters to fire the flash in manual mode while off camera)

The 430EX will not generally play well with optical triggers.

If you want to keep ETTL your options remain spendy. Unless you want to build your own long off-shoe cord (standard cord is about 2 feet). Then you only buy the original cord for $80 and the wire/fittings to extend. The instructions are on this site somewhere.

If you will go to manual on the flash you can do it with a PC cord for about $30 depending on how far you want to go. www.flashzebra.com will have what you need. The 350 doesn't have a PC connection so you will have to add a hot-shoe to PC unit.

Titus213 wrote in post #6340629
The 350 doesn't have a PC connection so you will have to add a hot-shoe to PC unit.

Do you mean the 350D?


Right now, I'm looking at lightstands and softbox options. I'm reletivly cheap, so I'm not going out for the most expensive brand. These are what I've come up with.

Impact Compact 6Ft. Lightstand
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …5_Light_Stand_B​lack_.html

PhotoFlex 12x16 soft box
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …me_Q39_Softbox_​White.html

PhotoFlex shoe mount connector (this is needed to use the flash with the softbox, right?)
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Shoe_Mount_Conn​ector.html

LoL Ish wrote in post #6346542
Do you mean the 350D?


Right now, I'm looking at lightstands and softbox options. I'm reletivly cheap, so I'm not going out for the most expensive brand. These are what I've come up with.

Impact Compact 6Ft. Lightstand
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …5_Light_Stand_B​lack_.html

PhotoFlex 12x16 soft box
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …me_Q39_Softbox_​White.html

PhotoFlex shoe mount connector (this is needed to use the flash with the softbox, right?)
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Shoe_Mount_Conn​ector.html

Sorry, yes I mean the 350D doesn not have a PC plug.

I'm not familiar with the soft box but I have several light stands. 2 10' and a 13'. I would find the 6' stand too short I think. I often grab the 13' stand because of its wider stance.

The rest sound like a lot of small, expensive pieces. Why not umbrellas?

Because I would also like to use the lightstands outdoors, and if it's windy, I don't want the umbrella to cause the stand to fall down. Or does it really even matter? I could always go with just a single umbrella.

Well instead of the softbox, I suppose I could get these two things.

Umbrella Bracket

Translucent Umbrella

It is cheaper, but how sturdy or portable would this be compared to the soft box?

I do not own but have used this kit on several occasions: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Flash_Umbrella_​Mount.html

It seems to be a reasonable starter kit.

I looked at that kit a while back too. Just, for right now, I only need one.