Newbie looking for a flash

Well, I ended up getting the 430EX II this afternoon. Briefly tested it out and, wow, there is a significant difference between it bounced and the built-in flash. Looking forward to learning more of the benefits as I go. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

gonzogolf wrote in post #8919403
Yes, provided you get the proper cable. I like these http://flashzebra.com …/ettlcords/inde​x.shtml#at

The vendor is a member here, gives great support, and they are a very fair price..

Do I need one of these for my XSi?

Congrats!

You can do a lot with the flash mounted on the camera hot shoe. The off shoe cord would work well if you decide to move the flash off camera and still keep the ETTL.
Mike

MT Stringer wrote in post #8920992
Congrats!

You can do a lot with the flash mounted on the camera hot shoe. The off shoe cord would work well if you decide to move the flash off camera and still keep the ETTL.
Mike

Thanks Mike. Good to know... maybe down the road.

MT Stringer wrote in post #8920992
Congrats!

You can do a lot with the flash mounted on the camera hot shoe. The off shoe cord would work well if you decide to move the flash off camera and still keep the ETTL.
Mike

This is what ive been trying to figure out. Whats needed to use the flash while not connected to the camera.
Thanks for this info, and OP, good topic.
Bookmarking it for future reference.

There are really only a few steps.
a) Figure out how to mount the flash off camera. That can be a light stand, tripod or anything with a 1/4 x 20 bolt thread. Examples shown below.
b) Choose a method of triggering the flash from the camera. There are several options, some of which I am not familiar with. My experience with the cheap ebay Cactus trigger/receivers was a bad one - no reliability at all. Maybe 6 out of ten times the flash would fire. I bought a Universal set of Skyports in 2008 and they have been very reliable. Hundreds of shots at basketball games with no misfires. Other choices are offered by Pocket Wizards, Paul Buff's Cybersynch's, Radio Poppers and a newer model of the ebay triggers that have had some good feedback.

If you want to retain the ETTL capability, a 24 foot cable from Flashzebra should work just right.

Here are three mounting examples:
1) Spring clamp modified with a 1/4 x 20 bolt. Umbrella adapter mounted to it with cold shoe. Later I added a hot shoe adapter with wireless receiver plugged in.

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MT,
I noticed in your last pic, you had a battery pack on that flash; which nicely leads to my next question. How do we feed these beasts?

Again, my old Vivitar came to me with an external pack that had a ton of C maybe D cells -- I can't remember. I looked up the price on a Quantum Turbo power pack to go with the 580 and dearly had a stroke. The Canon CP-E4 is more palatable, but will it keep up with a slew of shots or will it want to melt down after 20~25 fast shots? Having to buy 2 or 3 CP-E4s, so I can swap out a fresh pack, is worse than 1 pricey Turbo SC ... except that the I can buy the CP-E4's as I go along ...

Not sure how "newbie" this question is.
DougT

That's a Quantum Battery 1. It is connected to the flash with one of Quantums battery modules. That's a Canon 540EZ. I had to grind off a little for the cable to pass through the door but it didn't affect the operation of the flash with regular batteries only. The battery door wouldn't quiet close so I taped it closed with a piece of gaffers tape. If you look real close you can see the tape.

Edit: About the battery pack. I have been using one on the 580 EX II for night football. The flash is on ETTL and I haven't had any trouble out of the combo, even after several hundred shots. I have been shooting in one shot mode, but I can get 2 maybe 3 shots when the play comes my way on the football field.

Example galleryhere with 100-400, 1D MK III and 580 EX II/off shoe cord/battery pack.