40D 2nd curtain sync

Posted this here since its more of a lighting issue then anything else. If this really belongs in the camera section, sorry & please move it.

I bought a used 40D last week, upgrading from a XTi. I have a strobist setup with off brand strobes (LumoPro 160's), I'm also using Cactus V4's for wireless activation. I was able to 2nd curtain sync on my XTi, why can't I on the 40D? This seems like a HUGE flaw, maybe I've missed something? I realize I can if I used e-ttl system / compatible flash connected, but I don't want e-ttl, I enjoy the manual flashes.

There is a work around I have thought of, but its much less reliable then wireless triggers. Use the pop up flash, set it to 2nd curtian sync, lower its power and use it to trigger the other flashes while they are in slave mode. I'm sure you've already thought of the issues this could cause before you finished reading the sentence. From the straight on light (bad), to objects blocking the light from tripping the off camera strobes (bad).

So is there a way to use the 2nd curtain sync without e-ttl or pop-up flash on the 40D? I have the newest firmware (1.1.1) and have tried everything I can think of.

I don't think there is. The 40D is the second camera in Canon's lineup that supports the menu-driven flash setup, but that requires you use a compatible flash. Which is the 270 EX, 430 EX II and the 580 EX II.
It does not work on the sync port, for example.

Using the internal flash doesn't work well either, since it works only in E-TTL II on that camera, and that implies pre-flash. You can use FEL and try to block the metering pre-flash, but then it will fire on full throttle, so that's not easy either. Or you have to block the trigger device from seeing the pre-flash.

Byoung wrote in post #11045994
Posted this here since its more of a lighting issue then anything else. If this really belongs in the camera section, sorry & please move it.

I bought a used 40D last week, upgrading from a XTi. I have a strobist setup with off brand strobes (LumoPro 160's), I'm also using Cactus V4's for wireless activation. I was able to 2nd curtain sync on my XTi, why can't I on the 40D? This seems like a HUGE flaw, maybe I've missed something? I realize I can if I used e-ttl system / compatible flash connected, but I don't want e-ttl, I enjoy the manual flashes.

There is a work around I have thought of, but its much less reliable then wireless triggers. Use the pop up flash, set it to 2nd curtian sync, lower its power and use it to trigger the other flashes while they are in slave mode. I'm sure you've already thought of the issues this could cause before you finished reading the sentence. From the straight on light (bad), to objects blocking the light from tripping the off camera strobes (bad).

So is there a way to use the 2nd curtain sync without e-ttl or pop-up flash on the 40D? I have the newest firmware (1.1.1) and have tried everything I can think of.

All this intrigue is predicated on your statement that you accomplished 2nd curtain sync with an off camera LumoPro 160 / Cactus V4's setup and your Canon XTi camera,

Are you positive about this underlying declaration?

Enjoy! Lon

FlashZebra: I'm pretty sure. See at first I thought I was wrong today. My XTi is at home so I can't be 100%, but I looked up the manual online and it appears I am able too. I'm going to make sure as soon as I walk through the door. But even if I am mistaken it sure would be nice to have the 2nd curtain sync on the 40D

Weird. Now is kind of a weird time, everyone's building full auto systems and many people are going back or learning on full manual systems. Which explains why some things are left out.

So far my wireless triggers and flashes work. It's just all 1st curtain sync, where as some situations its nicer to use 2nd curtain sync, like at the end of a 3sec exposure. My Cactus V4's work at 1/200th & 1/250th while I'm in manual on the camera. The first shot sometimes doesn't fire, it seems to miss 1 of 30 or so too, its a camera + transmitter thing. Yes its in the hot shoe not the flash sync port on the side of the camera.

FlashZebra wrote in post #11047330
All this intrigue is predicated on your statement that you accomplished 2nd curtain sync with an off camera LumoPro 160 / Cactus V4's setup and your Canon XTi camera,

Are you positive about this underlying declaration?

Enjoy! Lon

I just checked and my XTi does have 2nd curtain sync in the custom functions.

Byoung wrote in post #11049294
I just checked and my XTi does have 2nd curtain sync in the custom functions.

That is not my point.

You implied you could gain 2nd curtain sync with an off camera LumoPro 160 / Cactus V4's setup and your Canon XTi camera.

This transcends a setting in the camera.

Can you actually accomplish 2nd curtain sync with an off camera LumoPro 160 / Cactus V4's setup and your Canon XTi camera?

Enjoy! Lon

40D > 2nd yellow menu > Flash control > External Flash func. settings > Sync setting

That doesn't work?

Snydremark wrote in post #11050051
40D > 2nd yellow menu > Flash control > External Flash func. settings > Sync setting

That doesn't work?

Nope. Canon use one of the E-TTL pins to control 2nd curtain flash. It will only work with a Canon dedicated flash on the hotshoe or attached to an off-camera cable. It won't even work using Canon's IR wireless system.

Snydremark wrote in post #11050051
40D > 2nd yellow menu > Flash control > External Flash func. settings > Sync setting

That doesn't work?

Those settings are only for a compatible ETTL flash on the hotshoe (pretty much the 430EXII and 580EXII).

A Cactus V4 is not a compatible ETTL flash. It's not even a flash

Hellbelly wrote in post #11050789
Nope. Canon use one of the E-TTL pins to control 2nd curtain flash. It will only work with a Canon dedicated flash on the hotshoe or attached to an off-camera cable. It won't even work using Canon's IR wireless system.

egordon99 wrote in post #11051274
Those settings are only for a compatible ETTL flash on the hotshoe (pretty much the 430EXII and 580EXII).

A Cactus V4 is not a compatible ETTL flash. It's not even a flash

Gotcha. I know the V4 is a trigger rather than a flash I just didn't know they didn't support E-TTL.

hence the mega price difference between these triggers and the ones that do support ettl :P

Lon, your suspicions in this were bang on. Even if I turn the 2nd curtain sync on in my XTi it still fires at the beginning. I guess you just can't do it with a canon unless your all dialed in with ettl.

Sucks because I do lots of night shots where I go from 5 - 30sec and if 2nd curtain sync was possible I could get myself in the shot better. I'm never gonna hear the end of this from my buddy who shoots nikon