Triggering 580exii with 7D

Anyone do this at receptions? I was wondering if you find that there's typically enough light to focus and then just being able to hold the 580exii to get desired angles

this camera and flash was build for this.

How I photograph wedding receptions.

Holding flashes in your hand is a recipe for disaster, and also intrusive. Can you tell is a bit more about what you're trying to achieve?

SamHunter wrote in post #11686100
Anyone do this at receptions? I was wondering if you find that there's typically enough light to focus and then just being able to hold the 580exii to get desired angles

I find there is not normally nearly enough light to focus, so the flash on camera is almost always mandatory (for me). I dont want the annoying pop up flash machine gun to try to focus.

Also, with radio triggering being so cheap, no idea why you wouldnt try that out. Check out the Cactus V4 for a cheap alternative.

Red Tie Photography wrote in post #11688436
I find there is not normally nearly enough light to focus, so the flash on camera is almost always mandatory (for me). I dont want the annoying pop up flash machine gun to try to focus.

Also, with radio triggering being so cheap, no idea why you wouldnt try that out. Check out the Cactus V4 for a cheap alternative.

I have Cybersyncs, I was just curious about this because of ETTL

I think it would be fine if you are doing some hobby shots, or in a more controlled environment, but I wouldnt use it for a wedding.

Red Tie Photography wrote in post #11692732
I think it would be fine if you are doing some hobby shots, or in a more controlled environment, but I wouldnt use it for a wedding.

Dead on, I tried it with my 7D and I will never use it again in a Wedding/Reception environment. Radio is the way to go.

Pop up is simply too weak for making wireless trigger at weddings. Use external trigger like PW or popper, you'll retain ettl with the latest models.

viet wrote in post #11700497
Pop up is simply too weak for making wireless trigger at weddings. Use external trigger like PW or popper, you'll retain ettl with the latest models.

Not to mention you will not be the only camera flash in the room, burning your batteries, or putting your flash into recharge .1 secs before you hit the trigger.

Not that the answer is any different, but the 7D has a built-in speedlite transmitter that doesn't rely on the firing of the built-in flash, i.e. it's not an optical slave setup. That being said, I don't think it's a viable option for carrying a flash in hand, because the 580EXII will be outside the transmitter's "cone" and might not get triggered.

Dr.Pete wrote in post #11705164
Not that the answer is any different, but the 7D has a built-in speedlite transmitter that doesn't rely on the firing of the built-in flash, i.e. it's not an optical slave setup.

The 7D (and now the 60D) does use the built-in flash to optically trigger off-camera speedlights via ETTL. You can set it up so the built-in flash doesn't contribute to the exposure, but it MUST be "popped up" to trigger your off-camera lights.

Nikon and Pentax have had this capability for quite a few years before the 7D came out.

egordon99 wrote in post #11705218
The 7D (and now the 60D) does use the built-in flash to optically trigger off-camera speedlights via ETTL. You can set it up so the built-in flash doesn't contribute to the exposure, but it MUST be "popped up" to trigger your off-camera lights.

Nikon and Pentax have had this capability for quite a few years before the 7D came out.

True, but other people's p&s camera flash is not going to set off the 580.

egordon99 wrote in post #11705218
The 7D (and now the 60D) does use the built-in flash to optically trigger off-camera speedlights via ETTL. You can set it up so the built-in flash doesn't contribute to the exposure, but it MUST be "popped up" to trigger your off-camera lights.

Nikon and Pentax have had this capability for quite a few years before the 7D came out.

That doesn't make any sense. If it's just an optical trigger, then any camera with a flash has that "feature." The slaves do not fire in response to the visible light coming from the 7D, and IIRC you can completely disable the 7D's built-in flash but it does need to be up in order to use the transmitter function. The device is similar to the ST-E2, which also emits no visible light.

Dr.Pete wrote in post #11705353
That doesn't make any sense. If it's just an optical trigger, then any camera with a flash has that "feature." The slaves do not fire in response to the visible light coming from the 7D, and IIRC you can completely disable the 7D's built-in flash but it does need to be up in order to use the transmitter function. The device is similar to the ST-E2, which also emits no visible light.

its not "just an optical trigger"
canon's speedlights wouldn't respond to it if was, let alone be able to communicate in ettl.
The 7D uses IR, but simultaneously flashes to communicate with the flash.
So there is visible light as well as IR coming from the 7D's little flash, unlike the st-e2, which as you noted emits no visible light.

i like the ability to use it while messing around at home, and i have used it with success doing product shoots on location.
but i would not rely on it at all in an event, as others have mentioned.
i do rely on the IR from a 580 when triggering other speedlights when i'm doing formals at the altar or something though.
always seems to work well and consistent enough.
unlike my v4s that ONLY work when no one else is looking

You mean coctus v4?

bigarchi wrote in post #11706258
its not "just an optical trigger"
canon's speedlights wouldn't respond to it if was, let alone be able to communicate in ettl.
The 7D uses IR, but simultaneously flashes to communicate with the flash.
So there is visible light as well as IR coming from the 7D's little flash, unlike the st-e2, which as you noted emits no visible light.

i like the ability to use it while messing around at home, and i have used it with success doing product shoots on location.
but i would not rely on it at all in an event, as others have mentioned.
i do rely on the IR from a 580 when triggering other speedlights when i'm doing formals at the altar or something though.
always seems to work well and consistent enough.
unlike my v4s that ONLY work when no one else is looking