Optical flash slaves
Dec 1, 2015 17:49:20 #
Bloke wrote:
Thank you for the info, but it doesn't do a lot fo... (show quote)
Stick with it. You do not need a 580 EX or an ST-E2. Once the 480 EX II is in slave mode, select a channel, slave ID and so on....
Then you can set up the camera, either 7D or T4i to function as the master controller, set channels and so on....,
It could certainly be easier, but with persistence it should work....
Once you get it to work I would make notes!
Good luck!
Dec 1, 2015 18:09:17 #
Peterff wrote:
Stick with it. You do not need a 580 EX or an ST-E2. Once the 480 EX II is in slave mode, select a channel, slave ID and so on....
Then you can set up the camera, either 7D or T4i to function as the master controller, set channels and so on....,
It could certainly be easier, but with persistence it should work....
Once you get it to work I would make notes!
Good luck!
Then you can set up the camera, either 7D or T4i to function as the master controller, set channels and so on....,
It could certainly be easier, but with persistence it should work....
Once you get it to work I would make notes!
Good luck!
If I ever do get it working, I will write it down and tattoo it on my... Well, write it down, anyway! I have gone through the menu on the 7D, and I can't find anywhere to set that stuff. You can enable the flash, and fiddle with the internal flash settings. If you select anything for an external, it gives an error, since it can't detect an external flash connected.
I guess I need to dig into the books, but I haven't got the time just now. It's on my list!
Thanks for the assistance, though!
Dec 1, 2015 18:36:00 #
Bloke wrote:
If I ever do get it working, I will write it down ... (show quote)
Might be easier to start with the T4i, I'll see if I can find it in the T3i manual, and maybe we can go from there....
On a T3i (and probably T4i), push the quick menu button, navigate to flash, press set, you can then go through the sub menus to set up wireless flash etc.....
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Dec 1, 2015 20:46:22 #
Peterff wrote:
Might be easier to start with the T4i, I'll see if I can find it in the T3i manual, and maybe we can go from there....
On a T3i (and probably T4i), push the quick menu button, navigate to flash, press set, you can then go through the sub menus to set up wireless flash etc.....
On a T3i (and probably T4i), push the quick menu button, navigate to flash, press set, you can then go through the sub menus to set up wireless flash etc.....
T4i / 650D manual: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/5/0300007695/01/eosrt4i-eos650d-im-c-en.pdf
Try chapter 8, page 225..., must be similar for the 7D, try page 119 of the 7D manual...
Not sure that grep works in a .pdf document, but search functions usually do !
After this it is a homework exercise, possibly involving RTFM and some posts that will be <intentionally left blank> :-D
Dec 1, 2015 21:10:29 #
This is hard to believe, but with the exception of a few of the (very) late model Canon flashes, they have NO optical slave function. Unlike the Nikon system that has had it in the mid-and upper level units for well over a decade.
It's why Canon users have been buying Nikon SB-80 and Sb-800 units -so they could use an optical slave function. Also were lacking a PC connection for Pocket Wizards. I was recently teaching a speed light class and had to break the news to the Canon folks that unless they had a separate trigger, the time spent on using optical slaves would not apply to users of the 430 and 580 flashes. The 600 series finally caught up to the rest of the world.
Canon obviously makes good stuff, but until the 600 series arrived, it was a crippled flash system.
It's why Canon users have been buying Nikon SB-80 and Sb-800 units -so they could use an optical slave function. Also were lacking a PC connection for Pocket Wizards. I was recently teaching a speed light class and had to break the news to the Canon folks that unless they had a separate trigger, the time spent on using optical slaves would not apply to users of the 430 and 580 flashes. The 600 series finally caught up to the rest of the world.
Canon obviously makes good stuff, but until the 600 series arrived, it was a crippled flash system.
Dec 1, 2015 21:15:15 #
CaptainC wrote:
Canon obviously makes good stuff, but until the 600 series arrived, it was a crippled flash system.
That seems a little harsh. Sure the 600 et al moved to radio which is better than optical, but the 430 EX II, 580 EX and 580 EX II seem to do a pretty good job so long as optical connections are acceptable...., but I do not have knowledge of other vendors' sysems
Dec 1, 2015 21:23:31 #
Peterff wrote:
That seems a little harsh. Sure the 600 et all moved to radio which is better than optical, but the 430 EX II, 580 EX and 580 EX II seem to do a pretty good job so long as optical connections are acceptable....
Oh, the Canon system worked OK, it is the fact that they had no optical slave capability. No excuse, really. I got all this from Canon users who could not believe how Nikon flashes had built-in optical slave (SU-4 Mode) and a PC connection. THEY were the ones with the harsh assessment.
Maybe "crippled" is not acceptable today - how about "feature challenged?"
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Dec 1, 2015 21:29:11 #
CaptainC wrote:
Oh, the Canon system worked OK, it is the fact that they had no optical slave capability. No excuse, really. I got all this from Canon users who could not believe how Nikon flashes had built-in optical slave (SU-4 Mode) and a PC connection. THEY were the ones with the harsh assessment.
Don't object to the word 'crippled' if it applies, let's use it....
But wait... I have a T3i, one 580 EX and two 580 EX II flash units. Also an ST-E2, but that isn't necessarily required. They all seem to communicate very well as optical master / slaves...
Am I misunderstanding something here? That is entirely possible, but the only limitation I am aware of is the optical vs radio communication...
Dec 1, 2015 22:27:07 #
Peterff wrote:
Might be easier to start with the T4i, I'll see if I can find it in the T3i manual, and maybe we can go from there....
On a T3i (and probably T4i), push the quick menu button, navigate to flash, press set, you can then go through the sub menus to set up wireless flash etc.....
On a T3i (and probably T4i), push the quick menu button, navigate to flash, press set, you can then go through the sub menus to set up wireless flash etc.....
At least I found this bit... Set it to 'easy wireless channel 1'. Set the flash to channel 1, still doesn't fire... The other available setting is for 'custom wireless', and I have no idea what that is. You select either of these, there is no submenu; this setting is it.
I'm going to give up on this until I have time to dig into it a bit more deeply. I've been working on focus stacking all day, and my brain is fried.
Thanks for you help with this... When I get a chance to hit the books a bit, I may post a new thread about this.
Dec 1, 2015 22:31:14 #
Bloke wrote:
At least I found this bit... Set it to 'easy wir... (show quote)
OK. It should work, PM me if desired! It may be that the camera or flash settings are not in the default state, we could even talk it through if that helps....
Dec 2, 2015 01:02:09 #
Make sure you are using the right terms OPTICAL slave means it fires when it sees ANY other flash fire. A flash from canon, Nikon, Pentax, a studio strobe or a flash of lightning.
Do not confuse that with using the manufacturers wireless system - Nikon calls their CLS for Creative Lighting System. Those are proprietary systems that use the TTL metering to determine flash output, have High Speed Sync, etc.
Optical slaves are purely manual- you have to set flash output on the flash unit and then it just fires whines sees another flash.
Wireless flash and optical slaves are distant cousins and it is not possible to mix them unless you are using the wireless flash if manual mode (no pre flash).
Do not confuse that with using the manufacturers wireless system - Nikon calls their CLS for Creative Lighting System. Those are proprietary systems that use the TTL metering to determine flash output, have High Speed Sync, etc.
Optical slaves are purely manual- you have to set flash output on the flash unit and then it just fires whines sees another flash.
Wireless flash and optical slaves are distant cousins and it is not possible to mix them unless you are using the wireless flash if manual mode (no pre flash).
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Dec 2, 2015 01:20:20 #
CaptainC wrote:
Make sure you are using the right terms OPTICAL sl... (show quote)
Now that is a good point, that I hadn't considered in this exchange focused on Bloke's request...., I was assuming Canon's E-TTL mechanism which does exposure compensation....
On the other hand, once one gets into other kinds of flash triggering it does get interesting, and pre-flash can change the rules a little I am led to believe.... Then the Yongnuo radio triggers become useful, even with really old flash guns....
Huh, must be complicated at times! :roll: :roll: :roll:
Dec 2, 2015 07:13:32 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Bloke wrote:
Nobody ever seems to mention these on here... Ba... (show quote)
I used to use these, had a house hold plug that plugged into my flash heads. Unless they have made an adapter I cannot use these on my Nikon SB 900.
Dec 2, 2015 08:20:57 #
Bloke wrote:
Nobody ever seems to mention these on here... Ba... (show quote)
I've used them, but lately the need to place flashes where only a radio signal will get to them reduced my ability to use optical triggers effectively.
--Bob
Dec 2, 2015 08:27:35 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
Bloke wrote:
Nobody ever seems to mention these on here... Ba... (show quote)
The optical flash slaves can sometimes be very useful. However I've occasionally had problems with slaves not firing when they perhaps have something or someone interfere with the line-of-sight. You may not know if a slave has fired, and there is no way to tell when the slave is recharged to fire again. Sunlight may interfere with certain cheap slaves too.
On the other hand a good radio frequency slave does no need line of sight, provides immediate feedback for failure to fire, and the strength of the remote slaves can be varried from the master. These RF flashes are more reliable and more versatile.
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