Loudbri Loc: Philadelphia

I have 1 canon 580EXII. I'd like to add 2 more inexpensive speedlights to use on location shoots. I've glanced at the manual and apparently canon speedlight can talk to each-other(slave master etc.) w/o radio triggers. Anyone know of reliable inexpensive flashes that will work in this system,or will I have to use all radio triggers. I recently took a huge step forward in equipment so these concepts are new to me.....thanks

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I have (1)580exII, (1)580EX and (2)550EX flashes. Yes they can talk to each other but in a limited fashion....range, line of sight. I recommend radio triggers and personally use RadioPoppers which never fail and have awesome range (600 ft+).

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

i recently bought a yongnuo 560 ii and good bit of kit it is. it will work as an optical slave. if looking for inexpensive speedlight i can certainly recommend it. it is full manual though.

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

Yes they can they can talk to eachother, but like robert-photos states, with limitation. Nearly impossible in bright sun. You are far better off with radio triggers. I use PWII's, but they are kind of spendy. You'll also wind up in manual mode on your 580's. Inexpensive flashes?, you'd be better off building a system with quality gear. Just my opinion.

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

I agree with Terry. The YN-560 is a great flash. Full power will light up a large back yard, but can be throttled back to 1/128 power, if required, & it works great as an off camera slave. Doesn't cost a fortune, either.

Neville Loc: Melbourne Australia

I run a 600ex RT with slave 430 ex or use 7D on camera flash to trigger both off camera. also use wireless trigger or a cord.. the general consensus is use cheaper reliable 430ex as slaves.
FYI
http://pixsylated.com/blog/deciding-between-canon-speedlite-600ex-rt-and-580ex-ii/

http://strobist.blogspot.com.au/2006/03/lighting-101.html

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

I have 2 of the 580ex2 and 4 of the yongnuo YN560 for my canon setup. I love those yn560...they have never let me down. I have 6 of the cactus v5 triggers that are very inexpensive and have never let me down. I have set up as many as 5 speedlights with this set up and everything worked great.

I do have 1 set of pocket wizards, but just couldn't fork out the bucks for an additional set.

wireless triggers are the best way, and most reliable, way to go.

if you are shooting with speedlights on location.....wireless triggers are definitely the choice. the yongnuos have a great optical slave setting, but if there's a lot of light, they might not see main flash.

I have never had a mis-flash.

cactus triggers are about $60 for a pair.

ozdude Loc: Brisbane Australia

I second that. Great flash unit and cheap too.
:D

Kirk Lanier Loc: Arkansas

I third that!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

You need to study this subject a bit before making any decisions. If you stick to Canon speedlites then you will be able to use the built in wireless capabilities in manual, or ETTL. If using Canon speedlites you will also be able to make necessary adjustments from your cameras buttons and view them on your LCD. Only the newer Canons can do this and only if the master is a 580EX II or newer 600EX RT as a master. The disadvantage to this system is that they are wireless via 'line of sight' and the master must be able to communicate by being pointed at the slaves and vise verse. (the heads swivel to emit light on subject while the light sensor is on the speedlites body.

Most inexpensive flash triggers only tell the slave to fire. Flash adjustments are then made directly on each speedlite or other brand of flash. This means you have to walk to each flash to move the flash closer or farther from the subject or raise or lower the power on each flash. Then try another shot and keep adjusting until you have it adjusted right. Using a light meter might reduce the number of times you need to check and re-check your settings but it's still time consuming.

Next is a line of new speedlites; the Canon 600EX RT which are radio controlled instead of line of sight controlled. On the newer Canon cameras released in 2012 they have greater control of the 600RT from the camera body and the speedlites can be in softboxes, behind subjects, walls etc. and still communicate via remote radio signals.

Last is to use the more expensive trigger that are about $200 each for the transmitter and each receiver. They can control less expensive flashes remotely via radio signals, so they can be out of the line of sight etc., and have greater control over each slave. Some can use the TTL feature and some can control groups and make some groups TTL while other are manual.

The advantage to TTL is the flash is adjusted automatically for exposure but you still have the ability to adjust power up to 3 stops adjustment. Also, you can use TTL for shooting in bright outdoor light so that you can use high speed sync flash on the subject and expose for the bright light of what is behind the subject. Some brands of this equipment will also allow 2nd curtain adjustment as well.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Just an fyi:
If the $225 Canon ST-E2 works as well as Nikon's SU-800 infrared flash commander, you can use it outside in daylight with your Canon speedlights on TTL. Inside, I rarely need line-of sight to control the flashes. The infrared-only unit is more powerful that the pop-up flash.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/164264-REG/Canon_2478A002_ST_E2_Speedlite_Transmitter.html

I don't like recommending knock-offs, and this is not a recommendation, but an FYI: Yongnou makes a knockoff that says it will work with the 600RT and the others.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ST-E2-Speedlite-Transmitter-for-Canon-600EX-RT-580EX-II-430EX-II-/230829973443

All this being said, using your flashes on manual, as you would with most radio triggers, is more consistent than ttl. Once you get the flash power dialed-in, it's a better way to go.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

I don't use TTL with my canon system......canon TTL is not that accurate or reliable. I set all my flashes manually and once you get used to it, it's no big deal.

I agree totally with GoofyNewfie.......see his last sentence in his above post.