Canon 580 EX II Flash

[Shaun Hill]

Can you please tell me how to fire this flash off-camera (for light painting using gels for instance)? I've briefly looked through the instructions to no avail.

I'd appreciate your help in advance.

Kind Regards,

Shaun.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Shaun

Two real options:

1) Use a long off shoe cable to get the flash off camera - canon and 3rd party companies do them - Canon OC-E3

Canon EOS Dedicated TTL Off-Camera Shoe Cord OC-E3 Review

2) Buy the STE-2 wireless controller from Canon, and use this to wirelessly trigger the 550 .

The STE-2 is actually IR and not wireless, so works well indoors but fails outside in sunlight!

Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 Review



If you're shooting outside - you'll want to look at proper wireless triggers - something by Pocketwizard would be ideal.

You buy one for the camera, one for the flash - and you get full ETTL functionality wirelessly

The latest unit looks very promising - Pocket Wizard 801-130 Plus III Transceiver


There are cheap knock-off wireless triggers on EBAY - not sure how much of the ETTL functionality you'd get though.



Or - if you just want to fire it randomly while the shutter is open - there's a manual 'fire now' button on the flash unit itself.

Either the Pilot or the button to the right of it here - can't remember which, but it works as a full power flash each time you press it.

 

[Shaun Hill]

Great, thank you very much, Didn't realise the pilot light was actually a button!

 

[Shaun Hill]

Just wondered if anyone can recommend a good (and much cheaper) alternative to using the Canon ST-E2, so I can use the flash off-camera through an umbrella without losing functionality?

At the moment I have the Yongnuo RF-602 Wireless Remote control Switch & Studio Flash Trigger combi System: RF-602 Wireless Remote control Switch & Studio Flash: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics which was working fine with my old (proper retro) manual Vivitar flash but limited what I could do (because it wasn't designed for digital cameras).

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Something that supports ETTL or just something that fires the flash, and you meter manually?

For ETTL you'll need something like http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pixel-King-Professional-Wireless-Flashgun/dp/B005LUPV1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332805780&sr=8-1

Looks like it should do it, but you'd have to check to be sure. £110.00

Or a 3m sync cord like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lastolite-Camera-Flash-Cords-Single/dp/B002L6G9CO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1332805780&sr=8-9 for £27.47 - works, but you do have trailing wires - but it is cheap!

Or the STE-2 for £175 from Amazon


The super cheap wireless trigger units don't do any TTL - so are purely a trigger, meaning that you'll need to set the camera to manual, and use a light meter to measure the flash, and set the aperture.

 

[Shaun Hill]

Ah, I guess the wired option would be best based on cost and functionality.

That one looks good, but I was thinking more along the lines of 10m rather than 3m. Something like: OCF33 – 33′/10m E-TTL Cord ETTL Cord for Canon Speedlites | Off-Camera Flash Cord | OCF Gear but not from America and without heavy customs charges and delivery.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Looks like the ideal solution

EBAY may be an option - Chinese units, so no idea on quality other than their EBAY rating

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

17.50 with free shipping

Or maybe a UK seller has something similar?

 

[Shaun Hill]

Damn, that is cheap! I was hoping to have a straight cord as those aren't truly 10m long and there is a risk of pulling something over when it is pulled taut.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Straight one's are available:

Interfit Strobies TTL Cord Multi fit 10m Straight: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Interfit Strobies Multi-fit TTL Cord - 10m (STR137) - wex photographic

Interfit STR137 Strobies Multi-fit TTL Cord - 10m , Interfit Strobies Accessories, Interfit

Seem to be around fifty quid from UK sellers though

 

[Kev Pugh]

I've got and use from time to time some cheap hong kong ping pong wireless triggers, they do the job just fine. Like most things I do if its something I'm going to use full tilt all day everyday then buy the goods if it comes out to play once in blue moon give it a try..

Straight line is better fro the reasons to mention but problem with cords and wires is there is always a risk of tripping over them and pulling stuff over especially if you are moving about alot..

 

[Shaun Hill]

At approx. £50.00 I am debating spending an extra £16.00 to go wireless: YONGNUO Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 for Canon 580 #F178 | eBay

Reviews look pretty good (even over the official Canon product). Thoughts?

 

[Dan Cattermole]

It best have a 'strobe' option on there Shaun!!
It may prevent you from trying to skank mine for light painting!!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

At approx. £50.00 I am debating spending an extra £16.00 to go wireless: YONGNUO Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 for Canon 580 #F178 | eBay

Reviews look pretty good (even over the official Canon product). Thoughts?

First time I've seen that one - looks like they've done a great job at replicating the Canon unit for half the cost!

Amazon.com reviews look good - probably worth a punt

 

[Shaun Hill]

Yeah, all signs are good! Anyone with the kit care to share their thoughts?

 

[Hamish Gill]

I bought a yongnuo Nikon sc-28 rip off ... It took so long to arive that in the mean while I found a Nikon sc-28 going so cheap it was impossible not to buy!
I have both now ... The yongnuo looks to be very good build quality, on the surface is not much different to the Nikon ... I can't vouch for te internals or longevity of it though as it has been sat on my feet at work since it arived... I used the Nikon one ...

 

[Shaun Hill]

I've ordered it ready for my first official commission towards the end of April. Should be enough time for it to arrive from China.