Old and New Flash

Shaun Hill

Well-Known Member
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).

I've now got the Canon 580EX II and like using it in ETTL. So I have just ordered YONGNUO Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 for Canon 580 #F178 | eBay

However, this does not allow me to sit the wireless transmitter for the manual flash on the hotshoe, which is already used by the Yongnuo ST-E2. I want to use the 580EX and my old manual Vivitar at the same time.

I realise I wont get ETTL from the vivtar, as this is not a feature of that flash.

Any suggestions?
 
That is absolutely spot on, great price too. Thank you very much! Am I right in thinking the only way change light intensity on my old flash is to change the ISO setting on it? It doesn't really have any other buttons or dials etc.
 
The manual
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/vivitar_flashes/550fd-cr.pdf

It really doesn't have a power control!
That supprises me, all the old flashes like this that I have have power controls

So yes, if you want to lower the power select a higher ISO on the flash
Start by setting it to the ISO you are using on the camera eg 200 iso
If you then set the flash to 400iso it will half the power output

Of course with digital you can chimp to your hearts content to get it right ... Just keep an eye on the histogram and clip warning and you should be fine

For a bit more versatile operation maybe look for a similar flash with power level control
Don't forget that with the flag being on a slave trigger like the one I linked to you will have no worry of the trigger voltage from the flash killin your camera because of course it won't be connected to the camera :)
 
The manual
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/vivitar_flashes/550fd-cr.pdf

It really doesn't have a power control!
That supprises me, all the old flashes like this that I have have power controls

So yes, if you want to lower the power select a higher ISO on the flash
Start by setting it to the ISO you are using on the camera eg 200 iso
If you then set the flash to 400iso it will half the power output

Of course with digital you can chimp to your hearts content to get it right ... Just keep an eye on the histogram and clip warning and you should be fine

For a bit more versatile operation maybe look for a similar flash with power level control
Don't forget that with the flash being on a slave trigger like the one I linked to you will have no worry of the trigger voltage from the flash killin your camera because of course it won't be connected to the camera :)
 
So I have finally got around to experimenting with the two flashes on two separate light stands with umbrellas.

I have the Canon 580EX II Speedlight set to manual slave, triggered by YONGNUO Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.

I have the Vivitar 550 FD C/R triggered by the Canon Speedlight using Slave Trigger Unit.

I am having genuine problems syncing the two flashes, does anyone have any suggestions which will get them working together? They both flash when I take a photo, but I guess the Vivitar flash must be firing too slowly after the Speedlight has triggered.

I have tried changing the ISO speed on the Vivitar, along with syncing with second curtain or not, along with changing the power of the Speedlight. Each time I check the photos, the Vivitar does not show.
 
Hi Shaun,

I apologise for hi-Jacking this thread.......... I have a National PE-387S Bounce flash I don't use anymore......... Works perfectly. LCD Display and you can adjust the ISO, Intesity from Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/16 ....... and you can also set your apature in it....... I used it on a remote trigger.......... I'f you are interested you can have it for £20........ PM me if you want it.

RIMG0011.jpg

RIMG0010.jpg
 
Are you using eTTL? The 580 firing a pre-flash which triggers the Vivitar to fire before the 580. Have you tried firing with the 580 in manual mode?

Speedlite 580EX II

You can also press the * key on the back of your camera and it'll fire the eTTL pre-flash and hold that exposure for 30 seconds - turn on the Vivitar and the 580 won't fire a pre-flash when you take the shot. eTTL pre-flash
 
Last edited:
Hello Mark, thank you for your reply.

I considered that at the time, so I was using manual on flash and camera and disabled second curtain sync. Any other ideas?
 
Hmm... if don't have another flash you could borrow one of my Vivitar flashes and see if it does the same? My email is on my website or I'll be at The Hive tomorrow afternoon.

One other thought, have you tried pointing both flashes at the camera and taken a photo of both flashes when they fire?
 
Last edited:
Ah, lucky you are local eh? I'm not going to be in Worcester tomorrow unfortunately.

I will try pointing both flashes as you suggested, great idea!
 
I've just realised that the ST-E2 triggers the Vivtar flash independently of the Speedlight with the red flash which goes out on the wireless transmitter.

I tried taking photos of the two flashes side by side pointed at the camera and I couldn't catch them going off (although they definitely were because I kept getting blinded).

They aren't showing up in the shots (on full power) regardless of the settings I have used for realistic hand-held camera usage. Tried different apertures, shutter speeds and isos.

Just to demonstrate the fact that the Vivitar can be triggered independently, I turned the Speedlight off and the Vivitar still triggered. This is such a pain!

Any ideas?
 
Back
Top