Old and New Flash

[Mark Hoy]

If you put the 580 on the camera and repeat that shot does the 550 fire?

 

[Shaun Hill]

Damn it, my reply didn't show up! The flash works from f1.8 to f22 from 1/200 all the way through to bulb mode (30 seconds) when set up as you specified.

 

[Mark Hoy]

I've never used the ST E2 but it sounds like it's making the 580 do a pre-flash as the optical trigger fires when it sees a flash from the 580. I have a simple non-eTTL wireless trigger/ receiver you could try? Sorry I can't offer more help on the ST E2.

 

[Shaun Hill]

Hello Mark, is it the Yongnuo? I've got one at the moment, but ordered a second receiver for the second flash for all manual flash stuff as I half expected this would be the reasoning.

They work better than pocket wizards and have a much better range in my opinion. Can you recommend a pretty good flash which I can use as a slave with the Speedlight, which is fairly cheap (so I can retain eTTL)?

 

[Mark Hoy]

No, it's an iShoot- old and cheap.

Found this on the web (talking about the same kind of set up as you):

Yes, you *CAN* use the ST-E2 to trigger a strobe in the manner that you are seeking.
1. Put the ST-E2 on the camera in the normal way.
2. Have your 580EX (or other Canon wireless flash) *OFF* camera, and set as a SLAVE.
3. Press the <MODE> button on the 580EX for 2 seconds. <M> will blink. THIS DISABLES THE PRE-FLASH and stops the other flashes being triggered prematurely.

4. Now set the manual flash OUTPUT on the 580EX in the normal way. You can use the 580EX as your "main", "fill" or background light, OR turn the output right down and simply use it to trigger the other studio strobes via their optical slaves.

It works really well. I use it when I'm shooting with a light tent for macro photography. I have the 580EX as on of the main lights and I use that to trigger a couple of old Panasonic flahes I've had for 30 years.

**See page 43 of the 580EX instruction manual.

 

[Shaun Hill]

No, it's an iShoot- old and cheap.

Found this on the web (talking about the same kind of set up as you):

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I was already using that method when trying to get the set-up working. Manual made no different in my case. It still seems to trigger the Vivtar before the Speedlight and before the shutter opens.

 

[Mark Hoy]

Given that when the 580 is mounted on the camera the Vivitar fires at the correct time I'd be willing to bet 50p that the ST E2 is putting the 580 into eTTL mode and it's sending out a pre-flash (or the 580 thinks it's a master and is sending out eTTL commands).

Perhaps start another thread asking specifically about the ST E2? Sorry I couldn't help solve your issue.