Can my Canon 5D Mark II remotely operate the flashes speedlite 430EXII and 580EX

[gandhi]

Can my Canon 5D Mark II remotely operate the flashes speedlite 430EXII and 580EXII?.Usually I use the 580 on my camera and use it as master and fire the other two 430 EX. however I am wondering if I can fire all the three remotely.
I am trying to find it in the manual and online, no luck as of now, any one can throw more light on this?

[dr croubie]

In short, no.
Only the 580, ST-E2, 7D, 60D, 600D can do that. I never realised it until I tried using it, but the signal to send to slave-flashes is actually a flash itself. So the 5D-line probably never will, because it doesn't have a built-in flash.

So you're stuck using the 580 on-camera, unless you get an ST-E2 or 3rd-party trigger-system...

[gandhi]

Thanks , thats good info.

[briansquibb]

In short, no.
Only the 580, ST-E2, 7D, 60D, 600D can do that. I never realised it until I tried using it, but the signal to send to slave-flashes is actually a flash itself. So the 5D-line probably never will, because it doesn't have a built-in flash.

So you're stuck using the 580 on-camera, unless you get an ST-E2 or 3rd-party trigger-system...

+1 need the 3rd party trigger, ST-E2, 550EX, 580EX (mk 1 or 2), MR-14EX, MT24-EX or 3rd party master Speedlite

[wickidwombat]

i use this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/YONGNUO-ST-E2-Speedlite-Transmitter-430EX-580EX-II-/290621161309?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item43aa5eff5d

good value for money, takes AA batteries, I use 1.5V energiser lithium batteries in it and it can rotate to aim at the flashes the genuine one cant

[Gothmoth]

if you do a lot of "off camera flash" then do yourself a favor and buy a good trigger from the start.

the phottix odin ttl trigger is great.
sold a lot of them and have yet to see a 430 EX or 580 EX customer who is unhappy with it.

TTL will not work 100% with all third party flashes but it´s great with canon flashes.

[handsomerob]

if you do a lot of "off camera flash" then do yourself a favor and buy a good trigger from the start.

the phottix odin ttl trigger is great.
sold a lot of them and have yet to see a 430 EX or 580 EX customer who is unhappy with it.

TTL will not work 100% with all third party flashes but it´s great with canon flashes.

+1

Phottix and PocketWizard offer great products.

[Viggo]

+1 for Odin -1 for PW's

The Odin's never-fail stabillity makes it all the more fun! No misfire still, (after about 2000 shots) and the raaange, oh my the range!

[briansquibb]

+1 for Odin -1 for PW's

The Odin's never-fail stabillity makes it all the more fun! No misfire still, (after about 2000 shots) and the raaange, oh my the range!

+1 for PW - did a 4 speedlight test today - at about 20m. Did 10 without a miss

[Viggo]

+1 for Odin -1 for PW's

The Odin's never-fail stabillity makes it all the more fun! No misfire still, (after about 2000 shots) and the raaange, oh my the range!

+1 for PW - did a 4 speedlight test today - at about 20m. Did 10 without a miss

20 meters and 10 pictures? Well.....

Odin is at 200m and does ALL shots without a hitch. My problems with the PW's were extreme if the flashes were to close or to far apart and if the camera was to close or too far away...

[briansquibb]

+1 for Odin -1 for PW's

The Odin's never-fail stabillity makes it all the more fun! No misfire still, (after about 2000 shots) and the raaange, oh my the range!

+1 for PW - did a 4 speedlight test today - at about 20m. Did 10 without a miss

20 meters and 10 pictures? Well.....

Odin is at 200m and does ALL shots without a hitch. My problems with the PW's were extreme if the flashes were to close or to far apart and if the camera was to close or too far away...

I was only testing the number of speedlights and hiding them - and they were close together. I dont take flash from greater distance than that so there was no point in testing it ...

.... I think we have all got the message that you had problems with the Pocket Wizzards however there are thousands that haven't.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

.... I think we have all got the message that you had problems with the Pocket Wizzards however there are thousands that haven't.

The forums do seem to have a abnormally number of frustated users of their newest version, and, of course a advertised range of over 400 ft that turned out to be 12 feet does not inspire confidence.  Of course, you can put a conductive bag over the flash and increase both the range and the flash temperture, risking heat damage. They will sell you a hard conductive box which works better, but why pay extra for the priviledge of getting acceptable performance, and to reduce the heat dissapation of your flash, which can already be a problem.

For those that get a 400 ft range with a PW and a canon 580 EX II on their camera (without modifying their flash), I'd say they are one in thousands.

[briansquibb]

.... I think we have all got the message that you had problems with the Pocket Wizzards however there are thousands that haven't.

The forums do seem to have a abnormally number of frustated users of their newest version, and, of course a advertised range of over 400 ft that turned out to be 12 feet does not inspire confidence.  Of course, you can put a conductive bag over the flash and increase both the range and the flash temperture, risking heat damage. They will sell you a hard conductive box which works better, but why pay extra for the priviledge of getting acceptable performance, and to reduce the heat dissapation of your flash, which can already be a problem.

For those that get a 400 ft range with a PW and a canon 580 EX II on their camera (without modifying their flash), I'd say they are one in thousands.

I hear what you say - but 12ft?? I am getting a reliable 60ft and I just haven't tried further.

With a lot of noise from various 'failures' of products when one digs further the failures happen at the extremes - why would someone take a remote flash at 400ft? Quite frankly I reckon 60ft is a fair distance - that is taking birds with a 1d4 and a 400mm.

I am using a MiniTT1 and 4TT5's to control 4x580EX remotes and a 580EXII on the hotshoe. I have not had a failure since I bought them at the beginning of the summer - and I use them a lot. It mystifies me why the failures are happening.

Mind you I have the same problem understanding the issue of the 5DII AF - especially low light performance - where DxO report the 5DII low light performance as the best.

[neuroanatomist]

Brian, FWIW, Rob Galbraith reports the range for 580s with the European/UK version of the PWs is double that of the US/Canada version (different frequencies).

[briansquibb]

Brian, FWIW, Rob Galbraith reports the range for 580s with the European/UK version of the PWs is double that of the US/Canada version (different frequencies).

+1 Many thanks - explains why I dont hit problems then

Should I have an issue with only 170ft (very unlikely) then I will put the 430EXII at the 850ft extremity. Perhaps I should get a 550EX just incase I need to go to 950ft 

However these numbers are NOTHING like the 12ft quoted earlier in the thread!