Question regarding Canon Speedlite 580EX II

[Zoolfoos]

Hello All!

Nothing I've read so far suggests that the Canon Speedlite 580EX II has built in support for wireless RF triggering. Can someone verify this for me? I shoot Canon and I'm kind of looking for something that does.... it's not a deal breaker, but it would be nice if I didn't also have to get an RF receiver.

I'm not wild about IR and optical slave triggering. I want to be able to fire a flash that's behind something and/or possibly out of range of optical/IR. I don't have much experience with multi-flash setups, so advice is welcome as well.

Thanks!!

 

[Big Mike]

None of Canon's flash units have any RF technology. If you want RF, you will have to use another device.

The 580EX does have built-in IR technology...which allows for off camera use and control (you need a master and a slave unit). The big benefit of this is that you can keep E-TTL metering.
With RF triggering, you don't get to keep E-TTL metering and HSS etc.

There is a new product from Radio Popper, that piggy backs the IR signal with RF...so that you can keep E-TTL and all the control of IR...but with RF range and reliability.

Check out http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/ for all things 'off camera flash'

 

[Zoolfoos]

Mike -

Thanks so much for the advice. That Radio Popper device looks really good (although pricey), and that lighting blog also has a lot of great info. I appreciate it.

Yeah, I'm switching from an off-brand flash. The Canon flash unit wasn't really on the top of my shopping list in the past, but now I've saved my pennies and I might as well be using E-TTL capabilities if I'm going to spend upwards of $400 per unit (ugh).....

 

[Big Mike]

Some people like E-TTL and some don't. Using manual flash control is consistent, which can't always be said for E-TTL. Many of the pro shooters that I know...use 550/580 units and Pocket Wizards. Some may be trying out the Radio Poppers now though...not only for E-TTL...but for HSS (the ability to use shutter speeds faster than the camera's max sync speed.

There are a few threads around here, that detail and break down the different options....so try the search feature.

 

[Zoolfoos]

For anyone else coming along this thread who might be interested (and like me has just heard of "radiopopper" for the first time).....

I found a pretty good article about it. I think there's one on strobist.blogspot.com as well....

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/03/radipopper-smar.html