580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

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Archive 2008 · 580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

crockett
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p.1 #1 · 580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

I was playing around with 2 580 EX's today. Could someone please give me an example of why you would put a 580 EX in Slave AND Manual mode?

From what I could tell, if I put the Master in Manual and put the Ratio on A:B and have the slave set to B, I could control both flashes in Manual mode right from the camera.

However, if I placed the Slave Flash in Manual mode (Holding down the button for 2 seconds), I could no longer control it with Master Flash. The only way I could change the power setting is by walking over to the Slave flash and adjusting the power at the slave flash.

So why, would anyone ever want to do it that way? Wouldn't use just always use the Master to control the level of both flashes?

Finally, one more question.

With the Master flash in manual mode, ratio A:B, set to A and the Slave flash set to B I was able to set the dial in any power for the slave (B) flash; i.e 1/32 + 0.7, 1/64 - 0.3, etc.

However, when I fired a frame and walked over to the slave flash it seemed to ignore the fraction of power, i.e +0.7. I would change the slave to 1/32 and I'm assuming fire at this power.

Using the Master/Slave in this relationship will it not allow you to adjust the Slave in 1/3 levels? Or is actually making that adjustment but just not indicating it on the Slave LCD?

Thanks.

Dec 28, 2008 at 04:18 AM

cgardner
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p.1 #2 · 580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

The "dumb" manual Slave mode (pressing mode button for 2 sec) is required if you want to fire the 580ex with a ST-E2 or radio trigger (see p 43 of the 580ex manual). Its necessary for the ST-E2 because it can't remotely control power levels of slaves in M mode, just ETTL. There is no need to use that mode when a 580ex is used as Master.

I don't think you are setting manual power correctly in wireless mode. Not surprising since it is the most confusing part of the user interface. When using a pair of 580ex in Master / Slave in M mode you don't need to touch the slave at all other than to set it to SLAVE, Channel (same as Master) and Group B. (Master always defaults to Group A).

In M mode you set A and B power levels both from the Master flash:

1) First set mode to M and then to turn Ratios on via the zoom button (which controls four different functions) and the circular dial/set button. The word "ratio" isn't actually accurate, but Canon just uses the same indicator for both ETTL and M.

2) You should see "Ratio on A:B" with either A or B underlined. Whichever is underlined is the group whose power level shows in the LCD. If you turn the dial the underline will jump back and forth from one or the other allowing you to see the power level each group is set at.

3) To adjust power for either A or B press the set button in the center of the dial until the underlined letter blinks, then turn the dial to set power level then press set again. You can also wait about 15 sec and the adjustment mode will time out. A half press of the shutter will also cancel the adjustment mode.

So if for example you wanted the Slave set at 1/2 power and Master at 1/4 you'd press the set button until A is blinking, turn the dial to get 1/4 power, then press set again. That should cause B to blink and then you'd turn the dial to 1/2 power then press set to exit. If you've done than correctly when you move the dial you should see the power level indicated on the Master LCD change depending on whether A or B is underlined.

Another thing you might notice in M mode is that the sign of the 1/3 stops changes depending on whether you are increasing or reducing power.

1/1 -.3 = 1/2 +.6
1/1- .6 = 1/2 +.3

That can be confusing but its to show you the direction of your last correction: + for increase in power and - for decrease in power.

One you have set both the ETTL ratio and M power levels you can switch back and forth between ETTL and M on the fly with the mode button without ever touching the slave. It will follow whatever setting are entered on the master. But the slave will not indicate its new mode / M power level until after the first shot in that new mode is fired.

The settings will be stored even if the flash is turned off and on. They will even be retained for about a minute with batteries removed so if you are quick you swap batteries on Master or Slave without needed to repeat the set-up.

If you click the WWW button below you'll find some Canon tutorials I've written which fill some of the gaps in the manual.

Chuck

Dec 29, 2008 at 01:11 AM

crockett
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p.1 #3 · 580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

Chuck,

Two things:

1) So to use a wireless trigger you have to have the flash set to SLAVE and then Manual mode? The flash will not work with a wireless trigger if you put the switch to "OFF" and then put the flash in Manual mode at say 1/8th power?

2) Yes, this is exactly how I was setting my ratios. Just as you described. But, let me try to say it more clearly.

Just to make sure they were communicating correctly. I set the MASTER (A) to 1/1 for example. Then set B (I set this right on the MASTER flash at the camera) to 1/2 for example. Fired a frame. Just to make sure I walked over to the slave and sure enough it read "M" 1/2.

Then I changed B to 1/8 (I did this right at the camera with the Master Flash) then fired another frame, walked over to the SLAVE and it read "M" 1/8. So I knew it was talking to the SLAVE AND changining it's power level.

This is the part that didn't work.

I then changed B to 1/2 -0.3 (I did this right at the camera with the Master Flash) then fired another frame, walked over to the SLAVE and it read "M" 1/2 NOT 1/2 -0.3.

It seems that it will not dial in the 1/3 third adjustments. Just the full stops 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc.

Try it on your flashes.

I was wondering if perhaps it was actually changing the power of the light to the correct amount but just not displaying it on the LCD of the SLAVE.

Dec 29, 2008 at 02:01 AM

cgardner
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p.1 #4 · 580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

crockett wrote:
1) So to use a wireless trigger you have to have the flash set to SLAVE and then Manual mode? The flash will not work with a wireless trigger if you put the switch to "OFF" and then put the flash in Manual mode at say 1/8th power?

Yes, but only immediately. In the OFF position an inactive 580ex flash will go into stand-by sleep mode after 90 sec. and you'd need to manually adjust something to wake it up. OFF mode is intended for solo use in the hot shoe. OFF/M mode is the only one where there is no pre-flash (i.e. it can be used to trigger conventional optical slaves, such as those on studio lights).

As to your second question, what appears to be happening is that the next instruction from the Master is overriding your manual adjustment. If using several flashes, all in the B group, making separate adjustments on each would make sense, but in M mode may be a case where it would be necessary to put the slave you want to manually override into the "dumb" blinking M slave mode (as when using the ST-E2) discussed previously. That may be part what the instructions on p. 43 of the manual about setting the "dumb" M mode are about, but as many things in the manual just are not expressed with clear practical examples.

There is a manual override function in ETTL mode which allows FEC to be entered manually for different slaves in the same group.

Dec 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM

Michael White
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p.1 #5 · 580 EX Slave/Manual Mode Question

Chuck I got a 580exII what modes does the pc connection fire the flash?

Dec 29, 2008 at 11:33 PM

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