Canon 580EX Flash Speedlite with 30D

[robster]

Asked an ebay seller from Hong Kong if it supports an EOS 30D and his responce was:

10D/1D/1Ds/20D/300D/350D 65


Do they fit and work with the 30D?

Thanks for your help,


Rob

[Marty]

Hey Rob,
the 580EX fits and works on a 30D.
Marty

[robster]

Thanks Marty

[petal666]

They even fit on a G2 etc.

[DaveB]

Works with any camera supporting E-TTL, and also the older non-E-TTL EOS film bodies. This includes the following PowerShots:

• G1/G2/G3/G5/G6
• Pro1

and the following EOS bodies:

• D2000/D6000
• D30/D60/10D/300D/20D/350D/30D/400D/1D/1Ds
• 1D/1Ds Mk.II
• 1D Mk.IIn

Get the idea?
Actually, I think some of the wireless master features might not work fully with a couple of the old bodies, but the 30D is definitely in the full-support category.

[robster]

What is the wireless master feature btw? I'm trying to figure that out as I want to set up two tripods with flash heads on them (one this flash, the other a Sunpak AF4000) and trigger them like studio flashes.

I'm wondering if the Speedlite's wireless features can contribute to the plan or if I have to purchase a seperate wireless system?

Thanks

Rob

[DaveB]

With an on-camera flash being a 580EX, 550EX, MT-24EX, MR-14EX, or the ST-E2 controller, the camera can control up to 3 groups of flashes. This is with full E-TTL metering, and control over the light contribution ratios of each group. The master unit (the one "on-camera", even if it's connected by the short Canon extension cord) communicates with the others via low-power flashes prior to the exposure flash (the ST-E2 uses a red light to send the signals instead).

The Canon flashes which can be slaves are: 580EX, 550EX, 430EX, 420EX. Sigma have some flashes which purport to work with this system as well, probably as masters as well as slaves.

If you want two lights off-camera, you still need something on the camera to control them. This would be either the ST-E2 (which can only control 2 groups, not 3) or a 580EX or 550EX flash (you can set the flash to not go off, just to control others).


The Sunpack PZ-4000 AF doesn't support the Canon wireless system, and you'd need some external trigger. You can put it on a stand and have a "slave trigger" connected to its hotshoe, but it would be triggered by the E-TTL pre-flashes (for metering, and for master-to-slave communication) and thus miss the actual exposure. If using a 580EX on the camera you would have to set it to a manual power level.
With that setup you would lose E-TTL flash metering and the ability to set the flash ratios from behind the camera. You'd have a traditional studio setup where you'd go to each flash and manually set its power level (note that the Sunpak has 2 power settings: full and 1/16th).

[robster]

Now I'm really understanding it.

How does this sound?


I have a limited budget, but I do want a good on camera flash, so I want to purchase the 580EX. If I purchase that, and the ST-E2, then down the track purchase say, a 420EX (for budgets sake), is there not some kind of device that I can attach to the Sunpak to tell it to flash after X pre-flashes?

I'm sure I've seen them around, but will they be generic enough to work with the ST-E2 firing them?

I hope that made sense Basically I really can't afford that extra flash at present and want to try and use the Sunpak in this arrangement.

Thanks again

Rob

[DaveB]

I have a limited budget, but I do want a good on camera flash, so I want to purchase the 580EX. If I purchase that, and the ST-E2, then down the track purchase say, a 420EX (for budgets sake), is there not some kind of device that I can attach to the Sunpak to tell it to flash after X pre-flashes?

Possibly, but I couldn't point you to an example.

My own flash equipment is currently a 580EX which is either on the camera hot-shoe or on a nearby bracket (possibly bouncing onto a white reflector to provide a large light) and a remote 420EX (either standalone or on a flash stand with an umbrella). You might not NEED two remote flashes.

I'm sure I've seen them around, but will they be generic enough to work with the ST-E2 firing them?

They might even ignore the red flashes from the ST-E2, but they would have to cope with the metering pre-flashes from the other EX flashes. Note that with a multi-group wireless setup, each group does a metering pre-flash which is measured by the camera, and between these (not sure of the exact sequence) the master unit sends communication pre-flashes out to the slaves.

I hope that made sense Basically I really can't afford that extra flash at present and want to try and use the Sunpak in this arrangement.

If you can track down one of those fancy triggers, you'd have to compare the price of that with the price of a 2nd-hand 420EX (minus the resale price of the Sunpak flash).
The 420EX and PZ-4000 flashes are the same power (guide number of 34m at 50mm zoom position) so you wouldn't lose anything.

[robster]

mmmm, well I need to get up and running fast, so I might then get the 580, the 420 and I guess, some kind of connecting cable for the 580 (so I can place it off camera and point at walls/diffusers etc).

Wish me luck and thank you SO much, you've really helped me out here.

I'll sell off the 4000 Sunpak now, shame as I've seriously used it about 3 times in its life!


Rob

[jdear]

Hi,
my 580ex works fine with my 30d...

the ST-E2 has its limitations outdoors, indoors its not too bad if your not trying to use it over a large distance... If you want reliability and to use the ex series flashes outdoors you'll need to look at a radio transmitter / receiver (as opposed to this infared device) - eg - pocketwizards, although they will leave a serious dent in your pocket.

my 2c's

having said that Ill most probably purchase an ST-E2 for the time being.

J