Can the 420EX be used as an optical slave?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/21/2004 09:00:00 PM · #1

Eh?

Niten

Canon EOS-20D

12/21/2004 09:02:49 PM · #2

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/21/2004 09:04:17 PM · #3

But it can be used with a radio controller as a slave.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/21/2004 09:04:23 PM · #4

if you're talking about buying the 420. get the 580ex first.
take full advantage of the ETTL II your camera is capable of...

i don't have an answer for you though.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/21/2004 09:05:43 PM · #5

thank you all. and more questions. are there significant differences with the cheap tamron 1.4 extenders ($70) and the expensive tamron ($170) and the canon ($way more)?

soup

Canon EOS-30D

12/21/2004 09:09:20 PM · #6

is that a rhetorical question?

VisiBlanco

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/21/2004 09:10:16 PM · #7

Speaking of ETTL II, has anyone actually seen a big benefit with the 580EX over the ETTL of the 550EX? I think the only reason I would even think about upgrading would be the recycle time.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

12/21/2004 09:20:52 PM · #8

Originally posted by hsteg:

thank you all. and more questions. are there significant differences with the cheap tamron 1.4 extenders ($70) and the expensive tamron ($170) and the canon ($way more)?

Interesting you should ask this... check out this image posted by a user over at DPReview. Most especially look at the right-hand images (from corner of frame).

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/21/2004 09:22:20 PM · #9

To address the original question: The 420EX is capable of being used as a slave flash using the built in IR slave. It does not have an IR transmitter, so it cannot be used as a Master. To do that, you need either the ST-E2 IR transmitter, a 550EX flash unit or the 580EX. Any of these solutions will provide full E-TTL capability.

You can also use a separate optical slave like the Wein slaves, you just need one that mounts to the shoe of a flash. This will only tell the flash to fire when the slave sees the light pulse. Since the 420EX does not have built in manual power control, every time it fires, it will fire at full power.

Just what is it you want to do?

Message edited by author 2004-12-21 21:23:17.

VisiBlanco

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/21/2004 09:25:06 PM · #10

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by hsteg:
thank you all. and more questions. are there significant differences with the cheap tamron 1.4 extenders ($70) and the expensive tamron ($170) and the canon ($way more)?

Interesting you should ask this... check out this image posted by a user over at DPReview. Most especially look at the right-hand images (from corner of frame).

Yeah, if anything, get the Canon. And STAY AWAY from the 2.0x teleconverter, it's a joke.

12/21/2004 09:29:42 PM · #11

Originally posted by VisiBlanco:

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by hsteg:
thank you all. and more questions. are there significant differences with the cheap tamron 1.4 extenders ($70) and the expensive tamron ($170) and the canon ($way more)?

Interesting you should ask this... check out this image posted by a user over at DPReview. Most especially look at the right-hand images (from corner of frame).

Yeah, if anything, get the Canon. And STAY AWAY from the 2.0x teleconverter, it's a joke.

yeah, i read about that on FM. thats why i inquired about the 1.4s. Are the 2x really taht bad?

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

12/21/2004 09:30:59 PM · #12

Originally posted by kirbic:

whoa, i guess it is worth it. anyone selling a used one in about 2 months?

Tranquil

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/21/2004 09:37:08 PM · #13

Originally posted by hsteg:

whoa, i guess it is worth it. anyone selling a used one in about 2 months?

Or right now? Wink Wink... im in the market too

Lee

Natator

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/21/2004 10:07:32 PM · #14

The 420ex can definitely be used as an optical slave if attached to a hot shoe light sensitive slave.

I am already using one, and a 580ex, for exactly that purpose.

Be warned however, there is an issue with the slave only firing once and needing to be switched off/on, but there is an easy solution if you know what to ger.

See this thread for a summary of my recent dealings with the excellent people at B&H. Second post down has the solution.

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=151810

12/21/2004 10:15:42 PM · #15

also, looky looky! i like shooting birds too now! (had to crop a bit, hence the request for an extender. lol)