Why is this not working? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/03/2011 04:16:10 PM · #1

I should know, but I do not.

I have the Canon Wireless Transmitter ST-E2. I also have a Canon Speedlight 550ex and just bought a Canon Speedlight 430ex.

So I set up the two lights on stands, hook up the transmitter. All flashes are on Channel 1, ETTL, and one is on Slave A, the other Slave B.

Slave A (550ex) fires, but Slave B (430ex) does not. WHY? haha. I cannot seem to figure it out. If any one can offer a little insight, that would be great and I would really appreciate it.

-Kari

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

01/03/2011 04:23:09 PM · #2

I know nuttin' bout it, but a friend of mine uses a couple 430's with his 580. I thought he had to set ratios...so they would sync correctly....disregard if it doesn't make sense.
If you don't get your answer, I will check with him.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

01/03/2011 04:38:47 PM · #3

really dumb question -- do you have the blinking red light on the 430 facing the right direction?

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

01/03/2011 08:45:27 PM · #4

Originally posted by vawendy:

really dumb question -- do you have the blinking red light on the 430 facing the right direction?

haha, not a dumb question, I checked that myself about twelve times. Facing the right direction facing the transmitter

jdannels

Nikon D300s

01/03/2011 08:51:43 PM · #5

I don't know much about how the canon system works but if you switch the slaves, does the 430 work and the 580 not so much? Perhaps the ste2 can only have one slave channel at a time, so both should be on A or what ever you have set on your ste2. I would guess that the reason for having different slaves would be that if you had more than one photog in one room, one could use slave A and one could use slave B and they wouldn't set off the ohter's light rig.

Message edited by author 2011-01-03 20:52:40.

FromDaRock

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

01/03/2011 09:45:24 PM · #6

Originally posted by photokariangel:

Originally posted by vawendy:
really dumb question -- do you have the blinking red light on the 430 facing the right direction?

haha, not a dumb question, I checked that myself about twelve times. Facing the right direction facing the transmitter

Yes, but is the red panel blinking? That indicates that it is set up to receive the signal for the trigger, at least that is the way it works for my 7D's built in transmitter.

This is the indication that the flash should trigger. (At least that is how it works for my 580 and 420, slightly different flashes but I assume they work the same).

FromDaRock

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

01/03/2011 09:52:59 PM · #7

Oh, you said one is set to slave A and B. What exactly does that mean? If you have the channel set the same, you probably want to set them to the same group, unless you are configuring different ratios for each flash. This would require a configuration with multiple groups and since I have never used that transmitter, I am not sure how to set up that configuration.

On my 7D, it is done on camera and you would set the groups. If I want my two flashes to trigger at the same power, then there is no need to configure multiple groups.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

01/03/2011 11:27:58 PM · #8

Ok, I tried it even with them both as Slave A, still no luck. Both flashes are emitting the infrared pulse (blinking red)....

tanguera

Nikon D750

01/03/2011 11:35:01 PM · #9

Ok, I may be in way over my head here (especially 'cause I own a Nikon!), and stating the obvious. But is your camera set to the Command function?

roba

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/04/2011 02:40:25 AM · #10

Complete with Video instruction... pretty good write-up with the exact same setup that you're trying: here.

:O)

ETA: okay, upon further review... that wasn't all that detailed (although it may still help).
There's a more detailed write-up here.
Or the full PDF manual instruction guide here.

Message edited by author 2011-01-04 02:51:37.

roba

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/06/2011 02:06:22 AM · #11

Well... did you get it workimg? Inquiring minds want to know!

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

01/06/2011 10:04:48 PM · #12

Still havent been able to get it to work. Every thing is set correctly, from the transmitter to the flashes to the camera, I still cannot understand what is going on. It works fine as the master connected to the camera, but otherwise its doing nothing. I'm really bummed.

spiritualspatula

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

01/06/2011 10:56:48 PM · #13

Can you get the 430 to fire with the 580 as master on hotshoe?

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

01/06/2011 11:13:49 PM · #14

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Can you get the 430 to fire with the 580 as master on hotshoe?

Nothin'. Darn it all.

spiritualspatula

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

01/07/2011 12:19:34 AM · #15

Originally posted by photokariangel:

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
Can you get the 430 to fire with the 580 as master on hotshoe?

Nothin'. Darn it all.

Is the ratio on the ST-E2 set really really strongly to favor one (EX: 8:1) or is the 430 not firing at all?
It's sounding like your 430 does not to trigger for some reason though, so I'd try switching the whole thing to another channel and switch up which slave it is and all that jazz. It sounds like you've done all of that, and also that you've verified that the flash is properly angled for the sensor to be seen, so is it possible that the 430 is damaged in some fashion? Does it work fine normally on hotshoe?