Dedicated vs no dedicated

Peep my photos · Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 113 Location: Wilmington, NC

Here is my problem
I recently got a canon 580ex flash and some 4 channel ebay slaves. The receiver causes my flash to shoot of randomly when i don't even have my camera out. (the seller warned me of this problem before i bought it).

Im looking into getting a vivitar 285hv or sunpak 555 to use with my receiver. and then use my 580 as an optical slave. So my question is do i need a dedicated flash to do this or will an non dedicated work?

Im pretty sure ill need a dedicated but im not sure

Joined: 13 Jan 2007 Posts: 245 Location: Maryland

I'm pretty sure using your 580ex as an optical slave in the method you intend will do away with any benefits of a dedicated flash. It will not be able to communicate with the camera in that setup, like a dedicated flash would need to.

I should probably leave this question to someone how truly knows the answer :)

Jacque

Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

There were some threads over at www.strobists.com where they got the ebay triggers to work with the 580 using the PC connection and a hotshot to PC adaptor. I'm assuming you have the Gadget Infinity Hot shoe triggers.

Peep my photos · Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 113 Location: Wilmington, NC

yeah i got the gadget ifinitiys. i found some mod to do but it hasnt really helped could you post a link to one of these pc hot shoe adapters. I looked in to them but i couldnt find one that would work with a 580.

these are the slaves i have

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16546&cat=0&page=

thanks alot

Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

I've got the same ones. They trigger my Nikon SB600 fine, but when I tried to fire my Alienbee B400 through the PC port on the side, I had a bit of trouble until I used a longer PC cord.

For a hot shoe to PC adaptor something like this would work. http://www.adorama.com/FAPCHSA.html

But the guys on the strobist site say you probably need at least a 12 inch PC cord to defeat the interference problem.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594244176459/?search=ebay+slave%2C+580

Peep my photos · Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 113 Location: Wilmington, NC

thanks for the help 2nights a go i played with the channels and i havent had a miss fire yet. so hopefully its fixed