Need help: high speed sync problems

NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
edited July 5, 2011 in Accessories
I've got into a state of frustration with getting high speed sync to work with off-camera flash using the Canon ST-E2 (with 580EXII). As yet, it doesn't happen with what I am doing.:dunno

What I am doing is:

- put ST-E2 in camera (40D) hot shoe, switch on, press HSS button which lights

- put flash on stand, switch on, set to manual and slave

- press hss button on flash, doesn't respond

I know that hss is possible with flash in M, the manual says so.

Questions:

- when using ST-E2 does/do (all) the light(s) have to be slaved?

- can the ST-E2 be set to manual, is that necessary for hss?

- are there Cn settings, in camera/ST-E2/flash which have to be set before hss will operate?

Would be greatly appreciative for help to crack this!:D

Neil
"Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

http://www.behance.net/brosepix

Comments

  • Dan7312Dan7312 Registered Users Posts: 1,330 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2011
    I no longer have an ST-E2, I switched to PW. So this is from from memory so it's probably somewhat flawed...

    I've used the, I'm pretty sure, hss with the ST-E2/580EX (not II) and it worked.

    I just tried setting my 580exII to slave and then hss has no effect on mine either. I don't think the hss setting on the flash would mean anything when it is in slave mode, hss is controlled by the control signal in that case.

    The settings on the remote flash will not reflect the settings on the Camera/ST-E2 until after you take a picture.

    With the flash in slave pressing the test button on the flash, i.e. the pilot light, should make it flash. If it doesn't something is wrong. Dumb question... are the batteries fresh?

    If you press the test button on the ST-E2 it should also make the flash flash. If you have multiple the flashes will flash in sequence, not all a once, according to the group they are in, i.e. first all the flashes in group A, etc. If the flashes don't fire when you press the ST-E2 test button then something is wrong, batteries, ST-E2 control signal not getting to the flash, or just broke.

    The light output from the ST-E2 is not that strong, how close is the flash to the camera? If you have a second 580EX try using it as master with no flash on the camera. It might seem silly to have a 580EXII just as a control master but it has so much more light output than the ST-E2 it will work in a lot more situations that the ST-E2 will. Also you can orient the flash to point the control signal in the best direction to get to the remote flash.

    Flashes that are not in slave will not respond to the ST-E2 control signals, so I'm not sure what you are asking here.

    BTW, Syl Arena's book on flash photography with Canon flashes is just chock full all kinds of info about Canon flashes.

    http://www.amazon.com/Speedliters-Handbook-Learning-Craft-Speedlites/dp/032171105X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309783024&sr=1-1

    Dan
    NeilL wrote: »
    I've got into a state of frustration with getting high speed sync to work with off-camera flash using the Canon ST-E2 (with 580EXII). As yet, it doesn't happen with what I am doing.ne_nau.gif

    What I am doing is:

    - put ST-E2 in camera (40D) hot shoe, switch on, press HSS button which lights

    - put flash on stand, switch on, set to manual and slave

    - press hss button on flash, doesn't respond

    I know that hss is possible with flash in M, the manual says so.

    Questions:

    - when using ST-E2 does/do (all) the light(s) have to be slaved?

    - can the ST-E2 be set to manual, is that necessary for hss?

    - are there Cn settings, in camera/ST-E2/flash which have to be set before hss will operate?

    Would be greatly appreciative for help to crack this!:D

    Neil
    Dan

    http://www.danalphotos.com

    http://www.pluralsight.com

    http://twitter.com/d114
  • NeilLNeilL Registered Users Posts: 4,201 Major grins
    edited July 5, 2011
    Really appreciate your reply Dan!thumb.gif Sorry to be slow to respond.

    If I understand you correctly, with the ST-E2 + 580EXII in slave, hss will happen without needing the hss button on the flash to be used, if the hss button on the ST-E2 is activated?

    Neil
    "Snow. Ice. Slow!" "Half-winter. Half-moon. Half-asleep!"

    http://www.behance.net/brosepix
  • Dan7312Dan7312 Registered Users Posts: 1,330 Major grins
    edited July 5, 2011
    Yes, that's as I remember it working. Also once the 580 has flashed You should see the hss symbol light up in the lcd on the remote flash if it hss is set in the flash on the camera.


    NeilL wrote: »
    Really appreciate your reply Dan!thumb.gif Sorry to be slow to respond.

    If I understand you correctly, with the ST-E2 + 580EXII in slave, hss will happen without needing the hss button on the flash to be used, if the hss button on the ST-E2 is activated?

    Neil
    Dan

    http://www.danalphotos.com

    http://www.pluralsight.com

    http://twitter.com/d114
Sign In or Register to comment.