I have recently bought the 565EX ETTL Speedlite Flash for Canon for my 1000d, and it is great. However, I have jus bought an EOS 6D and have found differing opinions s to whether it will be compatible.
I am also interested in possible a second flash for doing some studio work and other stuff, but am confused what to buy - do I need transceivers, or do flash units have the wireless built in. Is there a cheapish flash that I could buy that would control my current one with wireless built in.
I'm new to the world of flash, and have not got my 6D yet (hopefully tomorrow), so I am just not sure what I need to use a second or possible third flash.
Also I think my current flash is limited to 1/200 aperture speed, and would possible like one that goes higher. I just keep reading different things.
There's a host of questions being asked here and a host of possible answers. Here are just some of the options available to you If you have a speedlight in the hotshoe of your 6D (let's say a 430 EX II - lower end of the range Canon Speedlite) you can use it to optically trigger other compatible flashes. If you have a s00 EX RT in your hotshoe you can optically trigger other flashes or wirelessly trigger other 600 EX RT. I suspect that the 6D has a wireless capability built in to it but if not then you can use a dedicated Canon product such as an ST-E3 RC to wirelessly trigger external 600 EX RT flashes. Then there are bucket loads of third party wireless devices availalbe off the Internet for moderate prices. The options are almost endless. On a recent course I was using a Canon Speedlite in manual mode to trigger Nikon SB800s optically!
Sounds complicated? It is more "confusing" than "complicated"
Regarding a second speedlite... I have the Canon 430 EXII and I just got a YN-560 III and a couple of triggers (RF-603C II). The YN-560 III can be triggered via radio with one Yongnuo trigger as controller (the radio is built-in in the speedlite), but also optically. In the end, I can use one radio controller on the camera hotshoe to trigger both speedlites, the 430 EX II using the other radio trigger, and the YN-560 III thanks to its built-in radio capability.
Of course, the YN-560 III lacks some advanced options (TTL, HSS...): it's a manual speedlite. Anyway, I haven't still tested this setup in real conditions: I've just checked that everything works as I expected...
@grizzlysghost@steampowered@dgcarter@primitiveprobe@rafesmar Thanks all - I went for the565 Ex Ettl because it was ETTL, but it won't act as the wireless trigger. I suppose one option is to get the YN 560-III which will act as a wireless trigger for the 565 EX ETTL. Is that right?? Seems a cheaper option than buying transceivers and another speedlite.
I got my setup (not including the Canon speedlite) for less than 65 pounds.... Both the triggers and the speedlite have good reviews: they are supposed to be cheap but good...
@iwatts Just hop onto Amazon and search for "Canon Speedlite triggers" to see a wealth of options. A couple of cheap triggers / hotshoes and a couple of cheap Speedlites and you should be a happy bunny.
@iwatts The 565EX should work perfectly on your 6D.
Your 565EX is very similar to a genuine Canon 430EX II, in that it can work as a wireless TTL receiver (using Canon's proprietary TTL communications systems), but not as a wireless TTL master (i.e. it can't control other flashes).
You have various options to go wireless, depending on whether you want to keep the TTL function, and whether you want your second flash to be on-camera or off-camera.
The simplest way, which will lose the TTL facility, is to buy simple wireless triggers, such as the Yongnuo RF-603 II triggers. You will mount one of these on the camera, and one on each flash you want to control. If you want a second flash, you can buy a non-TTL Yongnuo YN560-III, which has a built in receiver for the RF-603 II triggers. This means you'd need one pack of RF-603 II triggers, one for the camera and one for your existing flash, and one YN560-III flash, and you could now trigger both flashes off-camera. The downside (depending on your point of view) is that you lose all TTL functionality -- you need to manually configure the flash brightness on both units. Controlling flashes manually is fairly common in off-camera lighting work (and is the basis of the Strobist approach), so it depends whether this is a problem for you or not.
Option two is to buy a TTL flash master, such as the Yongnuo YN568EX II. This is very similar to the Canon 580EX II, as it can act as a TTL master. In this case, you'd fit the YN568EX II on your camera, enabling TTL master mode, and enable TTL slave mode on your existing flash. Now, both the on-camera flash and the slave flash will fire together, and will both use TTL metering to adjust their brightness automatically. The downside of this is that one flash is stuck on the camera, so you only really have one off-camera flash (unless you also buy a second 565EX).
Option three is to buy a TTL wireless trigger system, such as the YN-622. This wireless system is similar to option one, except that as well as simply transmitting a 'fire the flash' signal, it also exchanges TTL information, so you again get automatic exposure control. If you wanted two flashes, you'd also buy a second 565EX, requiring a total of three YN-622 triggers (one on the camera, one on each flash). The downside with this system is that if you want to change settings, you need to do so using the camera menus, which I don't think your 1000D supports (but the 6D certainly does).
All of those are fairly complex, so if you can let us know a bit more what you want to do (if you need both flashes off-camera, and if you want TTL support or not), we might be able to advise further.
Personally, unless you're getting paid to do this, I wouldn't waste money on genuine Canon flashes or PocketWizard triggers -- these newer aftermarket flashes are much more reliable than systems from 5 years ago, and they trigger pretty faultlessly. PocketWizards are great (heck, they allow you to trigger flashes in a different province!) but you can buy a complete off-camera flash system for less than a pair of PocketWizard triggers.
There's a lot of different model numbers and systems here, so I'd definitely advise buying stuff like this from a company with an excellent returns policy, both in case they send the wrong item, and in case of ordering mishaps.
@rafesmar Yay! that is exactly the combination I've just put together for my 60d.....I've managed to trigger my 430ex ii with the RF-603C II but I want to try and fire both flashes.....so now I am going to settle down with a cuppa and read what @abirkill and everyone has to say, then hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have both firing. Thanks Alexis and Rafa, I've been googling this combo at lunchtime without much success.....should have started here first shouldn't I!!
@abirkill Option 2 is the best for me I think - it allows me the most flexibility for my system to develop and grow. I don't at the moment mind one being stuck on the camera. I presume that the YN-622 would fit in at a later date if I needed 2 or 3 off camera. It just seems daft at the moment to spend over £100 on two yn-622's that would do the same job as a yn568ex II. Thanks for the very detailed answer - that helps a lot.
@iwatts Option 2, the YN568EX II master flash, is definitely the nicest option -- it gets you a second flash that's even better than your existing flash, and full remote TTL control of your existing flash (or manual control if you need that for some reason), without needing extra transmitters, receivers, batteries, and other stuff that just confuses matters.
If you want to add further flashes in the future, I'd advise adding more 565EXs, like you have at the moment. The YN568EX II can control any number of 565EXs in full TTL mode in up to three groups (you put the slave flashes into any of three groups, and if you want you can then adjust the brightness ratio between each group, for advanced lighting setups).
The other nice thing about this solution is that the wireless TTL communication is compatible with that used by genuine Canon flashes, so if you are out shooting with a friend who has a genuine Canon flash, you can also control that with the Yongnuo master.
@abirkill Even better - i've just ordered the YN568EX II so I look forward to it coming. Thanks for the advice - you are always so willing to give of your expertise and advice. Thank you so much. I'm just glad I have a wife that is willing to let me spend the money.
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Sounds complicated? It is more "confusing" than "complicated"
http://www.davesphotoblog.net/2014/02/pocketwizard-best-value-wireless-remote-triggering-solution-dslr/
Of course, the YN-560 III lacks some advanced options (TTL, HSS...): it's a manual speedlite. Anyway, I haven't still tested this setup in real conditions: I've just checked that everything works as I expected...
I know from experience you will soon be disappointed and the pocket wizard will be where you end out.
Me I would get canon 600EX as they have built in wireless and do everything you want them to do, but they are the top end of the price range.
Your 565EX is very similar to a genuine Canon 430EX II, in that it can work as a wireless TTL receiver (using Canon's proprietary TTL communications systems), but not as a wireless TTL master (i.e. it can't control other flashes).
You have various options to go wireless, depending on whether you want to keep the TTL function, and whether you want your second flash to be on-camera or off-camera.
The simplest way, which will lose the TTL facility, is to buy simple wireless triggers, such as the Yongnuo RF-603 II triggers. You will mount one of these on the camera, and one on each flash you want to control. If you want a second flash, you can buy a non-TTL Yongnuo YN560-III, which has a built in receiver for the RF-603 II triggers. This means you'd need one pack of RF-603 II triggers, one for the camera and one for your existing flash, and one YN560-III flash, and you could now trigger both flashes off-camera. The downside (depending on your point of view) is that you lose all TTL functionality -- you need to manually configure the flash brightness on both units. Controlling flashes manually is fairly common in off-camera lighting work (and is the basis of the Strobist approach), so it depends whether this is a problem for you or not.
Option two is to buy a TTL flash master, such as the Yongnuo YN568EX II. This is very similar to the Canon 580EX II, as it can act as a TTL master. In this case, you'd fit the YN568EX II on your camera, enabling TTL master mode, and enable TTL slave mode on your existing flash. Now, both the on-camera flash and the slave flash will fire together, and will both use TTL metering to adjust their brightness automatically. The downside of this is that one flash is stuck on the camera, so you only really have one off-camera flash (unless you also buy a second 565EX).
Option three is to buy a TTL wireless trigger system, such as the YN-622. This wireless system is similar to option one, except that as well as simply transmitting a 'fire the flash' signal, it also exchanges TTL information, so you again get automatic exposure control. If you wanted two flashes, you'd also buy a second 565EX, requiring a total of three YN-622 triggers (one on the camera, one on each flash). The downside with this system is that if you want to change settings, you need to do so using the camera menus, which I don't think your 1000D supports (but the 6D certainly does).
All of those are fairly complex, so if you can let us know a bit more what you want to do (if you need both flashes off-camera, and if you want TTL support or not), we might be able to advise further.
Personally, unless you're getting paid to do this, I wouldn't waste money on genuine Canon flashes or PocketWizard triggers -- these newer aftermarket flashes are much more reliable than systems from 5 years ago, and they trigger pretty faultlessly. PocketWizards are great (heck, they allow you to trigger flashes in a different province!) but you can buy a complete off-camera flash system for less than a pair of PocketWizard triggers.
There's a lot of different model numbers and systems here, so I'd definitely advise buying stuff like this from a company with an excellent returns policy, both in case they send the wrong item, and in case of ordering mishaps.
If you want to add further flashes in the future, I'd advise adding more 565EXs, like you have at the moment. The YN568EX II can control any number of 565EXs in full TTL mode in up to three groups (you put the slave flashes into any of three groups, and if you want you can then adjust the brightness ratio between each group, for advanced lighting setups).
The other nice thing about this solution is that the wireless TTL communication is compatible with that used by genuine Canon flashes, so if you are out shooting with a friend who has a genuine Canon flash, you can also control that with the Yongnuo master.