7D Mark II second curtain - How To?

[KingNine]

I tried my first foray in to slow sync flash tonight and was very excited. I wanted to get my motion blur then freeze my subject. I went into the settings looking for rear curtain and found out Canon calls it second curtain. I rotated my wheel till second curtain was highlighted and pressed set. (I use the Altura E-TTL Flash in case that changes anything. If you need specs this is the link to it on Amazon [link removed per forum guidelines]) After pressing the set button I started trying to get my shots. They kept looking wrong and I started messing with shutter speeds trying to dial it in. As I did come up with a good speed I noticed it was still wrong. I was getting motion blur after the flash not before! I went back to the menu and sure enough 1st curtain was active. At that point I noticed it would let me highlight second curtain but it would NOT activate it. I have been scowering the interwebs for howto's on the 7D Mark II and slow shutter/second curtain sync and can't find anything. Where am I going wrong?

[ScottyP]

Your flash is not capable of second curtain sync. See this:

https://www.amazon.com/forum/-/TxB9KWPDU9OIVA/ref=ask_ql_ql_al_hza?asin=B00KEYRI0C

I also notice your kit came with a radio trigger which reminds me of another issue. Even the Canon wireless radio flashes can only do second curtain sync on camera. Not off camera by radio.

If you want 2nd curtain sync off camera (radio) my Phottix Mitros+ flashes will do it. Not sure what others will.

[KingNine]

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if it was the flash unit limiting me. That link you sent had the person reccomending the neewer model for inexpensive rear curtain applications. Do you have any other reccomendations?

[ScottyP]

Look at Flash Havoc and Flash Rumors for off brand flash names. Also big camera stores like Adorama or B&H will have some. Finding one with 2nd curtain sync when on camera isn't all that hard. If you need it off camera too the list gets short.

If you don't need it to work when triggered off camera then don't forget the new Canon 430 ex III radio flashes. Price is not as cheap as Yongnuo, etc but it is better quality equipment.

[ScottyP]

Here's from a couple years ago. 

[ScottyP]

[KingNine]

Thank you again.

It's amazing how the kids didn't blur in that image tracing out those designs. I would have thought you'd see a little motion. But I guess the camera only saw that bright sparkler and exposed for it.

[KingNine]

I played with the slow sync and onboard flash till I get a off camera flash capable of it. Pretty cool! Thanks for the help! 

[ScottyP]

Nice shot. 

I shot in Manual and underexposed by about 3 stops and the flash was set by ETTL, possibly using 1/3 stop negative flash exposure comp. in some. 

[KingNine]

Thanks! I think I was under exposing 3 stops as well and my daughter is already so white I still had to fix it a little in post. lol