Wireless Flash Master Trigger For Canon 90D

[Chris_N]

I have two Canon 580 EX and also a Canon 430EX I am using with my 90D. I know that I can use a 580Ex on my hot shoe as a master to fire the other 2 flashes wirelessly. I know the 430EX can act as a slave but not a master.

However, there are some situations I would like to fire the two 580EX flashes wirelessly off shoe. I know that the 90D built in flash can fire them optically but not wirelessly. 

Is there a third party gadget that I can put on the hot shoe that can act as a master to fire the two 580EX wirelessly (not optically). That would be a great help. Your advice would be appreciated. 

Kind regards

Chris

[rs-eos]

I think when you say "wirelessly (not optically)", you mean via radio?  That's not possible with the 580-series or older 430 series (I and II).   You'll need to use an optical (i.e. line-of-sight) setup.

You should be able to have all three of your flashes act as slaves to be triggered by the 90D's built-in flash.   They would need to be positioned such that they can "see" that flash (line-of-sight).

[MikeSowsun]

Yes, there are third-party radio wireless gadgets that can allow you to use your 580EX flash units wirelessly, but will require a radio receiver for each flash unit.

[Chris_N]

Thank you rs-eos and Mike for your helpful replies. The radio transmitters and receivers look cool but I expect are quite pricey. In the meantime I discovered Canon make a "ST-E2" Speedlite transmitter but that is outside of my price range. (B&H sell them for $169). For that price, I might as well buy an extra second hand 580EX. I much prefer the 580EX compared to later models because it has an on-board dial for exposure compensation. It's much easier than fiddling with the custom functions and settings.  

I only very occasionally need to use two 580EX off shoe, so I may go for the built in remote optical firing on my 90D instead. The disadvantage is that I have to make sure that the IR detectors on both 580EX are pointed towards the inbuilt camera flash. I am sure the wireless radio method is more reliable and has a better range. If I could find a third party gadget for about $50 I would be tempted. 

Out of interest, when a 580 EX is placed on the hot shoe and set as a master flash, does it trigger other flashes by wireless radio signals or does it use the infrared line of sight method? I was under the impression it uses radio. 

Kind regards

Chris

[MikeSowsun]

The 580EX and 580EX II both use ONLY optical wireless. Radio wireless did not arrive until the 600EX-RT, 430EX III-RT, and ST-E3-RT. (if it doesn’t say RT, it is optical only)

One big advantage to the 580EX II is that it has compatibility with your 90D in-camera flash menu. (the 580EX does not) I find the in-camera menu makes setting up a master/slave setup much easier.

A cheap alternative to the Canon ST-E2 is the Yongnuo ST-E2 version. A Canon 90EX can also act as a master and is also a cheaper alternative. (these are all optical wireless solutions)

[Chris_N]

Thanks Mike. Very interesting information. I will check them out. All this time I thought that the 580EX worked with radio wireless. I didn't know that it works with optical/IR wireless.  Good to know. I doubt that I will ever use them more than 10 meters away off shoe  outdoors.

Kind regards

Chris

[MikeSowsun]

In my experience the Canon optical IR remote system works quite well indoors. In a room with light coloured walls, the IR light bounces all over, and you don’t really need direct line of sight.