eos m6 mkii - no wireless flash control

It's a nice solution as long as you don't use the touch screen to guide the AF.

kli wrote:

No Canon camera has a built in radio RT transmitter to control flashes remotely over radio. Some Canon cameras (mostly dSLRs) have the ability to use Canon's "smart" optical system to remotely control/fire flashes with a built-in/pop-up flash. In the EOS M lineup, that's apparently reserved for the M5 and M50 lines.

And Canon speedlights don't have dumb S1/S2 optical slave modes that will fire the flash remotely from any flash burst. [But, you'd have no setting remote control, TTL, or HSS. Just the ability to fire the flash off-camera.]

... Is there something similar I can buy for my M6 that will work to trigger my flash wirelessly?

You'd need to have a radio RT flash transmitter on the camera's hotshoe to fire the 430EX III-RT off-camera over radio. A Canon SS-E3-RT, another 430EX III-RT, 600EX-RT or 600EX II-RT, or some third-party alternative (Yongnuo YN-E3-RT, Phottix Laso, Jinbei TR-Q7, etc.)

But if that's too expensive, you could try using Canon's "smart" optical system which is older, with the older gear (580EX, 580EX II, ST-E2, or 3rd party alternative that can be an optical master unit. etc.)

But most of us? We just don't go with Canon OEM flashes and use Godox's system instead. While a TT685-Cis not as nice on TTL accuracy/consistency or head rotation or AF assist as a Canon EX speedlight, it can do roughly 90% of everything a 600EX-RT can do, and a bunch of stuff the 600EX-RT cannot (like dumb S1/S2 modes). And it's $110. And an Xpro-C or Flashpoint R2 Pro II-C transmitter to use it off-camera costs $70. A the smaller TT350-C ($85) isn't as nice as an EL-100 for on-camera bounce flash, but it has a built-in radio transceiver and can be part of an off-camera flash system in a way the EL-100 cannot.

So, +1 on seeing if you can return the 430EX III-RT and taking a look at Godox's gear instead.

I was about to open a new thread with a similar title (eos m6 mkii - no wireless flash control, but then I found your post.

I am trying to use the M6 (mk I) built-in flash to trigger the EL-100 wirelessly, but it seems like it is not possible.

So I did an extensive search on DPR and in internet in order to find a compatibility list of EOS bodies capable to trigger the EL-100 wirelessly, without success.

Does such a list exist?

Or how do you know that only the M5 and the M50 have this feature?

mouzhik wrote:

kli wrote:

... Some Canon cameras (mostly dSLRs) have the ability to use Canon's "smart" optical system to remotely control/fire flashes with a built-in/pop-up flash. In the EOS M lineup, that's apparently reserved for the M5 and M50 lines.

I was about to open a new thread with a similar title (eos m6 mkii - no wireless flash control, but then I found your post.

I am trying to use the M6 (mk I) built-in flash to trigger the EL-100 wirelessly, but it seems like it is not possible.

Correct.

So I did an extensive search on DPR and in internet in order to find a compatibility list of EOS bodies capable to trigger the EL-100 wirelessly, without success.

Does such a list exist?

Or how do you know that only the M5 and the M50 have this feature?

I don't, I was assuming (wrongly), since with the dSLR lines, wireless flash control from the built-in flash is typically reserved for prosumer bodies (having it in the Canon T#i line is an exception, rather than the rule for most brands). I also think I'd googled up someone else making the same assumption to "verify". Gotta love the interwebz echo chamber of misinformation.

Googling, now, the M5, M50, M50ii and M6ii do not have this capability. Looks like none of the M bodies do this. They can all do wireless flash with an appropriate "master" unit on the hotshoe, though, which is why this can make it hard to tell from specs.

Also, the R bodies don't have built-in flashes, so they can't do it, either. Looks like Canon thinks mirrorless shooters are all going to buy radio transmitters instead.

kli wrote:

mouzhik wrote:

kli wrote:

... Some Canon cameras (mostly dSLRs) have the ability to use Canon's "smart" optical system to remotely control/fire flashes with a built-in/pop-up flash. In the EOS M lineup, that's apparently reserved for the M5 and M50 lines.

I was about to open a new thread with a similar title (eos m6 mkii - no wireless flash control, but then I found your post.

I am trying to use the M6 (mk I) built-in flash to trigger the EL-100 wirelessly, but it seems like it is not possible.

Correct.

So I did an extensive search on DPR and in internet in order to find a compatibility list of EOS bodies capable to trigger the EL-100 wirelessly, without success.

Does such a list exist?

Or how do you know that only the M5 and the M50 have this feature?

I don't, I was assuming (wrongly), since with the dSLR lines, wireless flash control from the built-in flash is typically reserved for prosumer bodies (having it in the Canon T#i line is an exception, rather than the rule for most brands). I also think I'd googled up someone else making the same assumption to "verify". Gotta love the interwebz echo chamber of misinformation.

Googling, now, the M5, M50, M50ii and M6ii do not have this capability. Looks like none of the M bodies do this. They can all do wireless flash with an appropriate "master" unit on the hotshoe, though, which is why this can make it hard to tell from specs.

Also, the R bodies don't have built-in flashes, so they can't do it, either. Looks like Canon thinks mirrorless shooters are all going to buy radio transmitters instead.

Thank you for your answer.

Last night I did it the other way round, I consulted the user manuals of those M-models and yes, you are right: they can trigger nothing at all, except for my profound disappointment... Why would they cripple even such small things???

mouzhik wrote:

... Why would they cripple even such small things???

Because it makes the camera cheaper/simpler/easier to manufacture, probably. Or maybe there's just not enough space in the body to add the chip that does that function onto the board.

Also because Godox has probably made such inroads on their flash sales, that they all assume you'd more likely purchase an $85 TT350-C or a $110 TT685-C and a $70 XPro-C rather than a $500 600EX II-RT and a $300 ST-E3-RT v2.

bcemail wrote:

Googling, now, the M5, M50, M50ii and M6ii do not have this capability. Looks like none of the M bodies do this. They can all do wireless flash with an appropriate "master" unit on the hotshoe, though, which is why this can make it hard to tell from specs.

Also, the R bodies don't have built-in flashes, so they can't do it, either. Looks like Canon thinks mirrorless shooters are all going to buy radio transmitters instead.

I'm looking into these cameras and just wanted to make sure I understand that none of them can use the pop up flash to trigger a speedlite? I have the 430ii that I was planning on using but sounds like I would need a master on the body or a trigger setup for that? Thanks!

With an 430EX II, if you wanted to use the Canon "smart" optical wireless system, yes, you would need a master unit on the hotshoe (90EX, 580EX II, 600EX-RT, ST-E2, etc.). But remember that optical systems are typically best in studio settings, where the ambient light is relatively low and there are a plenty of bounce surfaces around. Outside on location in the sunlight, range and reliability can drop and line-of-sight requirements can become more stringent. It's kind of like a tv remote system.

If, however, you wanted to use radio signaling to get around these shortcoming, then you'd not only need a transmitter unit on the hotshoe of the camera, but also a radio receiver to attach to the foot of the 430EX II, since it doesn't have any type of radio capability built-in. (e.g., a Godox X1R-C receiver+Xpro-C; or Yongnuo YN-622C transceiver and YN-622C-TX; or Yongnuo YN-E3-RX and YN-E3-RT [if you wanted to use other Canon RT gear in future]).

Those of us who have drunk the Godox kool-aid would tell you to consider not using the 430EX II, but get, say, a $110 Godox TT685-C (if you want TTL) or $65 TT600 to use off-camera instead, since it has a radio transceiver built-in and doesn't require an add-on receiver.   And keep the 430EX II for on-camera bounce use.

Thread rez, but I didn't see any mention of using a cheap ($20-$30) hot shoe extension cord.  It's enough to be able to put it on a bracket further from the lens, though (of course) you can't use the EVF at the same time.

I was very disappointed to find out that the M6.2 doesn't have optical shutter release or flash trigger, to use with a 270EX II flash (which can be a RC-6 - like trigger).

What I'm going to try is getting a EL-100 to mount on the camera, which seems to add IR send and receive, if the M firmware supports actually using that.  Hoping the 270 can be a slave flash that way.  Maybe also add remote shutter release.

Or, it won't, and I'll sell whichever one I like less.

Renard DellaFave wrote:

Thread rez, but I didn't see any mention of using a cheap ($20-$30) hot shoe extension cord. It's enough to be able to put it on a bracket further from the lens, though (of course) you can't use the EVF at the same time.

I was very disappointed to find out that the M6.2 doesn't have optical shutter release or flash trigger, to use with a 270EX II flash (which can be a RC-6 - like trigger).

What I'm going to try is getting a EL-100 to mount on the camera, which seems to add IR send and receive,

Looked in the user manual. It does have both send/master and receive/slave functions. And yes, the M6ii should be able to use it as an on-camera sender.

Hoping the 270 can be a slave flash that way.

Did a quick spelunk through the user manuals: the 270EX has no wireless capability. But the 270EX II can be used as an optical slave unit. Make sure the red front panel is facing the EL100 so it can "see" the signalling.

On the 270EX II, you just slide the on/slave/off switch to slave. You cannot set the channel or group. It's always in channels 1-4, and Group A, according to the user manual, page 17-18.

Looked in the user manual. It does have both send/master and receive/slave functions. And yes, the M6ii should be able to use it as an on-camera sender.

Just got it and it does work as a sender to the 270EX II. Nice.  270 Used & 100 as Refurb, the pair was <$200 for an official Canon 2 flash setup.

The EL-100 doesn't work as a receiver for the IR shutter release (RC-6 like) button on the 270EX II. I wasn't counting on that, but it would have been a nice extra, since it has the requisite hardware (an IR sensor that the M6ii lacks).  Still limited to bluetooth, wired, or Canon Connect app.

On the 270EX II, you just slide the on/slave/off switch to slave. You cannot set the channel or group. It's always in channels 1-4, and Group A, according to the user manual, page 17-18.

What I'm not clear on is if there's a way to set the ratio between the sender and a single slave (or individual manual power). You can set a ratio between A:B. The 270 is "A". I presume the 100 as sender is also "A", so I'm guessing not.

All that's in the manual is "When sender flash firing is set to [Enable], the flash units in group A fire".  So I guess you'd need a receiver capable of being "B", then maybe the A:B ratio would work as SENDER:RECEIVER ratio.

Renard DellaFave wrote:

On the 270EX II, you just slide the on/slave/off switch to slave. You cannot set the channel or group. It's always in channels 1-4, and Group A, according to the user manual, page 17-18.

What I'm not clear on is if there's a way to set the ratio between the sender and a single slave (or individual manual power). You can set a ratio between A:B. The 270 is "A". I presume the 100 as sender is also "A", so I'm guessing not.

My take as well.

All that's in the manual is "When sender flash firing is set to [Enable], the flash units in group A fire". So I guess you'd need a receiver capable of being "B", then maybe the A:B ratio would work as SENDER:RECEIVER ratio.

Exactly right. The on-camera unit is always in Group A. You need at least one unit to be set to Group B to have A:B ratio control. The larger speedlights can be set to groups other than A. How many depends on the age of the model. The 550EX, iirc, can only do A or B, the 430EX/430EX II and 580EX/580EX II can do A-C, while the 600EX-RT models and 430EX III-RT can do A-E (though groups D&E are M only, can't be set to TTL).