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Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

Started 3 months ago | Questions
Loarenzo New Member • Posts: 4
Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

Can the R10's built-in flash serve as a sender/trigger/master to fire off-camera EX-EL flash units wirelessly?  I know other EOS cameras with a built-in flash can do so, but the manual for the R10 does not state this or cover it.  Its wireless section deals only with external flash, the options for which are grayed out until a suitable flash is mounted and powered up. There is no mention in the manual that the built-in flash of the R10 can or cannot be used as a sender/trigger/master. I've been asking around and only gotten answers like "consult the manual" or "it should."  It would be nice to have a definitive answer.

 Loarenzo's gear list:Loarenzo's gear list
Canon EOS R10 Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM
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drsnoopy Senior Member • Posts: 1,216
Re: Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

Loarenzo wrote:

Can the R10's built-in flash serve as a sender/trigger/master to fire off-camera EX-EL flash units wirelessly? I know other EOS cameras with a built-in flash can do so, but the manual for the R10 does not state this or cover it. Its wireless section deals only with external flash, the options for which are grayed out until a suitable flash is mounted and powered up. There is no mention in the manual that the built-in flash of the R10 can or cannot be used as a sender/trigger/master. I've been asking around and only gotten answers like "consult the manual" or "it should." It would be nice to have a definitive answer.

Not all previous EOS dSLRs could do this, I think the first was the 7D2, then the 80D, 77D, 90D. Only cameras with a pop up flash of course, and this is the optical wireless (IR) system, not radio wireless. I had an M5 and I don’t think that had optical triggering (I may be wrong). As to the R10, I’ve also looked and found this thread which indicates that the R10 built-in flash *does* have the optical wireless trigger function.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4667719

Also the spec in the Canon UK site states “wireless multi-flash capability”

https://www.canon.co.uk/cameras/eos-r10/specifications/

Hope that helps.

 drsnoopy's gear list:drsnoopy's gear list
Canon EOS RP Canon EOS R5 Canon EOS R10 Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro +10 more
OP Loarenzo New Member • Posts: 4
Re: Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

drsnoopy wrote:

Loarenzo wrote:

Can the R10's built-in flash serve as a sender/trigger/master to fire off-camera EX-EL flash units wirelessly? I know other EOS cameras with a built-in flash can do so, but the manual for the R10 does not state this or cover it. Its wireless section deals only with external flash, the options for which are grayed out until a suitable flash is mounted and powered up. There is no mention in the manual that the built-in flash of the R10 can or cannot be used as a sender/trigger/master. I've been asking around and only gotten answers like "consult the manual" or "it should." It would be nice to have a definitive answer.

Not all previous EOS dSLRs could do this, I think the first was the 7D2, then the 80D, 77D, 90D. Only cameras with a pop up flash of course, and this is the optical wireless (IR) system, not radio wireless. I had an M5 and I don’t think that had optical triggering (I may be wrong). As to the R10, I’ve also looked and found this thread which indicates that the R10 built-in flash *does* have the optical wireless trigger function.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4667719

Also the spec in the Canon UK site states “wireless multi-flash capability”

https://www.canon.co.uk/cameras/eos-r10/specifications/

Hope that helps.

Thanks! I loaned my R10 to a friend who is considering buying one and he emailed me because he was having trouble using the camera as a master and wanted me to confirm that it could do that. I have multiple EX flash units, but had never tried and can't experiment until I get the camera back in early January.  When I had the camera in hand, I believe the wireless capabilities of the Flash Control menu only appeared when a compatible flash was attached and powered up.  I saw the U.K. specs earlier, but am not sure that "wireless multi-flash capability" doesn't simply refer to the External Flash Functions menu entry of the Flash Control menu, which can access the shoe mount flash when it's attached to the R10.  I'm still hoping to hear from an actual R10 owner who has done this.   I'll know for sure when I get the camera back, but meanwhile I don't know what to tell my friend.

 Loarenzo's gear list:Loarenzo's gear list
Canon EOS R10 Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM
cocoanud
cocoanud Contributing Member • Posts: 699
Re: Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

Loarenzo wrote:

Can the R10's built-in flash serve as a sender/trigger/master to fire off-camera EX-EL flash units wirelessly? I know other EOS cameras with a built-in flash can do so, but the manual for the R10 does not state this or cover it. Its wireless section deals only with external flash, the options for which are grayed out until a suitable flash is mounted and powered up. There is no mention in the manual that the built-in flash of the R10 can or cannot be used as a sender/trigger/master. I've been asking around and only gotten answers like "consult the manual" or "it should." It would be nice to have a definitive answer.

Just tried on my R10, the inbuilt flash cannot be used as an optical trigger, whereas The EL-100 can be.

HTH

—C

 cocoanud's gear list:cocoanud's gear list
Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II Canon EF 70-200 F4 II Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 RF +3 more
OP Loarenzo New Member • Posts: 4
Re: Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

cocoanud wrote:

Loarenzo wrote:

Can the R10's built-in flash serve as a sender/trigger/master to fire off-camera EX-EL flash units wirelessly? I know other EOS cameras with a built-in flash can do so, but the manual for the R10 does not state this or cover it. Its wireless section deals only with external flash, the options for which are grayed out until a suitable flash is mounted and powered up. There is no mention in the manual that the built-in flash of the R10 can or cannot be used as a sender/trigger/master. I've been asking around and only gotten answers like "consult the manual" or "it should." It would be nice to have a definitive answer.

Just tried on my R10, the inbuilt flash cannot be used as an optical trigger, whereas The EL-100 can be.

HTH

—C

Thanks!  That's what I needed to know.  I have the EL-100.

 Loarenzo's gear list:Loarenzo's gear list
Canon EOS R10 Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM
drsnoopy Senior Member • Posts: 1,216
Re: Can R10 built-in flash trigger off-camera EX/EL flash?

Loarenzo wrote:

cocoanud wrote:

Loarenzo wrote:

Can the R10's built-in flash serve as a sender/trigger/master to fire off-camera EX-EL flash units wirelessly? I know other EOS cameras with a built-in flash can do so, but the manual for the R10 does not state this or cover it. Its wireless section deals only with external flash, the options for which are grayed out until a suitable flash is mounted and powered up. There is no mention in the manual that the built-in flash of the R10 can or cannot be used as a sender/trigger/master. I've been asking around and only gotten answers like "consult the manual" or "it should." It would be nice to have a definitive answer.

Just tried on my R10, the inbuilt flash cannot be used as an optical trigger, whereas The EL-100 can be.

HTH

—C

Thanks! That's what I needed to know. I have the EL-100.

And it’s somewhat disappointing.

 drsnoopy's gear list:drsnoopy's gear list
Canon EOS RP Canon EOS R5 Canon EOS R10 Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro +10 more
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