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Wireless Speedlight control Explanation Please

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delic

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What exactly does the addition of "Wireless Speedlight control" on the 60D allow? Does this allow the camera (and the built in flash) to act as master without a speedlite mounted on it?
 
From the following link (would apply to 60D and 7D):



Integrated Speedlite Transmitter

While all this is very important, the real advancement of the built in flash on the EOS 7D is that it includes an Integrated Speedlite Transmitter. This acts as a master control unit in the same way that the Speedlite 580EX II can be used to control wireless slave units. It opens up new worlds of wireless flash shooting without having to buy a master flash unit like the Speedlite 580EX II or the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.

Like the Speedlite 580EX II, the EOS 7D can be used to control up to three groups of slave lights and set ratios or manual power outputs for each group. The flash on the camera can also be used as part of the exposure like a fourth flash group, but because the flash has to fire to instruct the slave flash units, the power output of the built in flash is reduced to a maximum Guide Number of approximately 4. In this setting it may be used to add a small catch light to the eyes of a nearby subject, but it will not provide a large amount of light to illuminate a scene.

To aid functionality when working with a group of photographers in a multiple wireless flash arrangement, the Integrated Speedlite Transmitter can also be set to one of four channels, just like the Speedlites. In this way up to four photographers can work together without triggering each other’s Speedlites accidentally.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/eos7d.do

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/39169343@N04/
 
Hi, Unfortunately, it is not yet clear whether or not all the functionality of the 7D built-in controller has been carried down to the 60D.

The incomplete dpreview summary implies that the Firing Group menu option may have been deleted. It says "No multigroup Support" . Hopefully dpreview will clear this up as part of their proper review.

If this is missing it would cripple the functionality to a considerable degree.

I don't think the 60D instruction manual is available as yet, but I would compare it against the 7D flash handling very carefully indeed. Cheers, Donald
 
From the following link:
  • Integrated Speedlite Transmitter
The EOS 60D, like the EOS 7D, features an in-built wireless flash controller that functions in a similar way to actually having a Speedlite 580EX II mounted on the camera. It allows the use of full wireless multiple flash control without having to buy extra accessories like an ST-E2 to act as a master unit.

The in-built transmitter can control two remote groups of Speedlites using E-TTL II or by setting the flash powers manually for each group. The built-in flash can also act as a third group to provide and extra light source when required.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/product/cameras/eos60d.do

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/39169343@N04/
 
Hi, Thanks for that link. There remains a little ambiguity. It looks as though they have not crippled the 60D controller relative to the 7D's as much as I feared. They talk of 2 groups with the controller being a quasi 3rd - whereas the 7D controls 3 groups with its controller being a quasi 4th.

It's still a pretty cynical move - being a software crippling, but not quite as breath taking as I thought at first.
Tx.
 
Donald,

You can now catch your breath as the instruction manual that delic found indicates that you can vary the ratios in automatic shooting. It appears that the only difference is that it only controls 2 slaves as you have indicated already.

Is it just me or does anybody else agree with me that Canon crippled the wireless flash system by allowing the built-in flash power to deteriorate to the extent that it is is only useful as a "catch-light" when shooting in wireless flash mode?

I was taught in class that the fill light at the camera is to be 1/2 of the main light output. How are we supposed to do this when the built-in flash is rendered almost useless?

To delic, great find on the 324page 60D manual. It isn't on Canon's website. Where did you find it?

Bill
ScratchDisk said:
Hi, Thanks for that link. There remains a little ambiguity. It looks as though they have not crippled the 60D controller relative to the 7D's as much as I feared. They talk of 2 groups with the controller being a quasi 3rd - whereas the 7D controls 3 groups with its controller being a quasi 4th.

It's still a pretty cynical move - being a software crippling, but not quite as breath taking as I thought at first.
Tx.
Click to expand...
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img7d
 
Too lazy to download and search for this... ;)

Will this Wireless control handle older EZ flashes, too or only EX?

This then may be a less expensive way to handle multiple flashes but I'm still thinking of going with RadioPopper triggers and receivers that don't rely upon 'line of sight'.

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Beauty is NOT just skin deep.
 
Hi Bill, I don't count the low power of the built-in set to contribute capture-flash as too much of a loss. Personally I prefer any near or on axis fill to be diffused rather than a point source. So either I use reflectors or something like a Demb Flip-it on a 580 master as the minimum area of diffusion/scatter - a small 'box would be better still. The controlling range of the 7D controller is reasonable - I find it a good compromise. Sometimes I switch to a 580 on a 1.5m OC-E3 clone. Cheers, Donald
 
RHWeiner said:
Too lazy to download and search for this... ;)

Will this Wireless control handle older EZ flashes, too or only EX?
Click to expand...
No. As a matter of fact, EZ flashes won't work properly mounted directly on the hotshoe. Only Canon EX flash or E-TTL compatible 3rd party flash with the wireless receiver will work off-camera.

Mark
 
Mark I know that the EZ units don't work on the hotshoe. But I was thinking that I may still be able to use it wireless. Guess not so I'll keep looking at the RadioPopper.
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Beauty is NOT just skin deep.
 
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