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firing test flash for radio popper flash metering?
  • PompoPompo January 7
    What should I use to fire a test flash for metering purposes without clicking on the shutter button and firing a blank shot?
    I'd want to do that so I can meter with a light meter while someone hold a soft box setup with radio poppers away from me and the subjects
  • Neil+vNNeil vN January 14
    You won't be able to use a lightmeter, since the preflashes will fool the lightmeter in thinking there is just the smallest amount of light coming from your flash.
  • PompoPompo January 29
    thanks Neil... but how do you meter with speedlight in manual in a softbox then? I gotta go re read all over your blog :)
  • StephenStephen January 29
    You would have to use a SC-28/SC-29 cable (for Nikon) which connects the camera to the flash itself. Or you would have to use a PocketWizard which does not use pre-flashes (or some similar wireless solution).
  • PompoPompo February 5
    does the Canon 580ex II when used in manual still have preflash tho? I canno't find it on the manual but someone said only in ettl...
  • TrevTrev February 5
    No pre-flash in manual, since in manual mode it gives the exact same amount, depending on the power you set, each and every time, as it does not 'measure' what it needs.

    In TTL, the pre-flash is there to measure what it thinks it needs then the main flash fires.

    Trev.
  • PompoPompo February 5
    Thanks Trev that's what I thought but I still get the dang master flash 580ex mounted on my camera and set as master to "light up" even If I set it to off, do you have any idea why it might do that? everything is on Manual, I guess it's not a pre flash but I have to turn it at 180 to get rid of the light it shoots...its s most def off..It drives me insane...
  • TrevTrev February 5
    ahhh, you have a flash set in Master on camera and an off camera flash set to slave? so I presume it still "lights up", to trip the slave. I presume as I have never used 2 speedlites on/off camera as master/slave.

    If you are using the speedlite on camera only to operate purely in Manual mode, no master/slave combo, it won't pre-flash.

    Trev.
  • PompoPompo February 5
    yep, I have a flash set in Master on camera and an off camera flash set to slave with the radio poppers, I thought the popper is waht trigger the slave, I 'll ask radio poppers people..Thanks again!
  • TrevTrev February 5
    try setting the flash on camera to default, not master, if you already have radio poppers..

    I don't have have also, so cannot say how they work.

    Just do some tests

    Trev.
  • PompoPompo February 5
    its seems that : the master will still fire but not when the shutter is open so the master is essentially disabled.
  • PompoPompo February 5
    I just did a test and the flash even when disabled and on master mode does effect the exposure...Driving me nuts lol
  • TrevTrev February 6
    Oh, I see, just realised, you have to have the flash on camera set to fire to trigger the Radio Poppers which in turn will fire the off camera.

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