Second curtain flash

[photog1107]

Does anyone know if a 7D can be programmed for a second curtain flash with a 420EX Speedlight? I can find nothing in either the 7D or the Speedlight manual that tells me how to set it. (Incidentally, I rarely see anyone comment who has a 420... am I waaaaay outdated with my old flash?)

Thanks for any feedback!

[inkista]

This is because you don't actually have any way of setting it directly on the 420EX (like you can with a 430EX), and the 420EX can't be controlled from the 7D's flash control menu the way the 430EX II or 580EX II can.

I think the main reason you're not seeing many people shooting with a 420EX is that most folks with dSLRs are first-time SLR owners--they only began to acquire gear over the last three to five years, after the 420EX was already discontinued (2005).

The 5DMkII and the 7D assume you've got a MkII speedlight that you can talk to through the camera back or a 430EX or 580EX, where you can set this stuff manually via the flash's LCD back. Older dSLRs have a custom function to set rear-curtain sync, but with those two bodies, you got caught between a rock and a hard place. I love how Canon sometimes removes features you still need. (sigh).

I'd say it may be time to upgrade your speedlite. Having manual power control is a good thing when you decide to go Strobist.

[photog1107]

Sigh... as I expected. I'd be much more excited to throw $500 at a new lens, but hopefully, I will enjoy the new features once I get there. Thanks for the response.

[sybren]

A 580EX-II is a good investment, especially since with the 7D you can control it wirelessly!

If only Canon supported wireless 2nd curtain sync... :'(

[inkista]

Well, a 430EX or 430EX II could also be controlled wirelessly. But if you're doing on-camera work, a 580EX II would be more fun: the 360° swivel, the control wheel, and the power boost alone make it a nicer upgrade, never mind the other half-dozen bells and whistles.

Sybren: I know. It's as stupid as the fact that master mode on the 580EX II is disabled when you use the sync port. (sigh) Canon flash engineers really need to read the Strobist Flickr group discussions--it's like Microsoft Office defaults--you just want to scream "I don't use this tool the way you're sure I use this tool!". I do wonder, though, if this might be another reason to look at upcoming TTL-capable eBay triggers. They look like they essentially fake a sync cord over radio, and you can get off-camera second-curtain sync if you use a cord.

Too bad that particular set of triggers has something like a 40% failure rate (sigh). Waiting to see if Yong Nuo comes out with something that works as well as their RF-602s.

[sybren]

Yeah, that failure ratio is way too high. I also like the ability to control my strobes from the camera (or a master sitting on top of it).

The Radio Poppers seem very promising, but even though they initially aimed for a july 2009 release in the EU, they're still not available here.