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How to setup remote flash for Canon flash unit

There are 2 ways to setup wireless dedicated flash for canon digital cameras:

  1. You can get a canon Speedlite transmitter, ST-E2. Install the transmitter on the dSLR's flash hot shoe.
  2. Use another Speedlite flash from canon as master flash or transmitter, such as Canon's 580Ex II or S80Ex. Similar, the master speedlite flash will be installed on the camera's hot shoe.
    Next, press and hold the Zoom button of the 580EX II flash unit until the display starts flashing. Configure the setting to Master mode*.
  3. For the wireless dedicated flash, such as Canon Speedlite 580EX II, press and hold the Zoom button until the display starts flashing. Configure the flash setting to Slave mode*.
  4. Turn the master flash unit off by press the Zoom button once on the Master flash unit. Then configure the setting on the screen to 'Off' right above the word Master. This will disable the master flash unit from emiting the light and generate a pulse to trigger the wireless flash unit.

Note that both transmitter or Master flash methods allow the user to control the brightness of the wireless flash.

Also make sure both the master or controller flash unit and slave dedicated flash unit are set to the same channel number. Channel number can be set by pressing the Zoom button twice and set to the channel number you want.

*For Canon 580EX or S80EX, move the siwtch on the bottom of the flash for the similar configuration.

Techniques of using cameras flashes