580EX II as a slave flash – 2nd curtain sync, HSS?

[Gordon]

I'd like to know which options are available on the 580EX II when it is set as a slave flash. Will 2nd curtain sync or high-speed sync work? If not, does anyone have suggestions for workarounds?

Thanks!

Gordon

[SeedyBee]

If the slave 580EX II is being triggered by, say, another 580EXII as Master on-camera, then HSS is available. E-TTL must be operational.
If 2nd curtain is selected on the Master, then Wireless is disabled and there is no communication to operate a slave. 2nd curtain is available only on-camera or on-ETTL cord.

[Gordon]

Thanks for the info SeedyBee. Interesting that 2nd curtain does not work wirelessly w/ the Speedlights. I just happened to have purchased an ETTL cord, so I'll have to try that out when it comes in.

[davemphoto]

If you go with a Pocketwizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5, you'll get HSS & 2nd curtain wirelessly. By default, 2nd curtain will be set at 1/100 or slower automatically. If your shooting ETTL, HSS gets turned on automatically at 1/250. If your flash is set to manual, you'll have to turn on HSS on your flash. These settings can all be customized via the PW software. An expensive investment, but nice to have those features when shooting wireless.

[rchap508]

I'm wondering if Radio Poppers will fire HHS & 2nd curtain like the Pocketwizards?

[shoots]

RP's will send the signal to fire in HHS mode, but not 2nd curtain when using RP's to trigger...regardless of shooting flash in ETTL or Manual mode.
Kinda wish I didn't know about the PW's being able to do 2nd curtain shutter...hahaha...but I was originally drawn to RP's for there HHS capabilities (before PW's came out with theirs) and didn't even think about rear curtain syncing. I primarily only use 2nd curtain when I drag the shutter during wedding receptions with speedlite in hotshoe, so it's kinda a non-issue for me. But I could see how those who do a lot of Master/slave OCF shooting would enjoy having 2nd curtain available to them.

[Gordon]

Thanks for all the replies and info! I'm on a bit of a budget, so the ETTL cord will do the trick for me. FYI - this is the setup I had in mind ... inside a large indoor basketball arena, shooting a player in low ambient light with basketball spinning on his finger. Flash is off-camera to the right. So, how to get a shot of him, but include the motion of the spinning ball? ... hence the need for 2nd curtain sync on the flash. I ended up not doing this setup, but a more stationary shot - http://tiny.cc/VctqT (Go Spiders!). Will have to try the motion shot sometime though.

[Bcvammen]

Gordon,
I really like that shot.........great lighting.

[Pip]

I agree, I like the portrait. Did you get any joy with doing the spinning ball one?
pip

[Gordon]

Bcvammen and Pip — Thanks!

I haven't had a chance to recreate that idea yet, but perhaps will try in the future.

FYI - this is the ETTL cord I got, thanks to Syl for his suggestion! http://flashzebra.com/products/0125/index.shtml