Can a Canon 90EX trigger a 430EX II when used off-camera?

Asked 3/3/2015

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I know the Canon 90EX can act as an optical master when mounted on a compatible camera. Can it still trigger a Canon 430EX II in slave mode if the 90EX itself is used off-camera via a transmitter/receiver? If not, what are the simplest low-cost ways to fire a 430EX II remotely with Canon gear?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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No. It will not work as a master off-camera. None of the Canon flashes can be used simultaneously as a slave and a master. The 90EX is only a master unit if used on the hotshoe, or tethered off-camera with a TTL cable. If used on manual-only radio triggers, there's no way for it to sense it should perform master communication. And TTL radio triggers act as a master, and treat all attached flashes as slaves.

If you are using a 600D, 60D, or 7D or later body, you already have a master built into your pop-up flash. The simplest way to trigger a 430EXII would be to use that. If, however, you don't have this capability, other methods would include using a PC sync cable or add-on "dumb" optical slaves (which may require hotshoe adapters for either/both your camera and flash), a TTL cable, or radio triggers. The most cost-effective and popular solution would probably be to get manual-only radio triggers. They can be found in the US$25-40 price range for a Tx/Rx or transceiver pair. This will only communicate the "fire" signal. You won't have HSS, TTL, or any remote control over the camera (the flash control menu on the camera will be grayed out). But you can fire the flash remotely, and the 430EXII has M mode, so you can set power explicitly on the flash itself.

See also: What should I look for in a wireless flash trigger for a home studio?

Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27440

11y ago

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Not in the way you describe. The 90EX can work as a Canon optical master when it is on the camera hot shoe, or connected off-camera with a TTL cord. But if you put it on a basic radio trigger, it won’t act as a master, and Canon flashes generally can’t be both slave and master at the same time. With TTL radio triggers, the trigger system becomes the master and the attached flash is treated as a slave.

Simple alternatives:

  • Use the camera’s built-in optical flash control if your body supports it.
  • Use a TTL cord to keep the 90EX functioning as a master off-camera.
  • Use a PC sync cable or simple optical slave adapter, though these may need hot-shoe adapters.

Also note that Canon’s optical wireless system requires line of sight and is less reliable outdoors or over longer distances.

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