Does the Canon 430EX II have an optical slave mode?
Asked 10/13/2013
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I’m considering a Canon 430EX II Speedlite and want to confirm how it can be triggered off-camera. Will it fire just by detecting another flash burst like a basic optical slave, or does it only work with Canon’s own wireless optical system? If it doesn’t support generic optical slave triggering, which Canon Speedlites or transmitters can trigger it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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No, the 430EX II does not trigger by generic photo slave.
However, it can be remotely triggered using a compatible Canon system flash trigger. Those include the ST-E2, or a 580EX/EXII, 600EX flash units.
In addition, some of the newer Canon cameras, supporting what Canon calls the "Integrated Speedlite Transmitter feature" (popup flash) can also trigger this flash, Those include the 60D, 70D, 7D, and the T3i(600D). There may be some even newer bodies that support this as well but not older bodies like 40D, XTi/XSi.
Originally by user4880. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4880
12y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No. The Canon 430EX II does not have a generic “dumb” optical slave mode that simply fires when it sees another flash burst.
It can, however, work as a wireless slave in Canon’s proprietary optical system. That means it can be triggered by a compatible Canon master device, such as certain Canon Speedlites or transmitters, and by some Canon camera bodies with a built-in wireless flash transmitter function via the pop-up flash.
If you want simple non-Canon optical slave behavior, you’d need to add an external optical slave accessory. Be aware that not all generic optical slave add-ons work reliably with Canon EX-series flashes.
So in short: the 430EX II can be used off-camera optically, but only as part of Canon’s wireless optical flash system unless you add a separate compatible slave trigger.
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