Flash triggering

[simon_t1]

<p>Hi,<br>

This may be an unusual question. But can anyone please share any experiences or knowledge if the Nikon SB900 can be triggered by the Canon 580 EXII. <br>

Thanks in advance.</p>

[paul_k1664875007]

<p>The SB900 can be triggered by the Canon 580 if used in SU4 mode, which means it will be triggered optically. This means no TTL metering, just manual or A mode</p>

<p>As the SB900 will in the SU4 mode react on any flash going off, this also means it will react on the E-TTL preflash of the Canon ( and possibly by being triggered by the preflash influence the metering of that in the process) but in any case risk not being fully reloaded when the 'real' flash of the Canon goes off</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>If you put the SB900 in "SU4" mode, you make it a simple optical slave that will fire whenever it sees another flash go off. You have to set the power level manually, of course.<br /><br />But fair warning: if you'reusing other equipment in some sort of TTL metering or optical remote control mode that emits pre-exposure flashes, the speedlight in SU4 mode will react to those pre-exposure pulses, and go off itself, prematurely.<br /><br />But if the 580EXII is set up to emit only a single flash (say, if you've got it in a simple manual mode, as well), then the SB900 in SU4 mode can work. Mind you, it won't discriminate between the flash you <em>want</em> to have triggering it, and any other flash on someone else's camera in the room.<br /><br />You might consider some cheapy radio triggers, too. It really depends on the shooting circumstances, about which you haven't given us any details. Do tell!</p>

[simon_t1]

<p>Thanks very much for your helpfull answers, the reason for my question was as Matt guessed, instead of using radio triggers.</p>

[rodeo_joe1]

<p>There's always the good 'ole P-C socket as well. This only closes when the shutter is open, and isn't affected by any pre-flash nonsense. So connecting the SB900 via a cable to the P-C socket of your Canon DSLR (I'm presuming) will provide a cheap and easy way of synching the Nikon flash with your Canon setup. Well it would have if Nikon hadn't chosen to use a stupid male-to-male synch cord, rather than the normal male-to-female extension lead.</p>