Canon 600D second curtain external flash?

[shaylou]

I was wondering if anyone has come across this before. I'm using a Canon 600d, 600ex rt flash, ex rt 3 controller. I can not seem to be able to set it up for second curtain flash wail it is (not) mounted. I am able to set up second curtain when it is mounted on my camera. Am I missing something here or is this something that can not be done. Any help would be appreciated.

:bang:

 

[HoppyUK]

I was wondering if anyone has come across this before. I'm using a Canon 600d, 600ex rt flash, ex rt 3 controller. I can not seem to be able to set it up for second curtain flash wail it is (not) mounted. I am able to set up second curtain when it is mounted on my camera. Am I missing something here or is this something that can not be done. Any help would be appreciated.

:bang:

Remember this thread? http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=427123 Post #15, amongst others. Native Canon system does not do remote second curtain sync.

Third party systems do, or you can get it using that cord you didn't buy

TBH, second curtain sync is often misunderstood and over rated. In some situations it's invaluable, but they are usually quite rare and there are downsides. Plus it doesn't work at all until you're below 1/30sec and is hardly noticeable until you get much longer than that.

What do you need it for?

 

[shaylou]

Remember this thread? http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=427123 Post #15, amongst others. Native Canon system does not do remote second curtain sync.

Third party systems do, or you can get it using that cord you didn't buy

TBH, second curtain sync is often misunderstood and over rated. In some situations it's invaluable, but they are usually quite rare and there are downsides. Plus it doesn't work at all until you're below 1/30sec and is hardly noticeable until you get much longer than that.

What do you need it for?

But I bought the controller thinking that it would give me everything that that cord would without,,, well the cord.

I was thinking it might work in a situation that was all still and with a long exposure and just a bit of fill flash at the end. I really like slow shutters but there are so many times i look at the final results and think, if only i had a bit of fill for the foreground. I do not want the flash to take over the nice look of the slow shutter though.

 

[HoppyUK]

But I bought the controller thinking that it would give me everything that that cord would without,,, well the cord.

I was thinking it might work in a situation that was all still and with a long exposure and just a bit of fill flash at the end. I really like slow shutters but there are so many times i look at the final results and think, if only i had a bit of fill for the foreground. I do not want the flash to take over the nice look of the slow shutter though.

Then the good news is, you don't need second curtain sync for that

Second curtain sync does not make any difference to the relative flash and ambient exposure levels. The fact that the flash fires last does not somehow 'overlay' the flash image more prominently. It only makes a difference when a) there is some ambient light and the subject is moving, and b) the direction of that movement is both important, and controllable/predictable.

The main downside is that you can't shoot spontaneously to capture fleeting gestures and movement. You press the shutter and by the time the flash fires, the moment has gone. Unless you can plan and control everything, second curtain can be a liability.

And when used with E-TTL, particularly with people in party mood, they think the picture has been taken when the pre-flash fires and move forward, then when the main flash fires everything's a mess. Club shooters report it all the time, but persist in the mistaken belief that second curtain is some kind of magic bullet. It's not - great on those occasions when you need it, but can be a PITA when you don't.

 

[ljphil78]

And when used with E-TTL, particularly with people in party mood, they think the picture has been taken when the pre-flash fires and move forward, then when the main flash fires everything's a mess. Club shooters report it all the time,

I've tried it a few times in a club and have to agree with this, you also get a higher rate of photos where people have got there eyes shut :bang:

 

[HoppyUK]

Haha! Yes, closed eyes too LOL

Some club shooters persist with second curtain sync because they believe it enhances the flash exposure, but it doesn't. If you want a prominent flash image, not overlayed with ambient blur behind, then you must position the subject so that they're against a dark area of background. That's what makes the difference, and first or second curtain sync doesn't make any odds.

What second curtain sync does is change whether the ambient blur appears behind the direction of movement, or in front of it as with first curtain sync. But does that matter in a club situation, full of random movement? Basically, no, but you'll increase your hit rate with first curtain sync.

Good explanation of it all here http://neilvn.com/tangents/2010/06/02/first-curtain-sync-vs-rear-curtain-sync/

Good illustrations of first vs second curtain here http://www.shortcourses.com/use/using6-2.html

Good second curtain sync pics here, especially the mountain biker with all blurring behind the rider for a cool effect. It would look rubbish with first curtain sync http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75101 One of the comments on that link suggests it's a photoshop job, but it's not - actually a good example of how the flash image shows up perfectly against a dark background, but gets burned out against a bright background.

And one from me, taken at around 1/10sec I think. Blur mostly behind the driver, but note how the second curtain sync isn't working 100% there - it's more like 'middle curtain sync' with some ambient blur both in front and behind (see post #2 above).