How to manually trigger flash?

[Sean Setters]

If you want to fire the flash five times in 20 s, it's quite simple: set the flash output manually and press the pilot button also five times.

If you haven't bought a flash yet, maybe an used 550EX could be good choice. It has stroboscopic capability, although the lowest frequency it's 1 Hz (as most of the flashes, I think).

Yep, this is a great answer. Basically, you're turning yourself into a programmable lightstand with remote trigger. As soon as you open the shutter, point the flash at different things and press the test fire button. Done.

[Dr Croubie]

Yep, this is a great answer. Basically, you're turning yourself into a programmable lightstand with remote trigger. As soon as you open the shutter, point the flash at different things and press the test fire button. Done.

I've always wondered, how much light/power output is given by pressing the test button? It certainly isn't 1/1 or 1/2, on my 430EX (mk1) I can press it a few times in a row without losing so much charge that it has to stop to recharge (battery-dependent, of course), so i'm guessing around the 1/64 mark. Can the higher-model speedlites be programmed to output a certain power from the test-button?

[Sean Setters]

I've always wondered, how much light/power output is given by pressing the test button? It certainly isn't 1/1 or 1/2, on my 430EX (mk1) I can press it a few times in a row without losing so much charge that it has to stop to recharge (battery-dependent, of course), so i'm guessing around the 1/64 mark. Can the higher-model speedlites be programmed to output a certain power from the test-button?

I think it depends what mode you're in. If you're in ETTL, then the flash is calculating the output for you (and varying it accordingly). If you have it in manual mode, then it will fire at whatever power you have the flash set to.

During one of these long exposure, multiple flash popping experiements, I'd suggest keeping the flash set to a relatively low power so that you don't have to wait for it to recycle. Typically speaking, under those conditions, you don't necessarily need anything above 1/8 or 1/16 power anyway. Set it to that kind of power or less, and you could hit the test fire button just about as many times as you wanted within a 5 second exposure and never worry about recycle times.

[conropl]

I've always wondered, how much light/power output is given by pressing the test button? It certainly isn't 1/1 or 1/2, on my 430EX (mk1) I can press it a few times in a row without losing so much charge that it has to stop to recharge (battery-dependent, of course), so i'm guessing around the 1/64 mark. Can the higher-model speedlites be programmed to output a certain power from the test-button?

I think it depends what mode you're in. If you're in ETTL, then the flash is calculating the output for you (and varying it accordingly). If you have it in manual mode, then it will fire at whatever power you have the flash set to.

During one of these long exposure, multiple flash popping experiements, I'd suggest keeping the flash set to a relatively low power so that you don't have to wait for it to recycle. Typically speaking, under those conditions, you don't necessarily need anything above 1/8 or 1/16 power anyway. Set it to that kind of power or less, and you could hit the test fire button just about as many times as you wanted within a 5 second exposure and never worry about recycle times.

On my 580 II you have to make sure the C.Fn-07 is set properly. At the "0" (which I think is the defult) the output power for a test fire is 1/32 power. If you change C.Fn-07 to the "1" state, then the flash will fire at full power when test fired. I assume full power would mean it would fire at the power you have it set to, but I do not have time right now to look that up to confirm (I will try latter).

[Sean Setters]

On my 580 II you have to make sure the C.Fn-07 is set properly. At the "0" (which I think is the defult) the output power for a test fire is 1/32 power. If you change C.Fn-07 to the "1" state, then the flash will fire at full power when test fired. I assume full power would mean it would fire at the power you have it set to, but I do not have time right now to look that up to confirm (I will try latter).

Very interesting...I did not know that.