great tutorial. Thank you for making the video. For those who, like me, use a Phottix flash, you can put it in Slave mode by pressing the M/S button( for at least 3 seconds) to activate the Slave mode. It was a little bit tricky to me.

awesome video and explanation. I just ordered 2 pocket wizards and somehow the order got messed up. So I cancelled the order and got my money back. In the mean time.....I stumbled on to this and now found I don't need pocket wizards. I have a T3i and I thought it didn't have the transmitter built in. So thanks for saving me money I didn't need to spend. I'm thinking another speedlite since I only have one. Thanks for taking the time to do the video for us.

Just what I needed to help explain this flash. I did not know that T3i had built in transmitter so I'm super stoked. It will probably take a bit to get familar with all the setting but will be fun to play with this.

Fantastic tutorial! To say the settings are just a little confusing is an understatement, even the with both sets of manuals out. You would have to be a rocket scientist to figure out canon's manual photos and words.

Serious! Thank you so much for making this so simple to understand and solve my problem I have spent countless of hours trying to figure out. You're the best!!!!

Great Job David ! You answered alot of questions I had, setting my 430 EX II. Your explanations were very clear and EZ to understand. Keep up the great tutorials. We can always use your knowledge to better our photography...Thanks

I'm so glad I saw this before I went out and bought a transmitter. What other special functions does the t3i have

I'm happy you explained the white and black lines in the photos. I had that happen and I was thinking it was corrupted but now I know. Thank you

To mask master flash from the camera you can use irradiated film piece so flash light will transform to IR and will be invisible

wow, this is the best explanation/demo i've found on how to use your external flash.. thanks man.

Thanks for sharing your expertise. Just the info I was seeking. Endless search for information. Glad there are those like you that put it together for the rest of us to gain from. Many thanks!

For those wondering, you do not need to set your camera to M. I use this in Av and Tv. It will not work in A or the scene modes like portrait, landscape etc

@funincluded The channel selection is for setting up multiple flashes to fire a differently strengths. The flashes go off when the camera flash goes that is when the signal is sent

Thank you for explaining the setup for the speedflash the best that I have found. You helped me figure out what step I was missing.

The fool at best buy told me that this flash could not be wireless. I assumed he was lying but I wanted to thank you for walking me through this, your video is great. :)

Thank you so much for all your videos, I'm new to making youtube videos with the canon so everything you've posted HELPS ME!!!

MEN YOU A GREAT TEACHER I DON'T TALK ENGLISH MUCH AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU ARE GOOD.

I love it too! I'm still learning how to use it all. I'm glad I put it on my T2i. I used the intervalometer to capture the northern lights recently. I would have been screwed without it!

Did i miss the part that talks about how to lower the power of the pop up flash? Thank you so much for posting this.

You have helped me greatly sir. I appreciate you making this video.

is there still no way to disable the on board flash?

Great tutorial btw.... you said there was a way to dim the onboard flash but didnt saw how.... I have a t3i and a 430ex..thanks

Wow thanks for the video...I think you convinced me to buy the Canon flashes.

You are right at the time of this video I had not played around with the high speed sync

Thanks for that I believe that the flash from the pop-up flashes before the slave flash and does not interfere with the lighting, one question when you used two flashes on channel A is it possible to use one on a lower power or do they both have to fire at the same power?

Best tutorial I've seen yet thanks. It does help.

For the 430 ex2 u will need to hold down the zoom button to enter and exit slave mode.... Great video thanks

Thanks but I'm blind now because when I figured it out I was looking right into the remote Flash really enjoyed the video hope you get a laugh out of that

as far as your comment on building a shield for the built in flash, I am under the impression the built in flash fires which triggers the off camera flash to go along with the shutter a split second later... so you arent geting any light from the built in flash (unless you choose the off camera + built in setting).

the YN460 II uses an optical trigger. So any flash will set it off as long as the flash is in slave mode. It won't be controlled through the camera. The wireless settings on the camera's menu would be under "built-in flash" and wireless. Keep in mind those settings only apply to canon or after market flashes that support E-TTL.

I'm not sure if it's already been covered in the comments but you need to set the external flash to "high-speed sync" in order to shoot at shutter speeds greater than 1/200.

It's nice that you've gone through the trouble of making and uploading a tutorial. But if you're trying to explain multiple flash setups, you really need to show the lighting ratios' effect on something (like a basketball or whatever), with and without the on-camera flash contributing to the exposure. You can't just fire them at nothing in the same general direction, it's missing the whole point of a multiple flash setup. You only have two groups available, so two external flashes are optimal for the demo (add a third one for the full 3 group E-TTLII setup with a 580EX or equivalent). You need to explain why you choose different power settings for your groups in order to accomplish a desired lighting ratio. When using the flashes in E-TTL metering mode, you should explain why you prefer Average over Evaluative (Evaluative being the more "intelligent" of the two metering modes). You should also explain the difference between flash ratios, group exposure compensation and group manual power settings. The "dog" metaphor is not useful for remembering things, the icons actually represent the two kinds of flashes as viewed from the side - a Cobra-head Speedlight, external, and the pop-up, internal. For the pop-up flash's light to not show at all in your photo (even as a reflection, when the controller is not having an otherwise significant output), you could use a "Nikon SG-3IR" panel, which you'll have to modify a bit (chip the left plastic rail where the hot shoe rail sensor is, so the camera doesn't detect it in the hot shoe and mistake it for a flash). Or you could stick an IR bandpass filter on the pop-up flash itself - google for ways of making one). I'd do another tutorial myself instead of critiquing this one, but I have a terrible accent and you'd probably find it distracting. And I don't have the patience either :p

Best Buy staff was correct. He or she was referring that the Canon 430EX II can't do Master in wireless IR ETTL II flash. MediaUnlocked showed us the Canon 430EX (& 430EX II) which is no longer being made or sell at Best Buy. The 430EX II is the current model. If you have a 1D series or 5D Series then the 430EX & 430EX II are useless when needing wireless IR flash. You then need to buy ATG Gold Wireless ETTL Systems. And it will be much better because it's now wireless radio ETTL flash.

Thanks for this it will come in handy for when I get me a speedlite flash.

this is quite easy to understand. thanks. i hope this will work on my 1100d

@ronsebay the on camera flash sends the single to the off camera flashes. It should work with none canon flashes but I have never tried the ETTL mode on canon flashes is just an automatic mode for the most part

Thank you for the explanation. Now for a left field question. Two really. First, Why does the on-camera flash need to work? Does it truely "transmit" or do the slaves sense the flash and respond? Second question, can any other ETTL wireless flash be set up the same way? I have a DF-483-CAN Vivitar and cannot seem to get it to work with my new T3i. Thanks again!

Excellent Video on the Canon 430EX Flash System.

wow...really great video and it really helps me a lot, I too have a t3i, could it be possible not to use the built in flash of the t3i and use a pocket wizard to trigger multiple external flashes? just a newbie to this photography.

Fantastic video!! Sooo helpful! Have one more question...is it mountable? Can I mount the flash on my t3i?

Thanks my friend, I was toying with this today and you just fixed my issue.

Thank you so much! 🙏🙏 3 years later I found it 😪

Thank you this was a very good video. I got my first flash (canon 600ex rt on T3i) and can not figure out how to use it off camera. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I have that exact speedlight and it works amaing, I just tried what he showed in the video with my yn560-ii and it works just fine,

Excellent Video! Thank you so much for explaining in such GREAT detail.

Thank you very much for the informative video. It is nice to something that is in effect quite easy to do explained in an easy manner. One thing that may help if you do a further update is to show the result of your different pictures so we actually see what the different power settings do. I appreciate we will see it when we try but as you will generally get people with no prior knowledge it might help them see the difference

I believe you said in your video you were going to see if there was anyway to cover your cameras flash since it has to flash with the wireless flashes. DId you figure anything out to cover it? Thanks,

Just the right video I wanted.. thanks for this I never knew I can do that.

Very nicely done and informative, thank you so much, Dennis.

Excellent video. This works with my quantarays!

Yes you can, I have YN560-II and it works great.

If you use the middle seating that just shows the external flash icon, the external will pre-flash to trigger but it will not contribute to the scene.

Sometimes taping a dryer sheet to the built in flash, or they sell diffussers that slip on to the pop up flash, can find them on line , or cut out plastic covered with women's stocking or wax paper, layers diffuse even more .... , kinda generic but it does diffuse the light . Tid bit

@NameNaameNameeNaamee Ok I miss understood you question. Here is the answer you are looking for sorry. The camera shutter can only go up to 200 or 250 with some cameras if your shutter goes above this then you will start getting black lines the higher you push your shutter the less of the picture you will have. The shutter becomes quicker then the flash

Thanks for the tutorial! It was of great help!

How far can the camera transmit to the flashes...are we talking like 10ft or 50ft? Can you boost the signal to get further distance? Also...So if you wanted to shoot as fast as the t3i could go (3.7fps) at night with 3 wireless flashes...could these flashes handle the short recycling time without missing a shot or would the camera wait to take the picture if the flash was to slow? Thanks and great video. Thumbs up!:)

Thank you.. this's really informative.. I hope you help me out: I have a Canon speedlight 550ex flash which I tried to connect to my Canon t3i as you did to your 430ex and unfortunately they don't read each other! do you have any idea how to fix that? OR there is no way to do it?

Media Unlocked Great tutorial! I feel like I am reading another language when it comes to using external flashes. I asked around and tried to figure out what kind of flash to buy so I didn't have to use the on cam flash. Could'nt find anything so I just bought a basic beginner flash. I still can't figurebit out. I use it but the infrared beam flashes first,to figure out the distance,strength I assume and this annoys the people I'm shooting.Luckily they are friends helping me. I'm new but learning quickly. I bought a Bower digital autofocus drdicated flash for Canon E-TTL1/2. IT's for my T3i. Is this ok gor now,until I learn more about what I'm doing? And,is it supposed to flash the infrared in someones face or is there a setting I'm not using? Please help! Sorry for the long question and Thanks.....I am desperate for help on this.

You say you can't go over 1/200, but I thought the 430ex was capable of high speed sync. All you do is press a button on the flash and you can go as high as 1/4000 on the t3i. I don't own a canon but all this should work exactly as I described. Also, it's kind of strange that you have to enable the camera flash in order to trigger external flashes. Are all canons like that?!?

does the built in flash have to be up while I'm using an external flash?

Ooh! Tears will flow, I just understand have a look at this clip. Thanks so much!!!!!!

is it only when u own the flash or even if u don't have one cus I went step by step and there is nothen thanks for ur help

@NameNaameNameeNaamee no you just cant go over 250 shutter on the t3i If you in manuel you still have to set the shutter at what you want.

Hello, thanks for this video i have canon T4i 650D and i want to use only off camera flash but i cant the popup flash work automatically is there any additional setting to turn it off and depends on off camera flash only?

Hi, really like your video. I will shoot my first indoor event and trying to figure out settings with this flashlight, need some help please....also isthe attachemnt to the camare an eternal battery? Thanx

I'm assuming that this applies to the strobe flash studio lights as well? I just bought a set of two strobe monolight umbrella flashes to go with my T3i, and I was wondering if I needed to buy anything else in other to make them work? I'd like to be able to use these lights for weddings with my external flash. Is that possible? I can't seem to get that to work. The strobe flash only also seems to work if I have my camera flash on as well. Any tips? Do I need to buy a transmitter and receiver?

if doing close-up or product shots, your product could reflect the little pop-up flash (even if the amount of light is minimal, the light can cause reflection).

Dude, this vid is top notch, thanks for sharing.. Learned so much.. Peace

Great video! I was told by B&H customer service that the t3i cannot trigger ofc with it's pop up. I plan on picking up and learning a flash very soon, I can't wait! Haha dog barking.. I think it looks more like a speedlight than a dog barking! :)

Hi mediaunlocked, first of all thanks for the tutorial. I have 2 canon 430exii speedlites and I was planning to get a yongnuo yn 560ii or something like that, but anyways my question is, would the yongnuo work as a slave flash for the t3i as well?

I just ordered a T3i, I was wondering if the on board triggering system is "line of sight" only and if it is possible to get high speed sync with the T3i?

@TheTechnoland What kind of flash are you looking at getting

hey great help. was havent a really bad time with using my external flash. quick question? is there a way to disable the built in flash and still trigger the external so i only use the external flash?

hi there,,i just bought a t4i and thinking of buying a flash would it be the same settings to be change? and one more thing so evrytime i use a flash i have to put these on separate tripod,or i can put this on the top of my camera..thnkss

Hey, sorry i did watch the whole video but im still confused. If im using 1 external flash, is it possible for it to fire WITHOUT the built in flash firing at the same time!?

So the light from the pop-up flash does contribute to the exposure?

thank you,now i know how to use speedlite off to my dslr by the way can i use this setting on my 550d?

I am looking to purchase the 580 ex, but am not sure of the differences. Because you just showed me how to use this off camera, would it make sense to just purchase another 430 ex instead of the 580. Thanks for all your help, it is greatly appreciated!

Awesome. Thanks. I cant wait to watch more of your videos. You should hold courses and charge money. lol

Thanks for the reply, as you know feline eyes do the devil reflection(redeye) guaranteed when flash is in the camera (my experience with many point and shoot). I have read more and it seems having it in the shoe and pointed strait up could also work as the built in flash doesn't engage and the external shoots at the ceiling. I am going with the T3i, thanks, also, I take pics of stuff other than cats, just the hardest to achieve with pns cameras

i really need this. i really thank u for this video. help so much :)

thank you for this video! very informative :) is your battery grip a canon or is it a third party grip?

Is it necessary for the 430EXII to be in the line of sight with the T3I? (Infrared?) Or can I keep it out of line of sight with the camera, behind a wall for example (within 20 feet) and still make the flash work? Thanks for the video.

great video. Exactly what I needed. Thanks man!

Sorry, let me rephrase that. Is there a particular accessory that I buy that will fire the off camera speedlites without emitting light itself. Maybe the 580ex II? Or does that go off as well?

Hey thanks! I have been wondering about this! Now I can do it :)

What does channel do? Can I have two channels and have a separate A and B groups in each of them? A1+B1 and A2+B2?

hi, i have a dilemma. I like to shoot indoors at high isos to achieve higher shutter speeds. However, as you have demonstrated here, when i use fill flash my subjects are blown out, and even worst, the room's llight is overwhelmed by the flash. So i bring the iso to 100, the lighting is great, but the shutter is tooooo damn slooooow. What to do?

Dude you did a great job

Are the 430EX's an alright flash for someone who hasn't used a flash before, or would it be more beneficial to start with something else? I'm somewhat worried that I'm not going to be able to figure it out correctly if I were to buy this flash. if you do think I should pick a different flash, do you have any recommendations of what type to purchase? Thanks, much.

I don't get it. I thought this was a radio transmitter based system. If the wireless flash control in 600D still requires the popup flash to go off, then what is it good for? Slave flashes can be set up to read and go off on any flash. So what's particular about this wireless control compared to something like Hähnel combi which would also control your flash?

Is there an external flash u recommend that would allow me to turn my shutter up higher then 200

You do more than 1/200 on that camera, it is however not possible when the flash is popped.. Close the and you can go higher

@mediaunlocked very nice videos hey what grip are u using for your t3i is that the Canon grip or a third party cause when I get mines I'm definitely getting that grip u dig

thanks for the vid, now how do the settings for strobes/studio lights go on the canon 600D to get them to fire?

Thanks, I have no idea my t3i with the 430 ex ii did this. I was under the impression that the 430 ex ii could not be used off camera, or what is called a slave based on what I have learned. (Hope I am using the slave terminology right). Thanks for introducing me to this.

If I don't want to use my on board flash as a transmitter I would have to buy a transmitter and receiver like a pocket wizard correct?

I was going to use this to photograph cats indoors with flash. I have read that just indoor lighting at night without flash doesnt work. I am in between the Nikon D5100 and the T3i, I want the T3i but the 5100 supposedly does better no flash low light shots. If external flash is the solution, then i need the built in flash to abstain in the shot. Thanks!

did you put you camera in M mode?

Will it work well with a 270ex ii? What the difference between this 200$ flash and the ones you have and the 40$ flashes?