The benefits of wireless flashguns

For the ultimate in flexibility, it’s great being able to use the flashgun off-camera.

Most modern flashguns feature a wireless slave mode, which can be triggered remotely by using the camera’s pop-up flash in Commander mode.

This facility is available in most upmarket bodies. More advanced flashguns feature both master and slave wireless modes, ideal for multiple flashgun setups.

How to use Master and Commander modes

Many high-end SLRs feature built-in wireless flash Commander options. Here’s how they work

01 Pick a mode

In the Flash section of custom functions, head to Flash cntrl for built-in flash. Regular TTL, Manual and

Repeating flash modes are often available, but to trigger a wireless remote flashgun select the Commander mode.

02 Flash powers

The power of the pop-up flash can be selected between TTL, manual and ‘–’ settings. The latter gives the least illumination, but some light from the pop-up flash will still be present in the resulting shot.

03 Group effort

TTL or manual flash power, complete with flash exposure compensation, can be set independently for different groups of wireless remote flashguns. The wireless channel can also be given one of four identifying numbers.