A Bit Of Flash Triggers Advice? And what flash for a slave?

68lbs

68lbs

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Ok, firstly has anyone shopped with Digital 4 U?

Next up... is this (link above) ALL I need to trigger my 580EXII off camera? I think it is. (Please don't tell me I can do it cheaper with a flebay trigger etc... I have been there and tried that. And I also need distance for using flash outside)

And thirdly... if I wanted a second flash to use off-camera I can buy ANYTHING including Nikon yeah? So I am guessing the cheapest way to fire it is as an optical slave (is that the right term? I mean where my 580EX would trigger the second flash). So what sort of flash can I look at buying, that would give me the option to fire as a slave AND control manually? Model numbers/brands would be ideal. And an idea of price too if I am not asking too much.
 
68lbs said:
Please don't tell me I can do it cheaper with a flebay trigger etc...
Ok, I won't. But you can still do it cheaper/as well with Skyports.

And thirdly... if I wanted a second flash to use off-camera I can buy ANYTHING including Nikon yeah? So I am guessing the cheapest way to fire it is as an optical slave (is that the right term?
Yup.

So what sort of flash can I look at buying, that would give me the option to fire as a slave AND control manually? Model numbers/brands would be ideal.And an idea of price too if I am not asking too much.
Sigma 530 wouldn't be a bad choice, last seen at circa £190.
Click to expand...
 
Do you own/use Skyports? I read that they can be a little unreliable too. And what's the range like?
 
68lbs said:
Do you own/use Skyports? I read that they can be a little unreliable too. And what's the range like?
Click to expand...

Skyports are as flimsy and unreliable as a brick. Haven't had a single misfire from mine yet. I did a range test with pictures and everything here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=671101

Quoting myself from that thread:
I think I'll upgrade to Pocket Wizard Plus II's when somebody pays me to shoot a full body portrait with a 600mm tele.
 
Many thanks spook... had a look at that thread, which seems to answer my concerns regarding range. :D

Can anyone offer any further recommendations for a second flash? I was hoping I might get something for £100 rather than double that?
 
Hello pal,

I know strobist get quoted a lot, but have you looked at strobist's Lighting 101? It gives quite a comprehensive guid to gear available.

Its what started me on my way.

If you can find them Nikon SB26's would be good second flashes. They have manual control to 1/64th and an optical slave built in. Try ffordes second hand section, and miffsuds.
 
68lbs said:
Ok, firstly has anyone shopped with Digital 4 U?

Next up... is this (link above) ALL I need to trigger my 580EXII off camera? I think it is. (Please don't tell me I can do it cheaper with a flebay trigger etc... I have been there and tried that. And I also need distance for using flash outside)
Click to expand...

Yes, as long as the 580 EXII has a pc port, which iirc it does.

And thirdly... if I wanted a second flash to use off-camera I can buy ANYTHING including Nikon yeah? So I am guessing the cheapest way to fire it is as an optical slave (is that the right term? I mean where my 580EX would trigger the second flash). So what sort of flash can I look at buying, that would give me the option to fire as a slave AND control manually? Model numbers/brands would be ideal. And an idea of price too if I am not asking too much.
Click to expand...

Yes, you can either look for something with a built in slave (Nikon SB-26 £££ or the Jessops 360 £) or add one to any flash for around a fiver.

The only trouble is that optical triggers tend to be pretty awful outdoors in even moderate sunlight. You can, of course use a splitter on the cable from your PW and run two flashes from it via an extension cord, it depends how far you want them apart as to whether this would be viable for you.
 
Thanks Rob, I've read pretty much all the strobist 101 series, but will revisit it again.

FITP... I am sorta planning ahead here. I have no immediate use to use two flashes outside, but may do in the future. At the mo, I have a need to use one outside (at some distance from the camera), and I have a need to use two inside to light a large area. I just don't really want to end up buying twice later down the line as I am planing on moving my photography forward quite rapidly if I can over the next 12 months.

And in the last 12 months I have already ended up buying and selling quite a lot of stuff (camera, lenses, etc). Luckily at no financial loss due to price increases on the highstreet. Stuff I buy now needs to purchased for the longer term and with a view to it getting some hefty useage.
 
I'd suggest keeping your eye on Ebay for "bargains", I picked up a brand new Multi Max and a brand new regular receiver (not a transceiver) recently for £180 - the MM on it's own costs about £250 :)
 
I'd forgotten about my Jessops 360, bought from Flash himself too. Cracking flash that one, well worth a look at.
 
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