Flash units

pitkin2020 · 4 Mar 2011

Probably a very basic question but I want to have ago at a bit of light painting using a flash gun and long exposures. Obviously I don't want to fire it off the camera but want to fire as and when I choose to away from the camera. I am looking at just picking up a really cheap one off ebay to test this but I have a few questions and I know nothing about this type of thing.

Is it possible to do this or does it need to be connected to the camera?
How is it done? Via button on the flash unit?
Are all units able to do this or does it need to have a certain mode like manual mode on it?

Cheers

Smeghead · 4 Mar 2011

You can do light painting with any light, so even a torch would work. Unless you find yourself really needing a flashgun for your photography right now, and would like to invest in a proper flashgun, then I say just get a torch and experiment light painting using the torch instead.

pitkin2020 · 4 Mar 2011

Thanks, been using a torch for a while but now want to experiment with flash.

HoppyUK · 5 Mar 2011

All guns have a 'test' button which will fire the flash.

guybrush · 5 Mar 2011

If you want to trigger your flash remotely and independently from the camera's shutter then a pair of Yongnuo flash triggers will do, hook the receiver up to the flash unit and then you press the button on the transmitter to fire the flash.

pitkin2020 · 5 Mar 2011

cheers guys

madmardle · 6 Mar 2011

I tried this many years ago, used a small aperture, shutter held open on B, left the camera on a tripod and just walked around the subject firing the test button on the flashgun. In those days it was more trial and error as I had to develop the film before I could see the best results, it should be much easier now being able to see the pic immediately.

pitkin2020 · 6 Mar 2011

madmardle said:
I tried this many years ago, used a small aperture, shutter held open on B, left the camera on a tripod and just walked around the subject firing the test button on the flashgun. In those days it was more trial and error as I had to develop the film before I could see the best results, it should be much easier now being able to see the pic immediately.

Thats what I am hoping lol, just want to try something different as the torch is getting a little boring. Now I know there is a test button on them all and they can be fired without any need from the camera I shall experiment.

HoppyUK · 7 Mar 2011

pitkin2020 said:
Thats what I am hoping lol, just want to try something different as the torch is getting a little boring. Now I know there is a test button on them all and they can be fired without any need from the camera I shall experiment.

Having thought a bit more about this for a moment, you might not be so lucky.

On my Canon 580EX for example, I think the test button will only fire the flash at either full power or 1/32nd power.

When I have tried this technique, I used an RF-602 radio trigger to do it.