Fuji X10 - triggering remote flashes

Sebastian · 29 Jul 2013

Hi,

I'm looking at different options for triggering remote flashes from my Fuji X10.
I can obviously use flash (optical triggers) or wireless triggers mounted on hotshoe, but I also wanted to explore different methods.

Is anyone here using PC sync adapter to connect PC cable to X10? I assume that this would then allow to reach higher sync speeds with my Jinbei DC 600.

I'm also thinking about buying YongNuo YN-622N triggers for my Nikon D7000, hoping that they will work with X10 for manual triggering. Can you help?

Thanks,

Seb

sk66 · 29 Jul 2013

Sebastian said:
Hi,

I'm looking at options for remote flash control from my Fuji X10.
I can obviously use flash (optical triggers) or wireless triggers mounted on hotshoe, but I also wanted to explore different methods.

Is anyone here using PC sync adapter to connect PC cable to X10? I assume that this would then allow to reach higher sync speeds with my Jinbei DC 600.

I'm also thinking about buying YongNuo YN-622N triggers for my Nikon D7000, hoping that they will work with X10 for manual triggering. Can you help?

Thanks,

Seb

A sync cable should allow the same operation as if the flash were mounted on camera.
I don't know about PW's, but Nikon flashes/SU-800 will not fire from the Fuji hotshoe...at least I haven't figured out how.

HoppyUK · 29 Jul 2013

Sebastian said:
Hi,

I'm looking at options for remote flash control from my Fuji X10.
I can obviously use flash (optical triggers) or wireless triggers mounted on hotshoe, but I also wanted to explore different methods.

Is anyone here using PC sync adapter to connect PC cable to X10? I assume that this would then allow to reach higher sync speeds with my Jinbei DC 600.

I'm also thinking about buying YongNuo YN-622N triggers for my Nikon D7000, hoping that they will work with X10 for manual triggering. Can you help?

Thanks,

Seb

Be an interesting experiment, but not sure what you'll get. Do you know exactly how the X10's 'electro-mechanical' shutter works? I suspect it's a combination of a kinda leaf-type mechanical (as opposed to focal-plane) plus a scanning electronic for higher speeds.

Something along those lines anyway, but getting to the bottom of that might be tricky, so easier to try it. You'd probably get around 1/1000sec with a hot-shoe gun, though how it would all work synched up to the Jinbei's longer duration flash at high speeds is anybody's guess.

Sebastian · 29 Jul 2013

HoppyUK said:
Be an interesting experiment, but not sure what you'll get. Do you know exactly how the X10's 'electro-mechanical' shutter works? I suspect it's a combination of a kinda leaf-type mechanical (as opposed to focal-plane) plus a scanning electronic for higher speeds.

Something along those lines anyway, but getting to the bottom of that might be tricky, so easier to try it. You'd probably get around 1/1000sec with a hot-shoe gun, though how it would all work synched up to the Jinbei's longer duration flash at high speeds is anybody's guess.

Hi Richard,

From Fuji website:

Q.What type of shutter is used for FUJIFILM X10?

A.It has a between-the-lens-shutter.

I'm hoping to get some good results with at least sync cord (still trying to find the best way of attaching it) because of flash duration from Jinbei head.

I think I will order YN-622N and see how it goes.

HoppyUK · 29 Jul 2013

Sebastian said:
Hi Richard,

From Fuji website:

Q.What type of shutter is used for FUJIFILM X10?

A.It has a between-the-lens-shutter.

I'm hoping to get some good results with at least sync cord (still trying to find the best way of attaching it) because of flash duration from Jinbei head.

I think I will order YN-622N and see how it goes.

Yes, but there is also an electronic aspect to it that I suspect is active at higher speeds, and is most likely a scanning type acting like a focal plane shutter.

If so, and in theory, that might work like tail-sync with the Jinbei, but that needs to pick up on a very early timing moment from the camera (basically HSS or FP/sync, ie just before the shutter starts to open/run). Could be brilliant, could be hopeless, but cheap and easy to test with a hot-shoe sync adapter. Be interested to know how you get on

Either way, I think you'll get something useful up to 1/1000sec.

Sebastian · 29 Jul 2013

HoppyUK said:
Yes, but there is also an electronic aspect to it that I suspect is active at higher speeds, and is most likely a scanning type acting like a focal plane shutter.

If so, and in theory, that might work like tail-sync with the Jinbei, but that needs to pick up on a very early timing moment from the camera (basically HSS or FP/sync, ie just before the shutter starts to open/run). Could be brilliant, could be hopeless, but cheap and easy to test with a hot-shoe sync adapter.

Be interested to know how you get on

I will keep you updated. Off to eBay to do more research!

sk66 · 29 Jul 2013

I believe it is a diaphram shutter, essentially a 4 bladed leaf shutter as found in other Fuji X cameras, with an electronic front curtain (basic "dump and start over") which is possible because it's mirrorless.

Sebastian · 30 Jul 2013

Right!
I have found an old hot shoe PC port adapter (for Minolta, with one pin contacting Fuji) and a very short PC cable. I've managed to perform some tests!
Fuji X10 was able to sync at 1/4000 sec with my Jinbei DC 600! No black strips.
There was a significant loss of light, but still - doable!
I will do more testing tomorrow.

G.K.Jnr. · 30 Jul 2013

sk66 said:
A sync cable should allow the same operation as if the flash were mounted on camera.
I don't know about PW's, but Nikon flashes/SU-800 will not fire from the Fuji hotshoe...at least I haven't figured out how.

Hi, Not sure if the menu system is the same for the X10 as the X20.

But on the X20 if you go into the "Shooting Menu 3" scroll down to external flash, open it, and swith it to on, then a Nikon SB-800 flash unit will work when attached to the hot shoe. Obviously not in a dedicated mode.

Hope this helps.

sk66 · 30 Jul 2013

G.K.Jnr. said:
Hi, Not sure if the menu system is the same for the X10 as the X20.

But on the X20 if you go into the "Shooting Menu 3" scroll down to external flash, open it, and swith it to on, then a Nikon SB-800 flash unit will work when attached to the hot shoe. Obviously not in a dedicated mode.

Hope this helps.

It does, I'm guessing I would have to switch the flash itself into M mode... Now, if I could figure out how to use a commander(SB/SU) from the Fuji HS.

G.K.Jnr. · 30 Jul 2013

sk66 said:
It does, I'm guessing I would have to switch the flash itself into M mode... Now, if I could figure out how to use a commander(SB/SU) from the Fuji HS.

Hi, You'll be able to use the SB800 set to manual mode and aperture mode ie you set the aperture on the flash unit to the same aperture set on the camera, and then the flash unit will take care of the correct flash exposure. Remember to make sure the ISO settings are the same on the camera and flash unit

You will have to set the camera to Manual or Aperture Priority mode.

Although the flash unit will still fire if the camera is set to Programme or Shutter Priority it is very unlikely the exposures will be correct.

Because the SB800 or the SU800 Commander unit is not dedicated to the camera you will not be able to use them on the X10 as a commander unit as they will not be picking up any information from the camera other than the basic triggering of the flash unit.

Hope this helps.

sk66 · 30 Jul 2013

G.K.Jnr. said:
Because the SB800 or the SU800 Commander unit is not dedicated to the camera you will not be able to use them on the X10 as a commander unit as they will not be picking up any information from the camera other than the basic triggering of the flash unit.

Hope this helps.

I've come to the same conclusion, but I don't really know "why" it works that way. The SB/SU800's don't need communication with the camera in order to control other units...all they need is to know when to trigger the other units. W/in x-sync the timing isn't really critical...

I suppose "bounce" is better than nothing, but I think SU-4 mode might be even better (if I can control the OBF's direction/contribution).

TBH, this is probably just an exercise... If I want to do flash work I'll probably just grab one of my other cameras.

Sebastian · 1 Aug 2013

Sebastian said:
Right!
I have found an old hot shoe PC port adapter (for Minolta, with one pin contacting Fuji) and a very short PC cable. I've managed to perform some tests!
Fuji X10 was able to sync at 1/4000 sec with my Jinbei DC 600! No black strips.
There was a significant loss of light, but still - doable!
I will do more testing tomorrow.

Sorry guys, I got involved in different things. Will do my best to test it tonight