Interfit EX150 and Nikon

[Floyd-Prism]

Morning all.

I have recently acquired an Interfit EX150 two head lighting system, complete with wireless flash trigger. This equipment is not new and I don't have the instructional DVD that comes with it.

I mounted the wireless trigger on my the hot-shoe of my Nikon D60, but the camera doesn't recognise it, nor does the custom menu item change to Optional Flash unit. Obviously then, I can't remote fire the flash units in the lights. Do I need a proprietary adapter for this set up. (I did search this site, but the answers were not specific enough)

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[Phil V]

What do you mean by 'the camera doesnt recognise it', if it's not a TTL unit, the camera doesn't 'communicate' with it, but it should still fire.

 

[Floyd-Prism]

When I attach my SB400, under the Custom Menu setting for flash, the entry on the menu changes from Built-In Flash to Optional Flash unit. When I attach the Interfit wireless trigger, the menu entry remains as Built-In Flash. So can I assume the flash trigger is not compatible with my Nikon?

 

[johnnypanic]

Come back and tell us the exact model, of the triggers, you are using.

Lot of possible solutions, from depleted batteries to receiver and transmitter being on different channels.

 

[Floyd-Prism]

Thanks Jonnypanic

It's an Interfit INT411. Batteries are new. no options on channels. The unit on its own will fire the EX150 flash, but will not operate when mounted on my camera.

 

[Phil V]

When I attach my SB400, under the Custom Menu setting for flash, the entry on the menu changes from Built-In Flash to Optional Flash unit. When I attach the Interfit wireless trigger, the menu entry remains as Built-In Flash. So can I assume the flash trigger is not compatible with my Nikon?

Thats because your camera and flashgun are communicating, because it's an iTTL flash. If you get hold of any manual flashgun you'll not get the menus.

If you look at your hotshoe on your camera, it'll have multiple contacts, those are for communicating information to the flashgun and from the flashgun to the camera. Your SB400 has corresponding contacts, they communicate focal length, whether the heads tilted and anything else the camera might need to know, and enough for the camera to tell the flashgun the amount of light to give out for a correct exposure.

The trigger will have a single pin and connections on the edge of the mount, that's everything that's required to communicate the simple instruction 'Fire now', which is all your studio flash needs.

You just manually set the ISO, shutter speed (usually 1/160) and aperture on the camera, and set the flash output to get a correct exposure. that's all.

IF the flash doesn't fire, come back with detailed setup instructions. But don't expect the camera to 'know' anything about it, it's just giving a 'fire now' instruction.

 

[Phil V]

Thanks Jonnypanic

It's an Interfit INT411. Batteries are new. no options on channels. The unit on its own will fire the EX150 flash, but will not operate when mounted on my camera.

Have you tried to fire it? I presumed you were stuck at it not being recognised

I've just read the reviews - it's an awful trigger. it virtually needs line of sight to work:shake:. Get yourself some radio triggers.

 

[Floyd-Prism]

Fixed it

I hadn't pushed the device far enough onto the hot-shoe to make a good connection. Works OK now; just need to learn how to control the power output of the flash so as not to burn out the images.

 

[TG.]

just need to learn how to control the power output of the flash so as not to burn out the images.

That will be a bit of trial and error then, unless you use a light meter, but it's just practice really, I normally choose the aperture I want, which could be anything from f7 to f11, then set the shutter speed to 125th and ISO 100/200 then position your lights where you want them, assuming it's a person/model subject, that will be around/in front of them, then adjust the power till you get the results you're looking for, it's better to start off with one light and just get your model to move, rather than keep moving your lights about, to start with anyway. It's obviously a bit more in depth than that, but it's a starting point