Optical slaved for older studio lights

medialinx · 13 Dec 2015

Hello everyone.

I have got a few rather old studio lights that have quarter inch jack sockets for firing them. They don't have an optical slave. I fire my other lights through a wireless trigger and built in optical triggers.

Is there such a thing (probably on ebay) that will (a) plug in to the quarter inch socket to fire these by receiving an optical signal? (B) If not, does such a thing as a splitter exist so I can fire them from the pc sync socket *or* (c) fire them from another light (e.g. have a wireless trigger on one light going in to some kind of splitter and then carrying the signal via a cord to the next light, in effect daisy chaining?)

Thank you,
Graham.

Phil V · 13 Dec 2015

More wireless receivers isn't the cheapest option, but it is the most reliable.

In fact I'd consider optical triggers a waste of money.

medialinx · 13 Dec 2015

Any brands you would suggest Phil? I got the lights on indefinite loan so don't want to spend anything on them as I will replace them shortly so looking for the cheapest easiest option.

Kodiak Qc · 13 Dec 2015

Phil V said:
I'd consider optical triggers a waste of money.

+1
All optical triggers are dinosaurs of remote triggers technologies even
those based on IRs, and are easily replaced with radio remotes.

Phil V · 13 Dec 2015

medialinx said:
Any brands you would suggest Phil? I got the lights on indefinite loan so don't want to spend anything on them as I will replace them shortly so looking for the cheapest easiest option.

Cheapest, easiest would be Yongnuo RF603.

dizidav · 13 Dec 2015

Phil V said:
Cheapest, easiest would be Yongnuo RF603.

I use them to fire all sorts of strobes.

redsnappa · 13 Dec 2015

Your wireless trigger can fire multiple wireless receivers so simply buy another wireless receiver.

medialinx · 13 Dec 2015

redsnappa said:
Your wireless trigger can fire multiple wireless receivers so simply buy another wireless receiver.

Can they fire different brands? I have a few different brand triggers floating around...

simonbarker · 13 Dec 2015

medialinx said:
Can they fire different brands? I have a few different brand triggers floating around...

Most basic radio triggers would work with any brand as they're not trying to send any information which is brand specific, not sure about those Yongnuo's as they have N/C designations but they certainly do make some which aren't (or did).

medialinx · 13 Dec 2015

Thanks everyone. I will experiment and see how I get on.

Phil V · 14 Dec 2015

simonbarker said:
Most basic radio triggers would work with any brand as they're not trying to send any information which is brand specific, not sure about those Yongnuo's as they have N/C designations but they certainly do make some which aren't (or did).

Wouldn't the signal be dependant on e radio frequency, I'm not an expert, but I'd be surprised to find different brands choosing the exact same frequency and signal.

IIRC the Canon and Nikon designations on the simple triggers is for the 'wake up' signal, for when the flashgun goes to sleep.

sk66 · 14 Dec 2015

Phil V said:
Wouldn't the signal be dependant on e radio frequency, I'm not an expert, but I'd be surprised to find different brands choosing the exact same frequency and signal.

Yes, but there is often overlap which is why most have multiple channels/frequencies to choose from (the allowable band isn't that wide). I've never found any documentation on what specific frequency is associated with a specific channel so it's trial-and-error and hit-miss...