Please explain triggers to me..

[stevewestern]

OK, I want to buy some Lencarta flash heads - not sure yet if the Smartflash or the ElitePro's.
I want to be able to use a flash meter to measure exposure, and want to be able to trigger the heads either via the flash meter or some other way that means the camera can be left on the tripod, ie some sort of remote trigger. Being able to measure the output of each flash seperately matters so I can measure and then adjust each to suit whatever effect I am trying to achieve is important. I am only (clearly) at the utter beginners stage so don't need an expensive solution if it is possible without spending too much.
I have a Canon 5dmk2, a Canon ST-E2 and a 580 ex2 which may or may not be able to help.
Can anyone please explain exactly what I need to do this ?
Thanks all !

PS I ought to add that I want to be able to fire both or maybe even 3 heads eventually if that makes any difference. Maybe a remote shutter release would do it for me, but as I know nothing and help would be much appreciated..

 

[Garry Edwards]

Right...
A radio trigger is a simple 1-way radio.
The transmitter plugs into the hotshoe of the camera, and when you press the shutter button (or the test button) it sends a signal that is received by the receiver.

The receiver is plugged into the synch socket of one flash head and when it receives the signal an electrical contact is closed, which fires the flash. That's it.

Only one receiver is needed unless other photographers are in the same room with their own lights, in which case you need a receiver for each light. Otherwise, the slave sensor on any other lights you are using will 'see' the flash from the first one and will trigger immediately.

If you use a meter you place it immediately in front of the subject and point it towards the camera, then fire the flash (again using the radio transmitter). If you want to measure each light individually, you need a flat receptor fitted to the flash meter and you point the meter/sensor directly at the light you want to measure, and you take a final reading to camera

 

[stevewestern]

Don't you ever sleep Garry ?

Much of what you say I now understand. I won't be working with other photographers so no worry about other lights. Is there no easy way to fire the flash via a flash meter or would a remote shutter release be the easiest way to do it ?
I have seen a Mark Cleghorn video in which he is measuring exposure using what seems to be a flash meter to trigger his flash head, and unless this is really expensive it would make my life much easier..
Also, is a flat receptor an easily available extra for a flash meter ?
So many new terms and so little knowledge.............

By the way, many thanks Garry for all your help and patience via PM !

 

[Garry Edwards]

Some meters have a built in trigger - that's fine but I prefer simply solutions myself.

My own meter Minolta V) came with both a flat and a dome receptor, many have a receptor that can be raised. When raised it's a dome and when it isn't raised it's a flat receptor - or so they say.