Questions from an off camera flash wannabe

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yoshi

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So I have already asked a couple of questions regarding what stand/umbrella etc to get so I go that covered off now (apart from amazon selling out of the umbrella grrr)

But as I haven't even started on this 'off camera flash journey yet, I don't want to commit to a BIG spend, but, at the same time, don't want to get anything that I could 'grow' out of too quick.

My Kit....I have a D90 and a D40, SB800 and am looking to replace my SB400 with a sb600 (sb-26 if I could find one...or maybe a vivitar?). I will soon order a Konig stand, Manfrotto 026, Umbrella Translucent Diffuser/ reflector.

I know the D90 has CLS which I have used and am fairly happy with, apart from the slight light cast you can get if working in close to the subject. I know I can use old film or a remote controls led cover to cut the light cast but that doesn't impress me and probably wouldn't impress the subjects much

I know that the D40 can sync at a much higher speed than the d90 so I may call on that to help overpower/balance natural light with flash.

My questions start at... what do I need to be able to trigger the flash

1. without the slight light cast from the D90 CLS
2. That is also able to connect to the D40
3. Should I go for a hot shoe adapter with a PC-sync port?
- How long can the cable be?
4. Is an hot shoe with optical trigger any different from CLS (does it cast a light)?
5. Are eBay triggers worth it over a cable, if so which ones? (I cant imagine I'll be working more than 5m from flash, but you never know)

Basically I need guidance, cable v wireless, if wireless what triggers......yada yada :help: :shrug:
 
what do you mean by 'light cast from the D90 CLS'?
I use CLS for all off camera flash work - with no problems - great system - trigger the off camera flash with a SU-800 or you can use your SB-800 as a master on camera and slave another flash off camera.
 
Morning :)

Ebay triggers are worth it, at least to practice with in the meantime.

I'd go for Cactus V4's from Gadget Infinity (can't link as at work sorry).
Going off camera without cables opens up whole new possibilities for shooting.

Tried Strobist? www.strobist.com
 
I think he means from the built in flash on the D90 which does emit a long pulse of light in commander mode causing your subjects to all blink just as the rest of system fires. It's a very crude way to fire the CLS.

If you want to retain high speed sync and CLS then forget ebay triggers and go with either the SU-800 (expensive but great) or use your SB800 in master either on camera of off camera with a TTL cord as the poster above has said.
 
Don't know why the SU-800 is so expensive - it's the control without the flash! Worth it though - makes it all so easy.
 
awp said:
what do you mean by 'light cast from the D90 CLS'?
I use CLS for all off camera flash work - with no problems - great system -
Click to expand...

I have found that If in really close the pre-flash from the cls can be seen ever so slightly.....

Having said that when I played it was with TTL, I have heard if you used CLS with manual, you wouldnt get the series of pre flashes sending the ttl info..... maybe?
 
The SU-800 is my favorite bit of lighting kit at the moment, CLS works so well with it I'm getting rid of all my studio lighting and going totally McNally. :thumbs:
 
yoshi said:
I have found that If in really close the pre-flash from the cls can be seen ever so slightly.....

Having said that when I played it was with TTL, I have heard if you used CLS with manual, you wouldnt get the series of pre flashes sending the ttl info..... maybe?
Click to expand...

You'd get rid of the CLS commander pulse effect on the built in flash by setting the built in flash to just flash and then setting your off camera flashes to SU-4 dumb slave mode. This would of course mean that you'd have the built in flash flash joining in the party and that generally looks pretty crap.

In the past I have used the built in flash in commander with a piece of white card taped a few cm in front of it so the pulse doesn't make people blink but still bounces round the room setting off the flashes.. give that a go :thumbs:
 
So would the su800 also work with the D40? or does it only work on cameras with CLS?
 
what I am thinking then is get a TTL cord for the SB800 (probably modify it to get a little more reach) and then use the sb800 in commander mode to trigger the SB600?
TheBionicDan - I hear what your saying with using the inbuilt flash to trigger in SU-4 but then I would alwasy have to take the on camera flash in to account, even with a bit of paper over the front its going to add to the light...isn't it?? (said I was a wanabe should of added noob to that)

Xtro - oh yes I found strobist....thats what started all this :lol:
 
yoshi said:
Xtro - oh yes I found strobist....thats what started all this :lol:
Click to expand...


Hehe flipping addictive isn't it? My mrs is my test subject, think I am doing her head in as I work through Lighting 101 and 102 :)
 
yea, everytime I read some more it costs me another £20-£40.
My Mrs has gone from being really annoyed with me about it all to being really interested and helpful...think she wants another holiday or someting...it doesn't add up :lol:

the method of trigger seems to be the killer part. I think I should look at the cactus v4s, will go browse to see what people think of them.

Gadget Infinity is a US site.....anyone got a sheap UK seller?
 
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