Skyport Eco question

[oblivion]

I use Rebel t2i and purchased some time ago a set of d-lite 4 lights that came with the skyport Eco transmitter. No issues with any of it. Few weeks ago I have purchased my first speed light which is the EXiii RT newest model. I'm getting to grips with it slowly never having used one before. I want to know if I can use the speed light off camera using the skyport or do I need additional equipment ? If so what ?

 

[oblivion]

I'd also like to know how to make the speed light work with the pop up flash on the camera

 

[Finste]

A skyport universal trigger for the speedlight that connects via a pc cord may be what you want. May want to check if it is triggered by eco skyport though.

Regards...

 

[simonbarker]

If you want to trigger the studio heads then turn on the optical sensor (button with an eye on it) so when your speedlight fires that will fire the D-lites.

I don't know if the Canon has an IR sensor but if it does you can instead use the Skyport trigger to set off the D-lites which will then set off the Speedlight.

If the Canon doesn't have an IR sensor then you could instead use a third party radio transmitter, the Canon doesn't have a sync port so you'd need one that fits onto the hotshoe, any of the basic Yongnuo radio triggers would do the job. You'd have one transmitter on your camera, one receiver for your Canon and one receiver for a D-lite (or rely on the optical sensor).

Make sense?

 

[oblivion]

I'm ok with that info and will look into it. I was wanting to use the skyport to set off my speed light only when out and about. But it looks like I need more equipment to set it off. I assumed using the pop up flash would trigger the speed light but can't figure that one out

 

[HoppyUK]

I'm ok with that info and will look into it. I was wanting to use the skyport to set off my speed light only when out and about. But it looks like I need more equipment to set it off. I assumed using the pop up flash would trigger the speed light but can't figure that one out

You can do anything, one way or another, but post #1 actually raises a lot more questions! You have a Canon 550D and 600EX-RT gun? Some things are clear then, like the 550D doesn't have remote flash mastering control via the pop-up. The obvious solution there is to get either a Canon ST-E3-ET master unit, or the cheaper Yongnuo YN-E3-RT clone http://www.amazon.co.uk/YONGNUO-YN-...F8&qid=1458083563&sr=8-2&keywords=yn+st+e3+rt (there are other options). That will give you total radio control of the gun as a remote slave. Sorted

When it comes to mixing with the Elinchrom Skyport and D-Lites, I'm not sufficiently familiar with the 600EX-RT, but if it's like all previous Canon guns, a) it doesn't have an optical 'dumb' slave, and will only respond optically to a Canon master flash, and b) if you attach a dumb slave to the gun's hot-shoe, it will fire once, but not again (it needs a special slave unit http://www.colinsfoto.com/Sonia_Optical_flash_slave/cat43951_47721.aspx ). You'd need to check this out and it might complicate some of the easier workaround solutions.

Without going through all the possible options, this is what I'd do. Get a YN-E3-RT master trigger, and when using with the D-Lites, set them to optical slave and they'll fire off the 600EX-RT (in manual mode). Don't use the Skyport. Or if you want to avoid optical triggering, get a YN E3-RX, one for each head http://www.amazon.co.uk/YONGNUO-Wir...d=1458083035&sr=1-1&keywords=yongnuo+yn+e3+rx

 

[simonbarker]

If you rely on a Speedlight to trigger the D-lites you may find it firing repeatedly if the Speedlight pre-flashes. There's a setting on the D-lite to ignore pre-flashes which you have to set manually should this occur.

 

[HoppyUK]

There are no pre-flashes in manual mode.

 

[Phil V]

@HoppyUK has your answer, however this is the frustration of Internet advice, people buy stuff and then ask how to make it work.

We probably wouldn't have recommended a 600ex-RT to work with your current kit, it's an expensive option that's over-complicating things.

A simple Yongnuo YN560 is cheaper than any of your triggering options for the Canon, and is actually another option still. Then you can keep the Canon just for on-camera use where you'll benefit from the ETTL.

 

[simonbarker]

EX III RT probably means a Canon 430EX III RT rather than a 600EX.

If you get a Yongnuo given the ops stated intentions it probably makes more sense to use the Yongnuo as a slave which would leave the D-lites to do most of the work and stand a better chance of setting off the small flash than the reverse.

 

[HoppyUK]

EX III RT probably means a Canon 430EX III RT rather than a 600EX.

Yes, the new 430 Mk3 flash - good guess Same difference as far as the technology applies though.

If you get a Yongnuo given the ops stated intentions it probably makes more sense to use the Yongnuo as a slave which would leave the D-lites to do most of the work and stand a better chance of setting off the small flash than the reverse.

Yes, that would work, provided the 430EX has an optical dumb slave (or add a Sonia slave). It may not, whereas the D-Lites certainly do. Regardless, IMHO best solution is still Yongnuo E3-RT trigger and E3-RX receiver/s for the D-Lites. All options open that way, including full integration with the Canon radio flash system, and pretty future proof.

There is another option that may be attractive, especially at Yongnuo prices. Instead of the YN E3-RT trigger, get a YN 600EX-RT gun that has an E3-RT master controller built-in. The advantage is that gives you a second flash unit on-camera. The downside is extra bulk.