studio flash in Daylight question

[Chaz Photos]

Hi
I was doing so outdoor shots for some entertainers today
I tried to use my studio flash but could not get them to work outside.
I guess the inferred remote might not work but I plugged in a sync lead and still no flash.
I ended up using my speedlite 580EX II
Anyone any know why?
Oh I tested it all when I got home all working fine indoors...

 

[specialman]

Could be something to do with the slave? Seems strange though...

 

[Chaz Photos]

Well the slave is not used when using the sync lead as far as the unit its plugged into

 

[HoppyUK]

Hi
I was doing so outdoor shots for some entertainers today
I tried to use my studio flash but could not get them to work outside.
I guess the inferred remote might not work but I plugged in a sync lead and still no flash.
I ended up using my speedlite 580EX II
Anyone any know why?
Oh I tested it all when I got home all working fine indoors...

Got to be a slave issue hasn't it

Optical slaves can be overwhelmed by bright sun, but they should still work if your trigger flash is close enough.

They should certainly work with a sync cable. Is there a chance that was faulty? Did they flash okay when you got home with the sync cable?

 

[EdBray]

Did you plug them in?

 

[Chaz Photos]

All works OK at home The units was not in sun but shadow so I don’t under stand why
I am guessing some how the camera was not setting them off but I don’t understand why.

 

[purplepaul]

did you still have the slave turned on even when using the pc sync?

 

[purplepaul]

oh what make of lights?

 

[Chaz Photos]

InterFit lights there is no switch for the slave but this would not matter if I had a sync lead plugged in

 

[HoppyUK]

From the Interfit Vampire range?

 

[EdBray]

From the Interfit Vampire range?

lol

 

[Chaz Photos]

So I am guessing no one knows then?

 

[alexkidd]

how were you powering them? not enough juice/right type of juice would be my guess

 

[Chaz Photos]

how were you powering them? not enough juice/right type of juice would be my guess

mains power test button worked but not with camera

 

[alexkidd]

how were you triggering them in the studio? your sync cable might just be knackered anyhow and the ir might have been flooded outside, apart from that nfi

 

[Chaz Photos]

i tried two sync leads both worked indoors none outside I guessed the daylight mess up the infered trigger but dont understand why lead not work

 

[HoppyUK]

So I am guessing no one knows then?

Sorry Chaz, up till now it has sounded a bit like user error

I can understand that the optical slaves might not work in bright light, but the sync cable should. So set it up indoors, check everything is working, then move it outside without changing anything.

If it doesn't work, cover the slave cell and try again. If it works then, clearly that's the problem, and the solution (albeit not a very satisfactory one). If you still have no joy, a phone call to Interfit - they must have heard of this before, or there's a fault.

 

[classcams]

Some studio flash`s break the slave cell circuit when plugging in the sync lead. If yours do not have this feature the brightness of the day may turn the slave cell fully on permanent. As suggested cover the slave cells.

 

[DiddyDave]

Some studio flash`s break the slave cell circuit when plugging in the sync lead. If yours do not have this feature the brightness of the day may turn the slave cell fully on permanent. As suggested cover the slave cells.

with this as the next test - I've seen many units' slaves covered with dark tape over the years but never thought much about it as I don't use studio gear outside - sounds like a likely answer though

DD