Studio Flash Triggering...but how??!!?

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englandshottest2

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Hi all, have a query re: triggering of studio flash heads.... so here goes!-

I've been successfully using my studio which is setup with around 6 flash heads (Interfit & Elinchrom), and have been working with them quite easily for the past year...at first I was using an Infrared transmitter from my hotshoe, as all the lights had the I.R. sensor built in, but after a few different studio layouts, etc. I came to realize that the I.R. system was just not for me and turned out to be very unreliable...as (depending on the shoot layout) the I.R. only really seems to work if your layout contains the flash heads within about 6 metres from the trigger, sometimes farther but becomes even less reliable, and not only that, but it really only worked well if the heads were turned so that their I.R. receiver was in pretty much a direct beam to the trigger (obviously not at all practical!).
So then, I moved onto some 2 channel radio transmitter/receiver units, where each of the flash heads have their own receiver plugged into the sync socket and are set to the same channel as the transmitter/trigger. This has worked FAR more better and is much more reliable, as the heads don't have to be facing your transmitter to pick up the signal. BUT...all that being said, I've still been doing tests with the heads in different areas of the studio and in different positions, such as fully turned backward (away from the side with the receiver) and at an angle to some partial walls (such as polystyrene walls...sometimes used in my shoots)...but it still does miss occassionaly...

SOOOO my question being, does anybody know of a very STRONG & RELIABLE radio transmitter/receiver unit(s) that will work at greater distances and sometimes around thin, partial walls... I've seen the Bowens Pular radio units, but the pair are around 200GBP...so for a full size studio with 6 heads, that's a bit pricey! Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated! The camera I use has to work off a hotshoe transmitter (no sync leads directly into the cam). THANKS! xxxx
 
I use a wireless trigger which has always done the job, but then as you mention I am always within 4 meters of the lights. It may be worth contacting a couple of retailers and see what advice then can offer. I bought mine from speed graphic and are always very helpful - maybe worth dropping them an email

sorry I can;t offer any advice,

Rob
 
I'm surprised that your heads don't have a slave built in. It's the simplist and most reliable way to trigger a group of lights.

I can't imagine wanting to use 6 lights but the principle is the same for 2 or 200. I have one light connected to the camera, sometimes by wire and sometimes by radio and the rest just fire when they see that flash fire.

The only time I've ever had any problems with this was shooting welders the other week. :lol:
 
dazzajl- they do have built in slaves and I.R. but will not trip each other unless quite close together and at certain angles...so it becomes a bit unreliable... (P.S. large format fashion photography = need for many lights! lol)
 
The slaves should pick up the others over much greater distances than the IR. My heads are all bloomin ancient now but I can still place them round corners, in different rooms under furniture etc and they'll fire.

.... and I know there are times when many heads are called for, I have used 8, 10 and more in the past. I just don't like anything that complicates my life anymore. ;)
 
PM Steep, I think he got one from ebay for only a few quid, but said it worked a treat, also if you do a tread search you will come across it. :)
 
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