Using different branded flashguns on a set up....[better explanation in post]

[DropDead]

Hello,

Don't really know how to word this, so I'll explain what I want to do..

I've got a Nikon camera + SB900 + (x1)fast sync trigs and receivers. I want to use a friends 2 canon receivers and use a Canon flash(s). Can I set this up, can the canon receiver pick up the Nikon trigger?

Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, but hopefully you get my drift

 

[Finste]

I would say a qualified No. The Nikon system and Canon system are proprietary and do not talk to each other. You can however work around this by using other means of triggering such as optical or radio triggers. Canon flashes do not have a built in optical slaves. So you could get optical slaves for the Canon flashes and trigger them using your Nikon flash in that way. The Canon flashes would have to be set in manual mode only though. No ETTL or other auto modes. Alternatively, you could use radio triggers all round rather than optical slaves. Again they would only work in manual mode. No ETTL or auto modes. Radio triggers can be cheap such as Yongnuo or expensive like Pocketwizard or a whole range in between. Choose to suit your budget.

Hope this helps

Regards...

 

[coldpenguin]

I believe that the canon flashes can be put into a manual mode flash trigger (I only use them with the Canon trigger), which would make them usable like any 3rd party flash.

 

[Phil V]

I believe that the canon flashes can be put into a manual mode flash trigger (I only use them with the Canon trigger), which would make them usable like any 3rd party flash.

When Canon flashes are using Manual settings from triggers, they're either completely Manual, so use no communication other than 'fire now' or use ETTL communications to alter the Manual output, but that requires Canon transmitters.

There's no optical slave on Canon guns like there are on Nikon ones. The only way to fire the Canon flash guns are dumb wireless triggers or external optical slave cells.

 

[boyfalldown]

I'm guessing you need your trigger to be all the same brand so they talk to each other

 

[DropDead]

I'm guessing you need your trigger to be all the same brand so they talk to each other

Yeah they are going to be the same brand, just the flash's are going to be different brand

I would say a qualified No. The Nikon system and Canon system are proprietary and do not talk to each other. You can however work around this by using other means of triggering such as optical or radio triggers. Canon flashes do not have a built in optical slaves. So you could get optical slaves for the Canon flashes and trigger them using your Nikon flash in that way. The Canon flashes would have to be set in manual mode only though. No ETTL or other auto modes. Alternatively, you could use radio triggers all round rather than optical slaves. Again they would only work in manual mode. No ETTL or auto modes. Radio triggers can be cheap such as Yongnuo or expensive like Pocketwizard or a whole range in between. Choose to suit your budget.

Hope this helps

Regards...

Yeah it does help, I wasn't thinking of the ETTL modes or anything like that I shoot manual with everything. Auto modes mean nothing to me.

As long as the flashes are set to full auto, there won't be an issue?

 

[Finste]

Yeah they are going to be the same brand, just the flash's are going to be different brand

Yeah it does help, I wasn't thinking of the ETTL modes or anything like that I shoot manual with everything. Auto modes mean nothing to me.

As long as the flashes are set to full auto, there won't be an issue?

If you really mean they are *not* set to full auto then yes, you shouldn't have a problem. Set them to Manual Mode.

Regards...

 

[DropDead]

Sorry yes, that's what I meant..

Thanks!