What Kinda Speedlite Would Be Ok For Slave?

68lbs

68lbs

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Ok, I was going to wait for FiTP's Nonwong (or whatever it is) cheapo flashes to get one that I could use as a slave to my Canon 580EX II. However, I am impatient... and as I read around, I see quite a few people use multiple 580's or multiple SB900's.

Can someone advise me... what sort of thing should I be looking at?

Canon 580?
Canon 430?
Nikon Summitorother?
Nissin Di622?
FiTP's cheapo £35 affair?

Usage would be primarily to allow me to light a background separately from the subject (in most cases a human being). And it'd need to work as an optical slave for now as I only have one wireless receiver.
 
the nissin has a built in optical slave, as do all nikon flashes (I think)

the canon would work ttl but not if you wanna use a radio slave

the flashes FITP is getting in have the slaves built into the heads not the bodies so are less useful as the slave needs pointing towards another flash, with in body flash you point the body at the radio slaved flash then twist the head to where you want it
 
david1701 said:
the nissin has a built in optical slave, as do all nikon flashes (I think)

the canon would work ttl but not if you wanna use a radio slave

the flashes FITP is getting in have the slaves built into the heads not the bodies so are less useful as the slave needs pointing towards another flash, with in body flash you point the body at the radio slaved flash then twist the head to where you want it
Click to expand...

That's not strictly true, David, the head doesn't need to be pointed directly at the master unit, however like every other optical trigger the sensor needs to be able to "see" the triggering source. It's also not correct that most Nikon flashes have a built-in optical slave, only the SB-26/800/900 do.


Personally I wouldn't rely on any optical system in anything but perfect conditions,unless I absolutely had to and that includes the proprietary Nikon and Canon systems.
 
I'm using jessops 360AFD's at the moment - cheap manual to 1/16th power with built in optical slave - pick them up used for £35-40.
 
What's the advantage of using all SB900's or 580EX's, over something cheaper like FiTP's flashes?

Faster recycling, more power, and ETTL?

So presumably for low use, manual flash, predominantly inside, a 580 or 900 would be way overkill?
 
68lbs said:
What's the advantage of using all SB900's or 580EX's, over something cheaper like FiTP's flashes?

Faster recycling, more power, and ETTL?
Click to expand...


Basically, yes. If you need those sort of things then something like an SB-900 is the route to go down, but then you can nearly have ten of the YN-460s for the same price, so it's horses for courses :D
 
ok im talking *******s then :D

I thought all nikons did SU-4 but I've only used an 800 and a 900 before

A guy on talk urbex did a test with them and they got upset when not pointing towards another flash

"so i was tryin it. there's no problem once sensor is pointed towards light source, trouble starts once you put it between mainstrobe and model/object i also noticed that even turning it 90deegrees causes some trouble, it is a good piece of equipment but imho to use only with remote radio triggers unless you want to add some side direct lightining surprisingly it was working even from 10m distance :)"

linky
 
david1701 said:
the nissin has a built in optical slave, as do all nikon flashes (I think)

the canon would work ttl but not if you wanna use a radio slave

the flashes FITP is getting in have the slaves built into the heads not the bodies so are less useful as the slave needs pointing towards another flash, with in body flash you point the body at the radio slaved flash then twist the head to where you want it
Click to expand...

Canon flashes work fine with radio slaves :thinking:

Basically, if the OP wants E-TTL control then you need E-TTL compatible guns. Canon, or various other brands.

If you want only manual, then any flash with manual override will do. There appear to be some problems with some guns with some really cheap Ebay radio triggers, but I think it's correct that the RF-602 radio triggers that FITP sells will work with anything.
 
david1701 said:
ok im talking *******s then :D

I thought all nikons did SU-4 but I've only used an 800 and a 900 before

A guy on talk urbex did a test with them and they got upset when not pointing towards another flash

"so i was tryin it. there's no problem once sensor is pointed towards light source, trouble starts once you put it between mainstrobe and model/object i also noticed that even turning it 90deegrees causes some trouble, it is a good piece of equipment but imho to use only with remote radio triggers unless you want to add some side direct lightining surprisingly it was working even from 10m distance :)"

linky
Click to expand...

Optical triggers are :annoyed: at the best of times in anything but optimal conditions. Sure, you'll get better results from the setup in the likes of an SB-800 or 900, but like I said, it's 10 YongNuos or an SB-900 ;)
 
HoppyUK said:
Canon flashes work fine with radio slaves :thinking:

Basically, if the OP wants E-TTL control then you need E-TTL compatible guns. Canon, or various other brands.

If you want only manual, then any flash with manual override will do. There appear to be some problems with some guns with some really cheap Ebay radio triggers, but I think it's correct that the RF-602 radio triggers that FITP sells will work with anything.
Click to expand...

I meant no ttl

the flash works great on manual
 
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