Oct 22 2006, 08:16 PM
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![]() Overdosed ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Die Hard Posts: 2,638 Joined: 15-November 04 From: Toronto, Ontario Member No.: 1,330 |
Alright, after numerous posts about slaves and people being dumb about them... I've compiled some info for people. Feel free to add details. If I left stuff out, it's either because I don't believe in it.. or because I just don't like it.
First up... The Camera In order to get your flash off camera, you need to check what your camera is packin'. Do you have a hotshoe, a PC terminal, or both? Most lower end cameras these days won't come with a PC terminal. ![]() This shows the Nikon D2H which happens to have both a hotshoe and a PC terminal. If your camera does not have a PC terminal and you are looking to use PC Cables (more on these further down) you will need something to convert the hotshoe to a PC. One of the best products to do this is the Nikon AS-15. I'm not sure if you can use this on a Canon SLR or DSLR but I don't see why not. ![]() This shows the Nikon AS-15 with the PC terminal coming out the back. Now let's look at the Connection Method There are three (ok there are more) ways to get the slave flash firing. PC Sync Cords Alright, these are basically some cords that run from your camera to the flash. ![]() The left side is a PC (Male) and the right side is a PC (Female). If you would like to run more than one slave flash, you will need a splitting device that looks like this: ![]() With this method you will need to plug the splitter into your camera or a sync cord between your camera and the splitter. From the splitter you would run a PC Female to (Insert Plug for your flash here). You could also run a Hotshoe to Hotshoe adapter like the Nikon SC-17/SC-28/SC-29. This works exactly like it looks. One end plugs into the hotshoe, and the other has the flashes hotshoe slip into it. The bottom of the end for the flash has the threads for a tripod. ![]() Optical Slaves Not going to give much detail on these because I don't like them. Essentially you have one flash fire from your main camera... and from there each slave flash has a sensor mounted to it. When it senses a burst of light over ambiant light, it fires the flash it's connected to. These suck during the day time though. Radio Slaves... Pocket Wizards Pocket Wizards are the greatest invention ever. They start with a transmitter mounted to the hotshoe of your camera. ![]() When the camera sends a signal to the hotshoe, the transmitter picks up that electrical pulse from the camera and emits a signal up to 300 feet around which is picked up by any receivers you have mounted to flashes in the area. Now the receiver gets connected to a flash somehow through some cord. These cords must usually be purchased seperately. Some of the Pocket Wizard kits include a Miniphone to PC cable. ![]() This shows the top of the Pocket Wizard receiver where the Miniphone connection is plugged into. Now let us study the FLASHES situation. Different flashes have different connection that must be made. All manufacturers have different types of cables. To find out which works for your camera, head over to www.paramountcords.com and take a look at what they have before asking on Skate Perception. Those questions get really annoying. Now... some things to think about. The Nikon SB-800 has a built in PC terminal so you can use the Miniphone to PC cable that comes with Pocket Wizards. ![]() However, the Vivitar 285HV accepts a different cable called the VC-1. ![]() In order to connect my Pocket Wizards to my Vivitars, I custom fabricated a cord built from an old set of headphones (Thats how I got the Miniphone) and from an Old VC-1 Vivitar cord. ![]() Sometimes there are no inputs and you will just need to use a PC to Hotshoe converter. Here is an example of one made by Kaiser. ![]() Remember, it's all about finding the cord that goes from your camera or your Pocket Wizard... and connects correctly to your flash. In case you are wondering... it is possible to mix the two methods. You MAY connect more than one flash to a Pocket Wizard Receiver. Mamiya and Pocket Wizard have said it is OK to do but do not recommend more than 2 flashes per receiver. I have personally used 3 flashes from a single receiver without an issue. Next we'll discuss Mounting your flash. Your super cool flash and Pdubs arent just going to lie on the ground are they? I would hope not. This is where you get some lightstands or some shitty WalMart tripods and get your flash where you want it. Now... most tripods come with a screw on the top.. but that doesn't really fit a hotshoe does it? So we need something to convert that. Here is an example of a product made by Kaiser. ![]() I have also used a Nikon-AS19 for this purpose. Now for a shot of the whole SHABANG... ![]() Well that's all for now guys. Remember to feel free to add stuff to this. I am well aware that there are other methods (Infrared, Ebay Slaves, Nikon iTTL Creative Lighting, Canon eTTL) but the above methods are the ones I have the most experience with. This is just an overall guide to get people started and understanding how the system works with slaves. Take it easy, Mike -------------------- |
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mikejl29 Radio Slaves/wireless Slaves Thread Oct 22 2006, 08:16 PM
Jake. that really helps
i've been looking for a guid... Oct 22 2006, 08:18 PM
jordan Good Job!
This makes me so pissed off at the ... Oct 22 2006, 08:19 PM
DayOne
Good Job!
This makes me so pissed off at the... Oct 22 2006, 10:53 PM
wolfknight Amazing tutorial, props for all the time and effor... Oct 22 2006, 11:32 PM
mikejl29 No Jake, the last one merely attaches the flash to... Oct 22 2006, 08:21 PM
Trippy_Filmer pin this fo sho. Oct 22 2006, 08:35 PM
ayofokayo i love you Oct 22 2006, 08:54 PM
NikonWhore This will really help alot of the new photographer... Oct 22 2006, 11:06 PM
fuzz4769
This will really help alot of the new photographe... Oct 23 2006, 08:46 PM
jordan
Don't worry Jordan, I have pocket wizards.
T... Oct 22 2006, 11:08 PM
UnauthorisedSkateCo Pretty good tutorial, deserves a point. Oct 23 2006, 04:16 AM
SteveLaClair Damn if we only had one this good about those ebay... Oct 23 2006, 06:27 AM
cullcullcull If I am wanting to use a flash with a pocket wizar... Oct 27 2006, 03:56 PM
bmxologist Correct. Though, it doesn't have to be the sam... Oct 27 2006, 07:08 PM
32GNU wow, I'm not even a photographer and i could u... Oct 29 2006, 12:21 AM
Chayce Cosby
i love you
B) Oct 29 2006, 12:24 AM
jordan Is this the cord I need to go from my Vivi285 to a... Nov 12 2006, 02:54 PM
SUSPECT 54 did you get youself some pws jordan? or is it an x... Nov 12 2006, 03:14 PM
jordan Christmas.
My goal is to get 3 flashes going on PW... Nov 12 2006, 03:22 PM
SUSPECT 54 ah. Nov 12 2006, 03:22 PM
Warren Foster Yeah jordan those are the cables I have. Nov 14 2006, 02:22 AM
lurkinghard This was helpful... but could someone clear this u... Nov 19 2006, 12:49 AM
SUSPECT 54
This was helpful... but could someone clear this ... Nov 19 2006, 12:52 AM
wolfknight Hey, I was wondering if anyone has purchased pw... Nov 19 2006, 01:25 AM
bmxologist
Hey, I was wondering if anyone has purchased pw... Nov 19 2006, 03:40 AM
wolfknight
I bought my l-385 from that dude. He's legit... Nov 19 2006, 02:07 PM
Dunk you mean 358? Nov 19 2006, 04:11 AM
bmxologist
you mean 358?
I don't see what my typo has ... Nov 19 2006, 10:27 PM
wolfknight
I don't see what my typo has anything to do w... Nov 19 2006, 11:50 PM
Palmer! is there a cord you can buy that is miniphone to V... Dec 3 2006, 11:32 PM
mikejl29 http://www.paramountcords.com Dec 4 2006, 12:00 AM
edan thank you, this came in soooo handy. Dec 11 2006, 06:21 PM
vegetables ok so i was wondering how exactilly you can hook u... Dec 12 2006, 03:57 PM
mikejl29 http://forums.skateperception.com/index.php?showto... Dec 12 2006, 05:10 PM
tgktmrjhinlhnm My pocket wizards came in the mail today and I hav... Dec 15 2006, 11:09 PM
steezandcrackers just a quick question.
camera: d50
say i get the n... Dec 30 2006, 12:49 AM
Dunk yes sir Dec 30 2006, 02:06 AM
steezandcrackers tight. Dec 30 2006, 12:23 PM
joliver i have a question? does anybody know if i can get ... Feb 1 2007, 09:47 PM
Jonsa pocket wizards will work Feb 1 2007, 09:48 PM
photopimp1 dude you helped me so much.. YOUR GOD!!... Feb 8 2007, 09:20 PM
OZ people need to start reading this befoure making t... Feb 18 2007, 03:33 AM
Tymo. Man I hate my ebay slaves fucking everything up. S... Feb 21 2007, 11:13 AM
mikejl29 Get someone in the states to smuggle them from B... Feb 21 2007, 11:30 AM
steez burger awesome man!! thank you so much. That real... Mar 15 2007, 02:35 PM
'es_is the best part how about getting some money first? :P Mar 15 2007, 08:51 PM
SkatePhotograpr Hey everyone. I finally decided to just suck it up... Apr 22 2007, 10:22 AM
Bayko Hey everyone. I finally decided to just suck it up... Apr 22 2007, 10:31 AM
mikejl29 Yes, one for the camera to send out a signal... an... Apr 22 2007, 10:30 AM
SkatePhotograpr Oh jeez. Alright. So do I have any cheaper options... Apr 22 2007, 10:35 AM
Bayko Ebay slaves. Apr 22 2007, 10:40 AM
mikejl29 Anything cheaper and you lose quality. People migh... Apr 22 2007, 10:41 AM
Bayko Anything cheaper and you lose quality. People migh... Apr 22 2007, 10:48 AM
SkatePhotograpr But what comes with top of the line? Does it have ... Apr 22 2007, 10:44 AM
Jonsa But what comes with top of the line? Does it have ... Apr 22 2007, 10:50 AM
SkatePhotograpr So then whats with all the buttons? Haha. Apr 22 2007, 10:51 AM
Jonsa So then whats with all the buttons? Haha.
Channels... Apr 22 2007, 10:58 AM
Bayko I googled it a bit and read on the FM forums that ... Apr 22 2007, 10:54 AM
SkatePhotograpr Aight. One more question - Do you guys find that 1... Apr 22 2007, 11:01 AM
Jonsa Their 1/250th thing doesn't really matter. Mi... Apr 22 2007, 11:03 AM
Bayko Their 1/250th thing doesn't really matter. Mi... Apr 22 2007, 11:08 AM
Jonsa So if i buy these to go with a D1x will I only be ... Apr 22 2007, 11:14 AM
Bayko Yeah because that's the max x-sync for that ca... Apr 22 2007, 11:21 AM
SkatePhotograpr EDIT: Yeah, im using a D50 - Can I pull off anythi... Apr 22 2007, 11:12 AM
Gross 250 is perfectly fine for flash sync 95 percent of... Apr 22 2007, 11:23 AM
Bayko It says it can go up to any speed with the SB flas... Apr 22 2007, 11:27 AM
mikejl29 I've pushed my pocket wizards to shoot at 1/10... Apr 22 2007, 11:27 AM
Bayko I've pushed my pocket wizards to shoot at 1/10... Apr 22 2007, 11:29 AM
SkatePhotograpr So these Pocket-Wizard Plus II's are the thing... Apr 22 2007, 12:11 PM
OZ if the sb 800 has a pc port then yes it comes with... Apr 22 2007, 08:00 PM
SkatePhotograpr I just got my two PW's. Im like, mega excited. Apr 25 2007, 08:07 PM
dtn What exact cord do i need for pocketwizards to hoo... Apr 30 2007, 02:34 PM
i enjoi skateboarding What exact cord do i need for pocketwizards to hoo... Apr 30 2007, 02:39 PM
swanky I've been borrowing my friends' slaves and... May 2 2007, 09:24 PM
mikejl29 Get a Nikon AS-15 Hotshoe to PC adapter... and the... May 2 2007, 10:03 PM
Colin L Ah I feel like such a douche asking this, but wher... May 13 2007, 01:20 AM
Keepitonwax How does a PW transceiver work?i understand how th... May 13 2007, 11:23 AM
tgktmrjhinlhnm How does a PW transceiver work?i understand how th... May 13 2007, 11:33 AM
Colin L Ah I feel like such a douche asking this, but wher... May 18 2007, 12:16 AM
Bayko Anyone? I've been searching for ever and can... May 23 2007, 04:47 PM
davetrials i just buaght some of those transmitter things tha... May 22 2007, 07:29 AM
wutangphoto is there any threads like this about ebay slaves
c... May 27 2007, 11:09 PM
Mikon how much does this all cost
with the flash includ... May 27 2007, 11:20 PM
wutangphoto thanks! May 27 2007, 11:44 PM
Mikon @ wutangphoto
here's a review on ebay slaves.... May 28 2007, 11:25 AM
wutangphoto pw's arent even THAT much money.
and they wor... May 30 2007, 11:21 PM
Mikon pw's arent even THAT much money.
and they wor... May 31 2007, 06:07 AM
1080p skip the bs and just save for pw's.
rumor has ... May 31 2007, 04:10 PM
wutangphoto what i need to pick up so that PW's will work ... May 31 2007, 11:10 PM
Bayko Uhh, you slide it onto your hot shot. May 31 2007, 11:25 PM
mikejl29 And connect the cord from the receiver to the flas... Jun 1 2007, 12:29 AM
clue anybody know where the best place is to pick up ka... Jun 1 2007, 09:38 AM
mikejl29 Nikon AS-15 Jun 1 2007, 08:28 PM
Mikon has anyone here ever used Calumet LiteLinks?
edit... Jun 2 2007, 07:24 AM
clue has anyone here ever used Calumet LiteLinks?
edit... Jun 3 2007, 06:53 PM
steezandcrackers anyone buy the V2 ebay slaves yet? i'm orderin... Jun 3 2007, 09:25 PM
Bayko anyone buy the V2 ebay slaves yet? i'm orderin... Jun 3 2007, 10:16 PM
steezandcrackers Herererere
They're at the bottom. Jun 3 2007, 11:39 PM
kohlton Do i need to get a hotshoe adapter to hook an eba... Jun 4 2007, 07:38 PM![]() ![]() |
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