Flasher!

[Raskill]

Not what you expected, sorry

Just wondering if anyone can tell me if I can set up non nikon speedlight units (or even older nikon units) (read 'cheap' units) to be fired remotely for studio shots? Or would constant lighting off reflectors be better?

I know what I want to do, that is have light sources from two or three locations bouncing off reflectors, but don't want to spend big on studio lights (even cheapies) only to find out how much I hate studio shots.

Hope someone can help. And yes, I tried search

Thanks!

[birddog114]

Raskill,
I'm sure one of similar of your question had been asked here not long ago.
I'm searching.

[avkomp]

it is certainly possible to use older flashes as slaves.
I use my old metz 60ct1s all the time.
these units have the old x sync contact on them and I have a little gizmo the size of the top joint of my little finger.
this gizmo is a slave trigger and basically consists of a small plastic housing with a photo transistor or similar inside which senses light from a flash and is able to trigger another flash via the x contact. mine have little suction caps to strategically place them.

this would work with any flash that had the ability to be connected to it either directly or with an adaptor.

As for whether or not you should use flash or lights, I think lights are easier (although more expensive). you can often produce much nicer lighting than with flash.
and there are other benefits also
for example:
peoples pupils dilate with dim light and when a flash fires, the eye wont have time to contract, but if you use lights, the light is the same as at exposure so pupils are smaller, showing a more natural looking eye.

Steve

[birddog114]

Hope this may helps also:

http://www.dslrusers.com/viewtopic.php?p=178777#178777

[avkomp]

http://www.adorama.com/fasv.html

above is a similar gizmo to mine. $15usd

similar probably obtainable locally also

Steve

[Raskill]

Thanks folks, appreciate the help.

Birdy, you have a keen memory!

Steve, I just found a few of those little slave triggers on ebay, so I'll be watching them.

[avkomp]

the only catch is that they can be fooled by preflashes, so you may need to run manually.

Steve

[jerrysk8]

you should get something like this

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/16-Channel-Wirel ... dZViewItem

its a poor mans pocket wizard. ask for extra receivers. plenty of different variations at different prices on ebay. just search for radio slave or something