Off Camera Flash Setup
HFP
Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
Hey everyone,
Well I've been searching around on the forums a few days reading everything I can but I'm still slightly confused about the off camera flash. I've mainly just relied on ambient light but I want to play with flash a bit so I'm trying to do it in the most inexpensive way possible so I don't want to do pocket wizards or the st-e2 just yet. Maybe in the future.
Currently I already have a 430ex and a 30d.
So what it looks like I'll need is a light stand, the clamp, the umbrella, and the pc cord. I'm relatively confused to what all I'll need for the pc cord if someone could give me some links on BH as to what I'll need to use with my current flash? I'd appreciate it a bunch. I'm thinking six foot will be more than enough for the cord.
Well I've been searching around on the forums a few days reading everything I can but I'm still slightly confused about the off camera flash. I've mainly just relied on ambient light but I want to play with flash a bit so I'm trying to do it in the most inexpensive way possible so I don't want to do pocket wizards or the st-e2 just yet. Maybe in the future.
Currently I already have a 430ex and a 30d.
So what it looks like I'll need is a light stand, the clamp, the umbrella, and the pc cord. I'm relatively confused to what all I'll need for the pc cord if someone could give me some links on BH as to what I'll need to use with my current flash? I'd appreciate it a bunch. I'm thinking six foot will be more than enough for the cord.
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Comments
Seemed to work pretty well for this shot Note is is not the final shot, this is pretty much right out of the camera.
RM
"It's better to bite the hand that feeds you, than to feed the hand that bites you" - Me
Check out <http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=Strobist Kits>
Everything you need for off camera lighting. You can get the kits without flash, and pick the one you want.
No affiliation, other than I got the Starving Student Wireless kit and am satisfied with it.
http://george-1.smugmug.com
A PC cord ( the typical electrical connecting cord for a film camera and a flash ) will not work with a 430EX, as there is no place to plug one in on the 430ex.
You will need a hot shoe for the strobe with a pc connection from the hot shoe to the camera. Paramount and others make these. You WILL not have ETTL with the 430ex, but a totally manual flash with a pc cord connection.
You can use Canon off camera flash cord which will support ETTL, or you can use Canon's ST-E2 remote wireless ( IR) trigger which is what I do.
From a previous post of mine..............
For ETTL connection with a Canon body, you need the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2 or the newer OC-E3 which had better weather sealing or some such for the 580ex II.
There are some non-OEM versions also. I recently purchased a 40 inch ETTL extension cord for Canon portable flash units from www.alzodigital.com
They accepted payment via Paypal. I think the cost was ~$40. It was made in China. I received it within 5-9 days after I ordered it. I have not tried it yet, so I cannot verify that it works, but it looks sturdy and nicely made. The mounting shoe portion is aluminum, not plastic like the OEM version is.
Most Canon flashes will not accept a "normal" pc connection cord as they have no jack terminal ( the new 580ex II does accept a jack, but interestingly and maddeningly, it does not include a pc cord for its price!! )
Straight PC cords will only support manual flash use of course.
I own several off camera ETTL cords acquired before I purchased Canon's IR remote trigger - the ST-E2.
However, I very rarely use a cord any longer, the non-corded ST-E2 is just so much more convenient, and reaches so much farther than the ETTL cords.
If you search dgrin or Google for threads on dgrin with a search term for ST-E2 and fill flash you will find numerous threads we have posted here about off camera EOS speedlite use. Much is devoted to the ST-E2, but an appropriate EETL cord will accomplish the same techniques.
Here are a few to get you going,,,
http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=70330
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=602150
http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=74561
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=49999
__________________
Pathfinder
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
And spend some time on the strobist blog. I just started getting into off-camera flash, and that website, (which I believe I found through a link from pathfinder), is an amazing resource.
Thanks Pathfinder,
I previously had read that post while searching for solutions. Wasn't sure which one to get... however since the 430ex doesn't have manual controls it looks like my best bet may be the ST-E2 afterall. Will just have to wait a little bit longer than wanted.
Here is a quick macro with a G9 showing 1/8th manual output with the second curtain shutter option ( shot handheld in a dark room and hence not a fair representation of what a G9 can really do in macro:D - this was quick and dirty
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Alright I was looking around on BH and I'm thinking this will work...
For the flash:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=89982&is=REG
For the camera:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=89979&is=REG
PC Cord: --- I'm thinking this needed to be female to male.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=116634&is=REG
(They were sold out of the ten footer and this was only a dollar more...)
If anyone can confirm this would work I'd appreciate it. Again thanks for everyone's input.
The Hama hot shoe to pc for the flash is what I have and it works fine.
I don't think you need a camera hot shoe to pc plug - the 30D has a PC connection if memory serves me right - on the left side of the camera near the remote release and video plugs under the rubber cover?
You could just use a Wen peanut slave to trigger your 430ex off camera via the hotshoe to an optical slave with the flip up flash in your camera at a low output level. This would avoid the travails of dragging a cord around.
Or you could order one of the radio triggers that now sell for about $40.
www.paulcbuff.com has remote wireless transmitters and receivers for manual flash triggering. Once you experience wireless triggering, you won't use a pc cord anymore.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
I'm still learning the ropes with flash units and such like.
I bought my camera (EOS 350D/Rebel XT), with a bunch of lenses and a flash gun (Speedlite 380EX). Unfortunately I don't have the instructions for the 380EX. It works ok as a fill-in flash with the 350D, and I have an EOS 5 as well which I've recently bought and will play with. I'm guessing the 380EX was more of a film camera flash than a digital one?
We've recently been starting using hammerhead metz off-camera flashes at college, and practicing setting the aperture on that to being different to the camera settings. I'm really enjoying it, but I would like one of my own, so I don't have to keep returning it, and I can spend some time getting to play with it a bit more.
However. I have heard all sorts of things (and read quite a bit too) about how non-Canon products can work at a higher voltage, and basically aren't compatible with EOS cameras. I also read that this can be "fixed" by getting a particular type of cable/hotshoe adapter which I can't remember the name of off the top of my head.
So, my questions:
What off-camera flash gun would you recommend for a student (e.g. skint!) and that would be ok to play with a 350D/ EOS 5?
Secondly, I'm thinking about upgrading to a 5D, sometime next summer, but again, I don't want to melt my new camera with an over-zealous flash.
Can you recommend any suitable cables/hotshoe adapters that would take the brunt of a powerful flash?
And does anyone know anything about the 380EX or how I can use it (aside from diffusing/ bending the head back and forth!) to my best advantage until I can afford to buy new kit?
Sorry if my questions don't make sense - it's sort of hard to know what to ask for when I'm still learning a lot about what these things all do!
idles
x
If you're using the Canon flash you'll want to stay away from the metal shoes you listed. They will short out the four digital contacts on the flash and provide plenty of nighmares for you. Use non-conducting shoes only. The PC connection needs only the center contact.) Tape works to insulate the other four contacts, but it can be a real hassle. And if you accidentally short the digital contacts it may be bye-bye to your flash.