Flash how to question.

dws1117 · 12-29-2008, 10:33 PM

How do you trigger a flash that is held off camera without using the on board flash as the trigger? Do I need to buy something? What am I missing?

philbaum · 12-29-2008, 11:58 PM

Originally posted by dws1117

How do you trigger a flash that is held off camera without using the on board flash as the trigger? Do I need to buy something? What am I missing?

You have two options, using a cable from the camera, (not sure if you need a hotshoe adapter or can use a camera port), OR using a radio transmitter/receiver. I purchased the Gadget Infinity Cactus radio transmitter/reciver and it works fine for my amateur use. The transmitter slides into the camera hotshoe and the receiver slides onto the "foot" of the flash.

sharko · 12-30-2008, 01:23 AM

G9Chon - FlashWaves

Trigger goes on camera, reciever goes with flash. Ummm...you can probably expect your flash count to increase after buying triggers. I went from 1 to like 5 now since the creative possibilities are endless with multiple flashes (place them all over a room, tie them to stuff, etc.)

stewart_photo · 12-30-2008, 03:34 AM

Read the reviews on the various wireless triggering options (radio or infrared) very carefully before purchase because you'll quickly discover not all work as well as the others.

In general, the name-brand radio slaves (PocketWizard, MicroSync, etc) are popular exactly because they work. Infrared options (Wein, etc) work in a similar manner (multi-channel pulses using infrared instead of radio) and are not affected by radio interference. Products from name-brand studio lighting companies (Bowens, Elinchrom, Speedotron, etc) also tend to work reliably, with some of those compatible with most any flash and occasionally cheaper than the PocketWizards and MicroSyncs as well.

In my case, I purchased the Elinchrom EL-Skyport Universal Radio Slave Set for those latter reasons. The fact that I'm very satisfied with my Elinchrom studio lights obviously helped influence that decision.

stewart

Rational Root · 12-30-2008, 06:02 AM

Why do you not want to use the on board flash. Just so that it does not light up the subject ?

If this is what you want... you can go into the menus on the k200d and set the flash as a controller rather than a master.

It will pre-flash, to trigger your off camera flash, but it will not fire for the actual picture.

You get wireless flash, w/o the on camera flash contributing to the picture.

Does that help ?

dws1117 · 12-30-2008, 07:00 AM

Thank you. All of this helps.

12-29-2008, 10:33 PM	#1
dws1117 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Spring, TX. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,157	Flash how to question. How do you trigger a flash that is held off camera without using the on board flash as the trigger? Do I need to buy something? What am I missing?

12-30-2008, 06:02 AM	#5
Rational Root New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 6	Just for clarity Why do you not want to use the on board flash. Just so that it does not light up the subject ? If this is what you want... you can go into the menus on the k200d and set the flash as a controller rather than a master. It will pre-flash, to trigger your off camera flash, but it will not fire for the actual picture. You get wireless flash, w/o the on camera flash contributing to the picture. Does that help ?

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12-29-2008, 11:58 PM	#2
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	Originally posted by dws1117 How do you trigger a flash that is held off camera without using the on board flash as the trigger? Do I need to buy something? What am I missing? You have two options, using a cable from the camera, (not sure if you need a hotshoe adapter or can use a camera port), OR using a radio transmitter/receiver. I purchased the Gadget Infinity Cactus radio transmitter/reciver and it works fine for my amateur use. The transmitter slides into the camera hotshoe and the receiver slides onto the "foot" of the flash.

12-30-2008, 01:23 AM	#3
sharko Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: City of Angels Photos: Gallery Posts: 278	G9Chon - FlashWaves Trigger goes on camera, reciever goes with flash. Ummm...you can probably expect your flash count to increase after buying triggers. I went from 1 to like 5 now since the creative possibilities are endless with multiple flashes (place them all over a room, tie them to stuff, etc.)

12-30-2008, 03:34 AM	#4
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	Read the reviews on the various wireless triggering options (radio or infrared) very carefully before purchase because you'll quickly discover not all work as well as the others. In general, the name-brand radio slaves (PocketWizard, MicroSync, etc) are popular exactly because they work. Infrared options (Wein, etc) work in a similar manner (multi-channel pulses using infrared instead of radio) and are not affected by radio interference. Products from name-brand studio lighting companies (Bowens, Elinchrom, Speedotron, etc) also tend to work reliably, with some of those compatible with most any flash and occasionally cheaper than the PocketWizards and MicroSyncs as well. In my case, I purchased the Elinchrom EL-Skyport Universal Radio Slave Set for those latter reasons. The fact that I'm very satisfied with my Elinchrom studio lights obviously helped influence that decision. stewart

12-30-2008, 07:00 AM	#6
dws1117 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Spring, TX. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,157 Original Poster	Thank you. All of this helps.

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