Two flash sync studio

sunshine7913 · 12-15-2014, 11:46 AM

Hi I have a question for flashes.

Im going to get two same flashes to set like a studio photography. Well I faced several problems.

1. How am I going to sync two flashes without any remote controller? I really don't want to use the remote controller cause of price.

2. Will these flashes sync at the same time?

3. Is there any way to sync these flashes without remote controller but the camera itself?

enoeske · 12-15-2014, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by sunshine7913

Hi I have a question for flashes.

Im going to get two same flashes to set like a studio photography. Well I faced several problems.

1. How am I going to sync two flashes without any remote controller? I really don't want to use the remote controller cause of price.

2. Will these flashes sync at the same time?

3. Is there any way to sync these flashes without remote controller but the camera itself?

1 -- Optically? Just buy radio triggers. The cactus v5 are great and very cheap.

2 -- do they have built in optical triggering (dumb slave)? Otherwise, use radio triggers

3 -- yes, via optical triggering if supported on the flash

AquaDome · 12-15-2014, 12:08 PM

A sync cable would be the cheapest option. My 645N has a PC-sync port on the left side below the exposure compensation dial. I'm pretty sure the 645Nii has it in the same place. Most new flashes don't have a sync socket, so I use a hot-shoe adapter on each flash. I connect the sync cable from the camera to the first flash, then another from the first flash to the second.

Many flashes have a "slave" mode where they can be triggered by an on-camera flash. This does work and usually doesn't require any extra equipment, but I find it to be unpredictable in some situations.

stevebrot · 12-15-2014, 12:39 PM

To summarize all of the above...

Flashes having a PC socket can be sync'ed with a sync cord from a camera having a PC socket
Radio sync (Cactus and similar) is possible with the transmitter attached to the camera
Optical sync may be possible using compatible flash and flash on the camera

All of the above involve additional expense and everything depends on your camera and the flashes you are planning on using. In the long run, radio triggers probably offer the most cost-effective and flexible solution, particularly when coupled with modern speedlights. If this is an occasional or one-time deal, you may be able to rent a set-up.

Steve

**skunktail** · 12-15-2014, 02:21 PM

I'll second what Stevebrot said.

If you are really worried about the cost of radio triggers, I've just started using the Yonguno RF603-ii triggers.
I bought four of them for half the price of cactus triggers.

I doubt they are of the same quality as the cactus, but may be worth a look in your case.

Bruce

**clackers** · 12-15-2014, 02:44 PM

Sunshine, if you can set up the flashes so they can 'see' your camera's popup flash, they'll fire without further investment.

But radio is so much more versatile, and these days is very cheap.

For event photography TTL is nice but in a studio for portraits or products manual flash is perfect and that's what low end radio controllers do.

Al_Kahollick · 12-15-2014, 07:31 PM

I've had these for a couple months now, for playing around with multi flash setups. Cheap and seem to work pretty well. Amazon.com : Neewer 16 Channel Wireless Remote FM Flash Speedlite Radio Trigger with 2.5mm PC Receiver for Canon 580EX II 580EX 550EX 540EZ 520EZ 430EX, Nikon SB900 SB800 SB600 SB28, Neewer TT860, TT850, TT560, YN560 III, YN560 II, YN560 I, Olympus,

noblepa · 12-16-2014, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by clackers

Sunshine, if you can set up the flashes so they can 'see' your camera's popup flash, they'll fire without further investment.

That is only true if the flash units the that OP chooses have a builtin optical slave trigger. Some flashes do, some don't. The OP didn't mention which flashes he/she is considering.

The cheapest way to sync the flashes would be with a cable, presuming the camera has a PC socket. If there is no PC socket, an adapter to sync off the hotshoe would be required.

Optical slaves are not terribly expensive, either.

Radio slaves are the most expensive, but also the most versatile.

If using a direct connection, via a cable, care must be taken that the trigger voltage on the flash is not too high for the camera to handle. A trigger voltage that is too high can fry the electronics in a modern camera. The trigger voltage should be no more than 15-20 volts. This is probably not a problem if using new flash units. However, many people like to go to eBay and buy classic flash units, such as the Vivitar 283, which can have trigger voltages of more than 200 volts.

12-15-2014, 11:46 AM	#1
sunshine7913 Guest	Two flash sync studio Hi I have a question for flashes. Im going to get two same flashes to set like a studio photography. Well I faced several problems. 1. How am I going to sync two flashes without any remote controller? I really don't want to use the remote controller cause of price. 2. Will these flashes sync at the same time? 3. Is there any way to sync these flashes without remote controller but the camera itself?

12-15-2014, 12:39 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	To summarize all of the above... Flashes having a PC socket can be sync'ed with a sync cord from a camera having a PC socket Radio sync (Cactus and similar) is possible with the transmitter attached to the camera Optical sync may be possible using compatible flash and flash on the camera All of the above involve additional expense and everything depends on your camera and the flashes you are planning on using. In the long run, radio triggers probably offer the most cost-effective and flexible solution, particularly when coupled with modern speedlights. If this is an occasional or one-time deal, you may be able to rent a set-up. Steve

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12-15-2014, 12:07 PM	#2
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by sunshine7913 Hi I have a question for flashes. Im going to get two same flashes to set like a studio photography. Well I faced several problems. 1. How am I going to sync two flashes without any remote controller? I really don't want to use the remote controller cause of price. 2. Will these flashes sync at the same time? 3. Is there any way to sync these flashes without remote controller but the camera itself? 1 -- Optically? Just buy radio triggers. The cactus v5 are great and very cheap. 2 -- do they have built in optical triggering (dumb slave)? Otherwise, use radio triggers 3 -- yes, via optical triggering if supported on the flash

12-15-2014, 12:08 PM	#3
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	A sync cable would be the cheapest option. My 645N has a PC-sync port on the left side below the exposure compensation dial. I'm pretty sure the 645Nii has it in the same place. Most new flashes don't have a sync socket, so I use a hot-shoe adapter on each flash. I connect the sync cable from the camera to the first flash, then another from the first flash to the second. Many flashes have a "slave" mode where they can be triggered by an on-camera flash. This does work and usually doesn't require any extra equipment, but I find it to be unpredictable in some situations.

12-15-2014, 02:21 PM	#5
skunktail Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sydney, NSW Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 287	I'll second what Stevebrot said. If you are really worried about the cost of radio triggers, I've just started using the Yonguno RF603-ii triggers. I bought four of them for half the price of cactus triggers. I doubt they are of the same quality as the cactus, but may be worth a look in your case. Bruce

12-15-2014, 02:44 PM	#6
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Sunshine, if you can set up the flashes so they can 'see' your camera's popup flash, they'll fire without further investment. But radio is so much more versatile, and these days is very cheap. For event photography TTL is nice but in a studio for portraits or products manual flash is perfect and that's what low end radio controllers do.

12-15-2014, 07:31 PM	#7
Al_Kahollick Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 390	I've had these for a couple months now, for playing around with multi flash setups. Cheap and seem to work pretty well. Amazon.com : Neewer 16 Channel Wireless Remote FM Flash Speedlite Radio Trigger with 2.5mm PC Receiver for Canon 580EX II 580EX 550EX 540EZ 520EZ 430EX, Nikon SB900 SB800 SB600 SB28, Neewer TT860, TT850, TT560, YN560 III, YN560 II, YN560 I, Olympus,

12-16-2014, 10:02 AM	#8
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Originally posted by clackers Sunshine, if you can set up the flashes so they can 'see' your camera's popup flash, they'll fire without further investment. That is only true if the flash units the that OP chooses have a builtin optical slave trigger. Some flashes do, some don't. The OP didn't mention which flashes he/she is considering. The cheapest way to sync the flashes would be with a cable, presuming the camera has a PC socket. If there is no PC socket, an adapter to sync off the hotshoe would be required. Optical slaves are not terribly expensive, either. Radio slaves are the most expensive, but also the most versatile. If using a direct connection, via a cable, care must be taken that the trigger voltage on the flash is not too high for the camera to handle. A trigger voltage that is too high can fry the electronics in a modern camera. The trigger voltage should be no more than 15-20 volts. This is probably not a problem if using new flash units. However, many people like to go to eBay and buy classic flash units, such as the Vivitar 283, which can have trigger voltages of more than 200 volts.