Mixing strobes and camera flash HELP!

01/12/2007 12:39:01 PM · #1

I have 2 strobes that I fire using a Nikon shoe adaptor. I would also like to be able to use my 430ex flash for the background (behind the subject). How would I do this? Is it something that is feasible?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Bear_Music?

Gordon?

01/12/2007 12:44:58 PM · #2

Yes, it is certainly feasible. Ways and means to do it vary. Are you wanting to use the 430ex in TTL mode or manual for a start ?

Manual mode will be easier. You can use PC sync cords and hot-shoe adaptors, or you could go for wireless triggers - either would work.

I currently use a 580EX and SB-28 that I trigger on hot-shoe adapters with wireless triggers/ mini-plugs. I just have a wireless trigger on my camera. The wired solution with PC cords is cheaper but perhaps more limiting and frustrating.

The main thing to work out is what way you are going to trigger them all. More detail on what you are currently using would help give a more precise answer.

Message edited by author 2007-01-12 12:45:38.

01/12/2007 12:50:22 PM · #3

I am assuming that you have studio type strobes and are wanting to use the 430 as your background light. Yes?

I don't think the 430 has manual power control, so, when off camera, it will only fire at full power, which limits its usability, but there are ways around it.

You need a hotshoe slave for the 430.

That will sense when your strobe fires and trigger the 430.

Message edited by author 2007-01-12 12:51:10.

01/12/2007 01:01:39 PM · #4

Here's a VERY quick schema of my setup. Please note that the 430ex doesn't do anything at the moment because I don't know how to incorporate it in the setup. Thanks for the help guys!

01/12/2007 01:04:48 PM · #5

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

You need a hotshoe slave for the 430.

That will sense when your strobe fires and trigger the 430.

Ok, correct me if I am wrong...

1) Plug that gizzmo onto my 430 and set it behind the subject
2) Plug my cord/hotshoe from camera to strobe
3) Take the picture
4) When the strobe fires the gizzmo will wake up and fire my 430

Is this right?

01/12/2007 01:05:57 PM · #6

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I don't think the 430 has manual power control,

AFAIK, the 430 has manual power control. The 420 doesn't, but the 430 does.

01/12/2007 01:07:36 PM · #7

Originally posted by candlerain:

Here's a VERY quick schema of my setup. Please note that the 430ex doesn't do anything at the moment because I don't know how to incorporate it in the setup. Thanks for the help guys!

The hotshoe slave is the simplest way to get the 430 to fire in sync with the strobes. However, if it will only fire at full power, so you may have to adjust the output of your other lights to get reasonable exposure on the BG.

Message edited by author 2007-01-12 13:08:10.

01/12/2007 01:08:07 PM · #8

Originally posted by candlerain:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You need a hotshoe slave for the 430.

That will sense when your strobe fires and trigger the 430.

Ok, correct me if I am wrong...

1) Plug that gizzmo onto my 430 and set it behind the subject
2) Plug my cord/hotshoe from camera to strobe
3) Take the picture
4) When the strobe fires the gizzmo will wake up and fire my 430

Is this right?

You could, for example, run the cord to a hotshoe adapter and fire the 430EX and have both your strobes trigger optically (assuming one is doing that now)

Or you could run sync cords to all 3 of them (again with a hotshoe adapter for the 430EX)

The main problem is that Canon, in their infinite wisdom, didn't put PC sockets on their flash units, so you need to buy an adapter for it (about $5) or get some sort of optical trigger for it ($35ish from the link above)

Message edited by author 2007-01-12 13:09:02.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/12/2007 01:09:46 PM · #9

Originally posted by candlerain:

Exactly.

There's a light sensor in the clear part that detects the light from your strobes and will trigger the 430.

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

01/12/2007 01:13:06 PM · #10

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I don't think the 430 has manual power control,

AFAIK, the 430 has manual power control. The 420 doesn't, but the 430 does.

Just to chime in...

From B&H about th 430EX:
A rear LCD and intuitively placed controls make other new features more accessible, such as adjusting manual flash exposure from full power to 1/64 in whole stop increments...

01/12/2007 01:13:19 PM · #11

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I don't think the 430 has manual power control,

AFAIK, the 430 has manual power control. The 420 doesn't, but the 430 does.

Ahh I see now. The lack of manual power control has always been my main beef with the 420.

01/12/2007 01:15:41 PM · #12

Cool, thanks guys! I will head over to the store to see if they have these triggers or adapters in stock.

Your input was much appreciated.

01/12/2007 01:15:52 PM · #13

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Ahh I see now. The lack of manual power control has always been my main beef with the 420.

Yup. Same with me. I've now got a 580EX which should let me pretty much manually control the 420 (or at least set light ratios with the 580EX, with the magic of E-TTLII. But I need to work out how to use it and I'm still stuck with the 580EX on or just off the camera (60cm away - woohoo)

I suppose I could get the wireless controller...

01/12/2007 01:17:41 PM · #14

I still have not figured out the options that my flash offers. I read the manual, but it is still all to new to me... I didn't understand much of it! 8-)