Master / Slave Problem - Need help

12/31/2007 08:15:33 AM · #1

Hey guys. I'm trying to get ready for a session in 1 1/2 hours and something is buggy about my flash units. I will be shooting (family of 14) outside, so want to use my Canon 580 as master & my 420 as slave. Its worked perfectly fine for me every other time I've used them, but this morning I'm getting about 1/2 second delay between master's flash & slave's flash. I've messed with settings 'till I'm frustrated & still have lots of things to do before the clients arrive. Any suggestions?

12/31/2007 08:16:43 AM · #2

Are you testing this by pressing the Test button on the back of the slave? I think the delay is just to let you see the flash. If you test by firing with the shutter button, it'll work correctly.

12/31/2007 08:17:52 AM · #3

Originally posted by dwterry:

Are you testing this by pressing the Test button on the back of the slave? I think the delay is just to let you see the flash. If you test by firing with the shutter button, it'll work correctly.

Well son of a bitch - you are right. I WAS testing with the test buttons, hadn't thought to test by uhmmmmm taking a picture! lol

Thanks, David! :)

12/31/2007 08:20:35 AM · #4

I learned this lesson the hard way myself. I was so totally freaked out about it. I thought I had somehow broken my slave. I took it in to show the dealer and they didn't know what was wrong with it either. I was about to send it in for repair, when I put the flash back on the camera and fired it just to show what a picture without a slave would look like ... and it worked! And then I'm like ... duh!

I'd imagine, like me, you won't forget this lesson. :)

12/31/2007 09:15:27 AM · #5

LOL Well I'm glad I stopped to ask someone before I freaked out too much. Isn't DPC fabulous!?!?! :D

Thanks again, David. See you guys after the session.

12/31/2007 01:22:41 PM · #6

It went well. :)

I was worried about having 14 of them, but they were lots of fun and we shot in our back yard so there was plenty of room for everyone. Taylor held the slave on the monostick just off to my right and I used the 580ex.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/31/2007 02:39:10 PM · #7

I like the way you spread them out. I need to practice that more. I do it with smaller groups, but the bigger the group gets the more I panic and start pushing everyone together! (must ... resist ... mashup)

citymars

Nikon D700

12/31/2007 02:44:41 PM · #8

Nice work. The lighting is terrific, and you've captured nice expressions. Maybe I'm just used to seeing people bunched together, but I think they are a little too far apart. It gives the impression that they aren't a close family!

12/31/2007 03:33:44 PM · #9

Thanks, guys. They actually spread out a little more than I wanted them too; specifically the guy on the left. I asked him to scoot in and he moved about a centimeter. Must have been mad at the wife ;)

12/31/2007 03:45:08 PM · #10

Originally posted by idnic:

Haha... I get the funniest reactions when shooting group shots at the wedding. Most of it is "all about the bride and groom", but sometimes I'll ask that every couple in the group kiss at the same time as the B&G. Sometimes the older folks ... just don't wanna do it!!!

Last week I had the parents of the Bride and the parents of the Groom and the grandparents of one of them (don't remember which). I had separated them into groups, but all together, (somewhat similar to your posing here) and told them all to kiss. Moms and dads.... they went for it! The grandpa ... he gave grandma a lightning flash peck on the lips then looked up, all pleased with himself, and wondered what the fuss was all about! Amazingly ... I got the shot! (I was sure I had missed it, it was so fast, but when I got back and discovered I had nailed it, I whooped for joy)

Some people just don't even want to stand close to each other. Most of the time I like closeness in a family setting. Sometimes I'll separate them ... to say "Hey, I'm a teenager, leave me alone" kind of thing. It's funny the different reactions.

dsmil

Olympus E-510

12/31/2007 03:54:54 PM · #11

Why did you use flash here instead of a high iso with available light?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/31/2007 04:14:03 PM · #12

Originally posted by dsmil:

Why did you use flash here instead of a high iso with available light?

Because the available light today was crappy - very overcast with moments of partial sun and because I like to control where the light is coming from (direction) and its intensity. Available light only would have been very flat in that location. Also, higher ISO means more chance for noise, I only crank the ISO when I just have to. Lower is better whenever possible.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

12/31/2007 04:15:29 PM · #13

Originally posted by idnic:

Is my monitor bad or do they look a little green? Did you feed them some of your homecooking? ;-)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

12/31/2007 04:17:58 PM · #14

Originally posted by dwterry:

....... Amazingly ... I got the shot! (I was sure I had missed it, it was so fast, but when I got back and discovered I had nailed it, I whooped for joy)

Some people just don't even want to stand close to each other. Most of the time I like closeness in a family setting. Sometimes I'll separate them ... to say "Hey, I'm a teenager, leave me alone" kind of thing. It's funny the different reactions.......

Would love to see it, sounds adorable. :)

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

12/31/2007 04:19:48 PM · #15

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by idnic:

It went well. :)

I was worried about having 14 of them, but they were lots of fun and we shot in our back yard so there was plenty of room for everyone. Taylor held the slave on the monostick just off to my right and I used the 580ex.

Is my monitor bad or do they look a little green? Did you feed them some of your homecooking? ;-)

They seemed a bit green to me, as well. Perhaps because of the green in the background and because several of them were wearing green?

12/31/2007 04:21:10 PM · #16

They look pinkish to me, maybe its my monitor that needs calibrating. lol Will check it later.

fotomann_forever

12/31/2007 04:25:43 PM · #17

Originally posted by idnic:

Taylor held the slave on the monostick just off to my right and I used the 580ex.

I thought Tay was the slave... LOL

They turned out well, Cin.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/31/2007 04:29:36 PM · #18

Originally posted by idnic:

They look pinkish to me, maybe its my monitor that needs calibrating. lol Will check it later.

They look greenish here, but I didn't say anything because I *know* my monitor needs calibrating. I was going to wait until I got home and take another look before saying anything.

fotomann_forever

12/31/2007 04:53:53 PM · #19

I JUST got done calibrating, I'd have to agree with the greens.

raish

Olympus C-2500L

12/31/2007 05:19:49 PM · #20

Way to go with the question response turnaround AND THE RESULT!!!

Warms the ~~heartles of m~~ cockles of my heart to see such things. Happy new year.

ETA they're green.

Message edited by author 2007-12-31 17:21:13.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/31/2007 05:33:44 PM · #21

Wow, was definitely me. I recalibrated & corrected it.

Thanks for the heads-up on that one, guys!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

12/31/2007 05:49:56 PM · #22

Much better! I also ran it through my custom "Dysfunction Detection" filter (a PS plugin not avaialable in stores).

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/31/2007 07:49:14 PM · #23

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Much better! I also ran it through my custom "Dysfunction Detection" filter (a PS plugin not avaialable in stores).

:)

Hahahaaa they are a NORMAL family afterall! :P

Nullix

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

12/31/2007 07:53:09 PM · #24

Originally posted by idnic:

...we shot in our back yard so there was plenty of room for everyone...

That's your back yard? Wow. Nice place to shoot. We don't have back yards like that where I'm from. We have to import that stuff or out source it.