Pls. confirm this info for me... re: PocketWizards

[fivefish]

What I want to do is "off-camera" flash. Yes, I've been reading strobist.

I plan on getting a set of PocketWizard and 580EX. But for now, I want to buy the PW first since I have an existing 380EX and Nikon SB-26 I can play around with.

QUESTION: Since the PocketWizard isn't aware of what kind of flash is attached to it, I assume that I can use the Nikon SB-26 flash with the PW shooting in manual mode and just adjusting the power of the flash manually.

I figure if I have a 580EX attached to the PocketWizard, it will be the same thing, isn't it? Shooting manually and adjusting power on the 580EX, no ETTL.

At the moment, I've played shooting with the Nikon SB26 attached via PC cord to my 30D and the results are pretty good. Call me crazy, I even attach the Nikon flash on the hotshoe of the 30D and it fired.... (yes, I've verified that both the Canon and Nikon flashes are low voltage, below 6V so no danger here.)

[PacAce]

You seem to have everything under control on your end. Have fun.

BTW, in addition to the flash power adjustment, you can also control the amount of light registered in the camera by adjusting the aperture and the ISO.

[PacAce]

Oh, yeah, don't forget about one of these (or equivalent). You're going to need it to connect the PW to the flash.

http://paramountcords.com/proddetail.asp?prod=PW%2DMHSF1&cat=85

[fivefish]

Ok, cool. Thanks Leo.

you can also control the amount of light registered in the camera by adjusting the aperture and the ISO.

Yes, I've been doing that. You can also move the flash nearer or farther from the subject.

>http://paramountcords.com/proddetail...2DMHSF1&cat=85

$45? wow.

PW don't have PC jacks? Bummer, I already have a hotshoe to PC jack.

Do they include a minijack to PC jack cable when you buy the set/pair?

Thanks!

[PacAce]

Ok, cool. Thanks Leo.



Yes, I've been doing that. You can also move the flash nearer or farther from the subject.

>http://paramountcords.com/proddetail...2DMHSF1&cat=85

$45? wow.

PW don't have PC jacks? Bummer, I already have a hotshoe to PC jack.

Do they include a minijack to PC jack cable when you buy the set/pair?

Thanks!
Yes, they do come with a miniphone jack to PC (male) cable (about 6 to 8 inches long), or at least they used to. Not sure about the PW II but my guess is that the IIs do, too.

[FlashZebra]

At B&H the Pocket Wizard II indicates it includes "PC-1 Miniphone to PC Cable".

But, if the Pocket Wizards do not come with a cable to go to a standard PC outlet here are some options.

This adapter could be used with a garden varitey PC cord.

http://www.paramountcords.com/proddetail.asp?prod=pw-mpcf

Please note that the connection on this adapter is a PC "female".

Also, if you have even crude soldering skills, a $5.00 soldering iron, an old PC cord, and a $2.00 mini plug from Radio Shack, you can make the required cord.

If you cannot make it, surely you know someone with these simple skills.

$50.00 for a simple adapter cord sort of drives me nuts.

There is also the $20.00 cord that look perfect:

http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=634&source=froogle

This $18.00 cord from B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=FKnLvdgJ1g!-764744734?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=131298&is=REG&addedTroughValue=168584_REG&addedTroughType=accessory_detail

This adapter from B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=FKnLvdgJ1g!-764744734?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=105429&is=REG&addedTroughValue=168584_REG&addedTroughType=accessory_detail

Enjoy! Lon

[fivefish]

Great links! Thanks Lon...

Also, if you have even crude soldering skills, a $5.00 soldering iron, an old PC cord, and a $2.00 mini plug from Radio Shack, you can make the required cord.

Okay, I think I'll be able to manage that. I got a few projects (http://www.fivefish.net/diy/) done with my soldering iron. :)

[FlashZebra]

Great links! Thanks Lon...



Okay, I think I'll be able to manage that. I got a few projects (http://www.fivefish.net/diy/) done with my soldering iron. :)
I just edited my post above. I saw the listing at B&H indicated the PWII includes a ""PC-1 Miniphone to PC Cable".

So you may not need to solder after all.

THe B&H site includes a tab that notes what is included with the product. Just check the actual pocket wizard you are interested in.

Enjoy! Lon

[FlashZebra]

I think the Nikon SB-26 also has a built in optical slave, can you use that instead of the pocket wizards?

If you are using the flash in low ambient light it should work nicely, and no cost.

Also since you are handy, you might want to check out the inexpensive radio slaves on ebay. I have three of these and they work nicely, and many have a PC connection on them (the ones I have do). They do have about a 20% defective rate (I purchaed 25 sets for my local camera club, that is how I know theu are about 20% defective), but typically the dealers make an efficent replacement. Be sure to buy from a dealer that ships from the country you are in to negate shipping problems and expense (for possible replacement).

Enjoy! Lon

[fivefish]

I think the Nikon SB-26 also has a built in optical slave, can you use that instead of the pocket wizards?

Yes, I'm using the SB-26 as addtl lights in slave mode. Of course, the camera has to be in manual mode so there won't be a pre-flash. I've tried shots with the slave inside lampshades, or behind the subject and the effects are nice.

But sometimes, I just want the subject lighted from the side, without any light source coming from the camera. PC cords solve the problem, but not when their distance exceed the length of the cord.


Also since you are handy, you might want to check out the inexpensive radio slaves on ebay. I have three of these and they work nicely, and many have a PC connection on them (the ones I have do). They do have about a 20% defective rate (I purchaed 25 sets for my local camera club, that is how I know theu are about 20% defective), but typically the dealers make an efficent replacement. Be sure to buy from a dealer that ships from the country you are in to negate shipping problems and expense (for possible replacement).

I've thought about this too... but I know in a few months, I'd still be eyeballing that PW... so might as well get it over with.

Thanks again for the information. Appreciate it.

[FlashZebra]

But sometimes, I just want the subject lighted from the side, without any light source coming from the camera. PC cords solve the problem, but not when their distance exceed the length of the cord.

If you use a manual on camera flash and really dial the power down, the part of light that it contributes to the overall exposure is of no importance. So, you can get the side lighting effect you are citing, and fire the slave, without the on camera flash really being part of the lighting landscape.

In addition, if you want to use more than one off camera flash, you can just cord the closest one, and optically slave the other.

This often really stretches out the distance. The cost of a Pocket Wizard set will buy a lot of nice manual flash units controlled by optical slaves (or the inexpensve radio slaves).

I would like 3 or 4 of those Nikon SB-26 units as a basis for a compact, battery powered, ad hoc studio set.

Does the Nikon SB-26 take 4 AA cells, and are the cells in any sort of a holder (like the Vivitar 283 or 285)? I am also considering powering this ad hoc studio set with 6V sealed lead acid batteries that have huge storage potential (compared to AA set), are very inexpensive (all over ebay for about $15.00) and have inexpensive chargers.

But, you know what you want.

Enjoy! Lon

[fivefish]

Does the Nikon SB-26 take 4 AA cells, and are the cells in any sort of a holder (like the Vivitar 283 or 285)? I am also considering powering this ad hoc studio set with 6V sealed lead acid batteries that have huge storage potential (compared to AA set), are very inexpensive (all over ebay for about $15.00) and have inexpensive chargers.


Yes, just 4 AA batteries. I'm not sure what you mean by holder like the Vivitar. No experience there (other than my first Vivitar all-manual film camera).

The SB-26 has an external power source terminal though so I think you can use that with your external batteries.

[FlashZebra]

Yes, just 4 AA batteries. I'm not sure what you mean by holder like the Vivitar. No experience there (other than my first Vivitar all-manual film camera).

The SB-26 has an external power source terminal though so I think you can use that with your external batteries.
The Vivitar 283 (and many other flash units) has a small plastic holder that contains the AA cells. This holder then fits into the flash. This was nice; you could have more than one of these cell holders pre loaded and make very rapid battery changes.

You would have noticed this on your SB-26, so most likely the AA cells just go directly into the flash without this extra holder.

Most likely the external power plug you mention on the SB-26 is for some sort of high voltage battery source.

I would be jumping this 6V sealed lead acid battery into the flash of my choosing (still shopping for the right one, that is why I am asking questions about your SB-26) via the battery chamber. The flash units with battery holders would make this easy as I could just solder jumper wires to the right terminals on one of the holders.

But, with flash units that just take cells directly (no holder) I will most likely have to construct placebo cells with jumper wires to connect to this external 6V battery. So, not having a battery holder is a bit of a downside for the SB-26, but it does have that nice built in optical slave (a big upside). Plus and minus, all must be weighed.

Enjoy! Lon