multiflash questions

[mllinden]

Ok folks,

I am gradually building up some Strobist style equipment. I have all of the following:

Rebel XT
Sigma Super 500
Sunpak 483 (for Minolta- no manual adjustment ability)
Nikon sb-24
hot shoe adaptors for off-camera flash and cords
1 set Gadget Infinity Cactus v2
Umbrella bracket
Light stands

Now, how to put it all together!

A few questions:
1. The light on my Gadget Infinity receiver doesn't light up, but it works and fires the flash- is this a big problem? (The on-indicator light just doesn't seem to work.)

2. If I want to fire one flash into an umbrella, and use the other as a backlight/hairlight, how do I set this up?

Could I put the hotshoe adaptor on my camera with the cord leading to my "umbrella-ed" flash, and then put the Gadget Infinity transmitter on top of the adaptor to set off the second flash for a backlight?

(This sounds confusing, I'll try to post some pics to show what I mean.)

Michelle

[mllinden]

http://i6.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/99/e5/9950_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/Cactus-4-Channel-Wireless-Flash-Trigger-V2_W0QQitemZ170140898412QQihZ007QQcategoryZ64354QQ tcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)Here's what I mean- instead of attaching the transmitter directly to the camera's hot shoe (as pictured far right), how about putting the adapter like this into the camera's hotshoe.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/89979.jpgThen put the Gadget Infinity transmitter on this. Then the cord to another adapter attached to the umbrella flash.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/52945.jpg (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=ProductDetail&A=showItemLargeImage&Q=&sku=52945)http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/89982.jpg (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=ProductDetail&A=showItemLargeImage&Q=&sku=89982)<Flash to this.

Then the Gadget Infinity receiver would be behind my subject on my other flash for backlight.

Looking at the first adapter though, it looks like this might not give a signal to the gadget infinity transmitter (no metal contact??)

Help!!!! How do you get two flashes to fire off-camera. Should I just order another receiver from Gadget Infinity and try to do both flashes with them?/
Michelle

[PacAce]

This looks like it might work for what you want to do but I'm not 100% sure so you might want to verify that it does before buying it. It is a little pricey, though.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/41175-REG/Pentax_31014_Hot_Shoe_Adapter_2P.html

[FlashZebra]

Put the radio slave transmitter on your camera, no need for cords (that is assuming it works correctly and that is not always a sure thing).

Put the Nikon SB-24 on the radio slave receiver. Make sure this flash is in manual mode. Adjust the power level as needed.

Put the Super Sigma in optical slave mode. Adjust the power level as needed. Read this for instructions on how to do this:

http://flashzebra.com/tips/supersigmamanualmode/index.shtml

If you want to get the Sunpak 483*** into the mix, place it on the flash hotshoe adapter that has the short cord and purchase a simple optical slave to plug into the male PC end of the short cord. Cover the sensor on the front of the flash with something dark and you will get a constant full power output from this flash, even if it has no manual setting switch. If it has a manual setting switch, forget covering the flash sensor.

If you like you can swap places with the SB-24 and the Sunpak 483. Use the Sunpak 483 as your main flash (since you have no power adjustment on this flash), and use the other flash units as fill or accent lights where you are far more likely to need to adjust the power. It is typically best to use your least flexible light as the main flash.

When used inside this will give you a three flash setup, outside the optical slaves may not be very cooperative.

*** Are you sure this is the correct model number for the Sunpak flash (483). I seem to recall you mentioning having some other model of Sunpak flash, possibly a 433AF.

Enjoy! Lon

[mllinden]

Thanks Lon-

Yes- I have the 433af-

Would the sonia optical slave on your website work?

Michelle

[jameelm]

Light, Science, and Magic... they may still have it here (http://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-Introduction-Photographic-Lighting/dp/0240808193/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9823680-9389613?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188022726&sr=8-1)....

Has great in-depth breakdowns of portrait lighting (and other pertinent lighting applications)... Not at all a bad investment down the Strobist route,

or the photographer route, for that matter.