Multiblitz IR transmitter but "err 99" !?

[tikkeltokkel]

I use a 10D. I bought a "Multiblitz" hot shoe mount IR transmitter to fire my studio lights. when i press the shutter an error 99 occurs. what gives? I tried it on my minolta x-700 and it fires the pulse (although with a range of literally only 1M ! ) maybe my bowens slave plugs arent sensitive enough. i tried to fire the "manual " button on the Multiblits and set off a 550EX but no go ..... should i use a specific channel ?

Thanks Mike (ps did a search for err99 but no luck)

[robertwgross]

You need to separate out your different symptoms here.

Error 99 has been discussed a lot here. Error 99 often means that there is a bad two-way communication going on between the camera and the lens. However, it could be almost anything, since Error 99 is the "catch-all" code for anything else that confuses the camera processor.

If you mounted some non-Canon IR widget on the hot shoe, it would not surprise me if that caused an Error 99 into the camera.

It would not surprise me either that the IR widget would not trigger a 550EX. To my knowledge, you can trigger a 550EX in slave mode only with another 550EX in master mode, or an ST2E transmitter.

Your Bowens stuff may be looking for a simple optical trigger pulse, or they may be otherwise, like IR. Anybody know?

---Bob Gross---

[tikkeltokkel]

thank sfor the reply..... would the pocket wizard plus transmitter/receiver be the obvious best bet to solve all of the above problems except 550ex?

Is there a difference in quality etc between "Wein" and "pocketwizard" marques?

Mike

[robertwgross]

Well, again, we need to separate things apart. What are you trying to do?

If you are trying to get a simple sync trigger from the 10D to some Bowens studio strobes, then you have some alternatives. You can trigger using optical slaving, IR, RF (Pocket Wizards), Canon wireless, or cables.

If you are leaving the Canon 550EX out of the solution, then I don't immediately see how you would use the rest of the Canon wireless solution, so I will leave that out. That still gives you some alternatives.

Personally, I use the Canon wireless system to 550EX/420EX, so some other folks should chime in here.

One question to be answered is this. What is the range from camera to studio strobes?

---Bob Gross---

[Dcicilia]

I am trying to configure the following. I have a 20D and have 2 Multiblitz Compact 400. If I add a Multiblitz IR trigger in the camera Hot shoe, will it be compatible with my camera ? I also have a 540 EZ and a 420 EX. What do you recommend ?
Well, again, we need to separate things apart. What are you trying to do?

If you are trying to get a simple sync trigger from the 10D to some Bowens studio strobes, then you have some alternatives. You can trigger using optical slaving, IR, RF (Pocket Wizards), Canon wireless, or cables.

If you are leaving the Canon 550EX out of the solution, then I don't immediately see how you would use the rest of the Canon wireless solution, so I will leave that out. That still gives you some alternatives.

Personally, I use the Canon wireless system to 550EX/420EX, so some other folks should chime in here.

One question to be answered is this. What is the range from camera to studio strobes?

---Bob Gross---