Off Camera Flash cables

[majkid]

Hi. I want to use my Canon Speedlight 430ex off camera. I have a 0.6m Hotshoe lead but this is too short. Can anyone suggest wher I can source a longer cable from?

Thanks

Mike

[fashioneyes]

I've got this one ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/10m-33ft-TTL-off-camera-Cord-Canon-430EX-530EX-OC-E3-c_W0QQitemZ150335150395QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30084QQt cZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

[Curtis N]

http://flashzebra.com/ttlcords/ettlcords/index.shtml

[sickboy11]

+1^ Flashzebra has anything you will need. Lon is a good guy to boot.

[majkid]

I've got this one ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/10m-33ft-TTL-off-camera-Cord-Canon-430EX-530EX-OC-E3-c_W0QQitemZ150335150395QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30084QQt cZphotoQQcmdZViewItem


Thanks for the link :)

[majkid]

+1^ Flashzebra has anything you will need. Lon is a good guy to boot.


Thanks for the link:)

[nobodyspecial]

I also want to use my 430ex off camera. Would this combination work?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/425220-REG/Impact_DFUMK_Digital_Flash_Umbrella_Mount.html#inc ludes
and
http://flashzebra.com/products/0123/index.shtml

[ssracer]

You could also look into getting a phottix strato (C6 or C8 depending on your camera)

they can be picked up for about $40 and are wireless.

[Tareq]

I just ordered that Impact Flash Mount kit with PW PC5N cable.

I am now convinced to go strobist way, for the moment i will just use 2 speedlights.

[kyleturbo]

I bought a 10' cord off pf ebay. off brand from Hong Kong for $10.

Its a cord, they are not that high tech.

[Tareq]

But i need to buy another PW as i have only 2 PWs, so to connect both to my speedlights, or to use one on the speedlight and one on camera, then how can i trigger the second flash?

[Curtis N]

But i need to buy another PW as i have only 2 PWs, so to connect both to my speedlights, or to use one on the speedlight and one on camera, then how can i trigger the second flash?Depends on the make and model of the second flash.

[Tareq]

Depends on the make and model of the second flash.

580EX
580EXII

[Curtis N]

580EX
580EXIIEasiest way is to plug an optical slave like this into the PC socket of the 580EX II.
http://flashzebra.com/opticalslaves/0100.shtml

[mmahoney]

I bought a 10' cord off pf ebay. off brand from Hong Kong for $10.

Its a cord, they are not that high tech.

Not high tech but quality build is a must .. for example my experience with an Alzo cord ended with the cord stuck on my camera body due to a malfunctioning release clip, just a few days after it failed to operate in ETTL at all. Had to peel it off with a screwdriver and destroyed the cord in the process. Total & absolute junk. Alzo.

OTOH the Yongnuo product is built to about the same standard as the Canon ones .. perhaps better, as I've yet to break the flash end of the cord which has happened to me twice with the Canon cords.

[Tareq]

Easiest way is to plug an optical slave like this into the PC socket of the 580EX II.
http://flashzebra.com/opticalslaves/0100.shtml

and how this optical slave working?, so i plug into each of the flashes, then how to trigger?

[Curtis N]

Tareq,

You use your PocketWizards to fire one flash, and put the optical slave on the other.

[Tareq]

Tareq,

You use your PocketWizards to fire one flash, and put the optical slave on the other.

I see, so it is like turn the flash to have a radio slave to trigger it by PW.

OK, last question: will that working with my CE [European] version of PW?

[Curtis N]

I'm sure the European version of PW works like the American version, just a different radio frequency because of government regulations.

[Tareq]

I'm sure the European version of PW works like the American version, just a different radio frequency because of government regulations.

Yes i know, but i have that European PW [2 of them], and i have one US version PW, i tried to trigger my European pocket wizard by US and visa versa it never work, so unless i change that frequency radio card.

Anyway, what i want to say is before i buy that product you recommended for me above first i have to know if it will work with my gear i have, i bought that US PW from BH or US online dealer, then i bought a Sekonic Light meter from a local dealer here in UAE, i tried to trigger my light meter with that PW didn't work at all, so either i have to change the light meter or change the PW, i chose to change the PW so i bought 2 CE version of PW and it worked perfect with each other and with my light meter, so that optical slave you posted will that work with both PW [FCC and CE] or working with either? if working with either then which one? i may use my FCC to work with it, but in this system i will use with 2 speedlights, how many PW i need? if 2 then i have 2 CE PW so i must get CE or compatible version of that optical slave to work with both CE PW, if i just one PW for 2 speedlights, then i can use any PW, FCC or CE no problem, so please clarify your answer, and don't tell me to go and change frequncies of PW or light meter i have and i know it is possible [or maybe not] but i don't want this solution, so are you sure that optical slave from the link will work perfectly with my CE PW?

[Curtis N]

The optical slave attachment I recommended will fire the flash it's attached to when it "sees" light from another flash. It doesn't matter how you trigger the other flash.

So you need
PW as transmitter on camera
PW as receiver on flash #1 (580EX)
Optical slave connected to flash #2 (580EX II).

[Tareq]

The optical slave attachment I recommended will fire the flash it's attached to when it "sees" light from another flash. It doesn't matter how you trigger the other flash.

So you need
PW as transmitter on camera
PW as receiver on flash #1 (580EX)
Optical slave connected to flash #2 (580EX II).

Perfect, that is a great solution and perfect answer, so i will use my 2 CE PW for one the camera and 2 the flash, and then that optical slave will be dealing with the first flash not the PW on that flash, great, then i will buy that optical slave, Thank you very much!

Now my question is: will that optical slave responding very fast, i mean will there be any delay between the first flash firing and the second one?

[Tareq]

Oh sorry, last question: if i will add more speedlights in the future, should i just add more optical slaves for each additional flash and they will work fine?

[Curtis N]

Optical slaves are amazingly fast. Here's a thread that illustrates it:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=431093

When you add additional flash units, optical slaves will work fine on them, too.

[Jannie]

Hmmmm, so if I get a 580EXII and use it on a stand away from camera with an optical slave, I can use my 420EX on a low level to trigger the 580EX, granted it's going to offer up a small amount of fill light if I've set it on -2EV and aim it off to the side but this should work shouldn't it? I'd rather go this way and put money into a second 580EXII at first before getting Pocket Wizards or just go with a cable which in some cases will be fine.

I got Joe McNalley's Hot Shoe Diaries this afternoon and am devouring it, it's so fascinating even though he's using Nikon stuff, I think I'm getting a pretty good understanding how to do a lot of this (haven't gotten past the single light source stuff yet).

[Colorblinded]

http://flashzebra.com/ttlcords/ettlcords/index.shtml
Thanks for the link.

[Tareq]

Optical slaves are amazingly fast. Here's a thread that illustrates it:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=431093

When you add additional flash units, optical slaves will work fine on them, too.

WOW, great, you saved my time and money
Thank you very very much!

[Curtis N]

Hmmmm, so if I get a 580EXII and use it on a stand away from camera with an optical slave, I can use my 420EX on a low level to trigger the 580EX,The E-TTL Pre-flash from the 420EX will trigger the slave prematurely.

But with the Canon wireless flash system you could use the 580EX II on-camera as master and the 420EX off-camera.

[Jannie]

Thank you, that makes sense.