Can I use my ancient 300EZ flash with this?

[KevC]

Hey,

Is it possible to hook up my old Speedlite 300EZ to this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30084&item=7512975313&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

I just want it as a back/hair light. I will use my 420EX as main.

Thoughts? This could be a very cheap solution....

[robertwgross]

I guess you know that there will be some limitations on using this optical slave trigger. It seems to be of the "old variety" that will trigger on the pre-flash of a typical digital camera, not the main flash. Of course, if you are already suppressing the pre-flash, then it might work.

There are other optical slave triggers on the market that will see the pre-flash and then trigger for the main flash.

---Bob Gross---

[KevC]

Hm. I was thinking of using the FEC button to trigger the slave flash, ignoring the readings, setting everything maually, then shoot.

I'm considering using my 420EX with an off shoe cord as a makeshift studio setup with a softbox.

The biggest thing I'm worried about is how to control the lighting. The 300EZ wont fire off my Digi Rebel. I can tape the pins so that it will fire full blast, but that will most likely overpower my 420EX.

Any suggestions? How do these optical triggers work? Will it just fire the slave full blast anyway, without relaying any information?

[PacAce]

Hm. I was thinking of using the FEC button to trigger the slave flash, ignoring the readings, setting everything maually, then shoot.

I'm considering using my 420EX with an off shoe cord as a makeshift studio setup with a softbox.

The biggest thing I'm worried about is how to control the lighting. The 300EZ wont fire off my Digi Rebel. I can tape the pins so that it will fire full blast, but that will most likely overpower my 420EX.

Any suggestions? How do these optical triggers work? Will it just fire the slave full blast anyway, without relaying any information?
You lost me with your first sentence (in bold). I assume you meant to say FEL instead of FEC. What "reading" were you referring to? Are you going to use a flashmeter to meter the flash output from teh 300EZ? Because if you don't have a flashmeter, the camera won't be able to give you that reading.

If, instead of the 420EX, you use a 550EX and set it to manual, you'd be able to trigger the 300EZ via the optical slave although, as you already stated, the 300EZ will fire at full fire.

[KevC]

Sorry. Yes, I meant with FEL. And I don't know what I meant about the readings *shrug*. Lol.

I don't have a 550EX and can't afford one, that's why I'm wondering if this solution works (to save money). If I had bought a 550EX... I'll just use my 420EX as slave.

Anyway, the 300EZ will only fire full regardless?

[PacAce]

Sorry. Yes, I meant with FEL. And I don't know what I meant about the readings *shrug*. Lol.

I don't have a 550EX and can't afford one, that's why I'm wondering if this solution works (to save money). If I had bought a 550EX... I'll just use my 420EX as slave.

Anyway, the 300EZ will only fire full regardless?
I would think so unless the 300EZ has a power setting control.

BTW, as Bob said earlier, there are optical slaves that are intelligent enough to recognize and ignore pre-flashes. I think Wein has one of those. I'm not sure but the Wein Peanut comes to mind. Maybe you can do a search for a thread about it because Scott Berger had a discussion about it a little while ago.

[Eric DeCastro]

I would use a pocket wizard to trigger. optical slaves (even my ST) won't trigger unless it's pointed directly at it.

[robertwgross]

BTW, as Bob said earlier, there are optical slaves that are intelligent enough to recognize and ignore pre-flashes. I think Wein has one of those. I'm not sure but the Wein Peanut comes to mind. Maybe you can do a search for a thread about it because Scott Berger had a discussion about it a little while ago.

What I am not sure about is how they operate. One idea is that they simply see the pre-flash, and then wait a fixed amount of time before triggering the slave flash. Another idea is that they see the pre-flash, ignore that, and then know that the main flash comes later, and then it triggers the slave flash.

The problems, as I see it, are several. If your rig emits a pre-flash, then it does flash metering real quickly and sets up the exposure settings to be correct for the main flash that is following. If your slave flash is not triggered, then the flash metering is going to be all screwy if the slave then goes along with the main pop.

Of course, you might be trying to throw all of the automatic stuff out the window and you might be just trying to get a simple synchronization of flashes in a manual way, with manual settings at the camera.

---Bob Gross---

[KevC]

Yes, I'm trying to throw everything out the window, and rely on a simple synchronization of flashes in a manual way with manual settings at the camera.

The only thing that bothers me is the fact that the 420EX has no manual controls, and the 300EZ doesn't either.

I'm guessing I should maybe get that optical slave and see what I can do with the 420EXand the 300EZ just cos I already have it.

Then maybe buy a Vivitar 283/285 later...