Firing strobes from Rebel XTi + Good strobes.

[The Fox]

I have been looking for a way to fire a strobe from my rebel, since there is no PC connection. The flashes that my school uses (I am a senior in high school) strobes that are set off from my popup flash. Any ideas?

Also, I am looking for some good protable strobes to use that are $300-$400USD? I am mostly going to be doing portraits of people and some of my sisters/ her friends puppies. I also want to use them for some macro work when I get my 60mm in.

Thanks for any replys.

[cdifoto]

Hot Shoe to PC Adapter.

Alienbees are good strobes. 640 Watt-Seconds Output for $360.

Oops you said portable. You can add the Vagabond portable powerpack from Alienbees, or just get some cheap Sunpak 383s for 80 bucks each plus stands, umbrellas, and umbrella adapters.

[The Fox]

I think I will go with the sunpak, but how can I set off more then one at a time?

[The Fox]

Also, thanks a lot.

[cdifoto]

Get yourself some optical slave modules. You don't need one for the first unit, but each additional one. They'll fire when the first one fires. It's not a good idea if other people will be shooting around you with their own flashes, since they'll trigger 'em, but they're inexpensive and easy and highly portable. Much cheaper than PocketWizards.

Alternatively, you could try some cheapo eBay radio trasmitters/receivers. They're not great, but they usually work. You could actually use the eBay wireless to trigger the first strobe and then still let the others fire off the optical slave modules. This way you don't have cords for people to trip over.

[cdifoto]

Nice thing is you can get yourself set up with a basic 2 light system for the cost of one AlienBee strobe. It won't be as powerful or recycle as fast but it'll work just fine and it'll be really light and portable.

[The Fox]

Then I can use the soon to be mine 430ex to set them off.

[cdifoto]

Originally Posted by The Fox

Then I can use the soon to be mine 430ex to set them off.

Yeah you can do that too. If you get optical modules for all your Sunpaks, you can set the 430EX to manual mode and use it to trigger them. You have to do it all in Manual though....no ETTL autoflash. That's pricey and arguably inconsistent...you'd need all ETTL flash units.

To make things easier on yourself, you'll want to invest in an inexpensive handheld flash meter as well. That way you can get your exposures correct without firing off a lot of shots and chimping until you get it right. It just makes life easier.

[cdifoto]

Oh another thing, if you only want to use 2 lights, just get one Sunpak and use the 430EX in manual mode in place of the other Sunpak you would buy. You'd trigger it the same way, but you'd need a hot shoe flash to pc cord adapter to set the 430EX on (it doesn't have a PC connection like the Sunpaks do) but you'd save a little by avoiding the purchase of another Sunpak. I use my 580EX with my Sunpak 383 for headshots quite often.

[The Fox]

I already have one since I am using a vivtar flash as is for everything. I can get e-ttl if you know how to underexpose it and yeah, it is easier to use the flash meter.

[cdifoto]

You can't use ETTL and a Sunpak flash. The Sunpaks don't work that way. Only Speedlites and ETTL compatible flash units like the Sigma EF 500 and a few others.

Since you already have a vivitar, skip the Sunpak. Just get the accessories (adapters, umbrellas, stands, etc) and you should be good to go.

[The Fox]

Just so you know, I am going to use this so I dont have to drag people the Orange Coast College when I go next semester since they have 5 studios that I can use with full lighting and 5d's as loaners.

[The Fox]

I am meaning that you can use the canon in ttl metering and you need to underexpose the camera because it is more light then should be coming from the normal flash, not that you get that type of metering.

[cdifoto]

Yeah you can, but not in conjunction with other strobes. The pre-flash of ETTL will prematurely fire the others.

[The Fox]

Yep, I may be young, and new to this, I knon my stuff.