Phottix Strato II Question

Hi guys, I asked about alternatives to the Yongnuo RF-603, in a thread lately.
Got some nice ideas, and advices, yet I have found a product that is in my prise range, and is perfect for my use. (I hope)

It all depend if this works or not:

- Camera A, on top with a transmitter and a flash, hendheld.
- Two (or 3) more flashes connected with 2 (or 3) recievers (for additional lightning).
- Camera B, connected to a reciever on a tripod.

Now the question is: Will Camera A trigger Camera B to shoot remotely?!
(simultaneously with Camera A)

Also as a bonus question:
What is the difference between Phottix Strato II Multi 5-in-1, and 4-in-1?

Ok I just tried this and camera A will trigger camera B to shoot remotely.

And extra flashes on top of the transmitter, and on extra remote receivers will fire in sync with camera A.


But as explained in the other thread, camera B is slightly out or sync with camera A (as there will always be a delay between the shutters firing) so there is no light from the flashes showing in the images from camera B.

The easiest way to get around this is to have a separate set of lights (and triggers for those lights) attached to camera B. If using more Strato II for this as well, they would be set on a different channel than the other set of lights and shutter release for camera B.


If you fired both cameras via remote shutter release, that may work to use the one set of lights for both cameras. But I don't know if that would be practical for you to fire the main camera that way anyway (so I didn't try).

As mentioned if you're serious about remote cameras, the PocketWizard Multi Max with timing adjustment are likely the way to go. They can keep the remote camera awake too always ready to fire. Remote cameras with lighting is just not something that's all that simple.


The Strato II are the latest model with a grouping feature. The Strato before that didn't have the groups.

They are called 5 in one etc, because there was another completely different Strato trigger originally years ago (which were not called 5 in one etc).
.

elv wrote in post #16162546
Ok I just tried this and camera A will trigger camera B to shoot remotely.

And extra flashes on top of the transmitter, and on extra remote receivers will fire in sync with camera A.


But as explained in the other thread, camera B is slightly out or sync with camera A (as there will always be a delay between the shutters firing) so there is no light from the flashes showing in the images from camera B.

The easiest way to get around this is to have a separate set of lights (and triggers for those lights) attached to camera B. If using more Strato II for this as well, they would be set on a different channel than the other set of lights and shutter release for camera B.


If you fired both cameras via remote shutter release, that may work to use the one set of lights for both cameras. But I don't know if that would be practical for you to fire the main camera that way anyway (so I didn't try).

As mentioned if you're serious about remote cameras, the PocketWizard Multi Max with timing adjustment are likely the way to go. They can keep the remote camera awake too always ready to fire. Remote cameras with lighting is just not something that's all that simple.


The Strato II are the latest model with a grouping feature. The Strato before that didn't have the groups.

They are called 5 in one etc, because there was another completely different Strato trigger originally years ago (which were not called 5 in one etc).
.

Thank you Elv for trying it out, greatly appreciated!

But now there is a second question:
I can of course have another trigger, more falshes (borrow), more recievers in another group, that would be triggered with Camera B...

But is this how it would work?
Camera A + 2 flashes, + reciever connected to Camera B (Group 1)
Camera B on top with trigger, + 2 more flashes. (Group 2)

In this case, Camera A will trigger the reciever connected to Camera B, and Camera B then would trigger his two flashes?!
Also aproximately how big is the out-of-sync time (Camera A - Camera B)

I am not that serious with remote cameras, but might be I would use these features if I can. In fact I am planin to get a 2nd (Backup) 5D (Mk 1), and if I can remotely trigger it with my 5D Mk II, that would be awesome in some situations.
Example:
I am at a motorsport event, I have Camera A in my hands on the outside of the Corner, with a telephoto lens, camera B on the inside of the corner with a Wide Angle lens.
Shooting the same car at the "same" moment. Would be sometimes nice. But if the time difference between the two cameras is too big, then this does not work.

But I plan to use this system mainly to trigger flases for portrait, or night time photography, triggering a Camera would just be a nice addition.
Of course I can trigger 430EX-es with my 580EX, but they NEED TO SEE each other, and sometimes I would like to hide the flashes behind something.

NemethR wrote in post #16162688
In this case, Camera A will trigger the reciever connected to Camera B, and Camera B then would trigger his two flashes?!

No worries, yes that's right, camera B has a receiver attached as the shutter release, and a transmitter attached to the hotshoe (set to a different channel) to fire its own set of lights on more receivers.


There are some shutter lag times here - http://lightningtrigge​r.com ….html#cameracom​patibility

So around 1/15th sec. It feels like a lot more, but in a wide shot on a tight corner you should be right. You only need one pair or triggers to give this a try without flashes though.
.

elv wrote in post #16162796
No worries, yes that's right, camera B has a receiver attached as the shutter release, and a transmitter attached to the hotshoe (set to a different channel) to fire its own set of lights on more receivers.


There are some shutter lag times here - http://lightningtrigge​r.com ….html#cameracom​patibility

So around 1/15th sec. It feels like a lot more, but in a wide shot on a tight corner you should be right. You only need one pair or triggers to give this a try without flashes though.
.

Thank you again, you helped me a lot!
Much apreciated.