3-flash setup

I have just started using a multiple canon flash setup. 580EX as master on the camera bracket and 430EX as slave (key) on stand. Currently I am using a hot light to light the bg, but would prefer to use an inexpensive strobe with color filters. I am looking at
A VIVITAR 2800
It is my understanding that I should be able to add any autoflash (like the one above) to the C group of my canon setup and have it fire as a slave controlled by the 580EX. I understand that that the C-group in the canon system is not evaluated for exposure calculations and that its power will have to be set to manual (I am assuming this flash can be set to manual).

Does anyone have any experience using a third canon flash as bg?
Anyone have an untested but likely theoretical answer?

And if you use a three-flash canon system, can you tell me what flash you have used as the C-group?

I just realized that the Vivitar 2800 has no sensor on it at all... so I guess the 580 can't fire it. Are there any $50 strobes that can be fired by the 580EX as master...?

spores wrote in post #2713156
I have just started using a multiple canon flash setup. 580EX as master on the camera bracket and 430EX as slave (key) on stand. Currently I am using a hot light to light the bg, but would prefer to use an inexpensive strobe with color filters. I am looking at
A VIVITAR 2800
It is my understanding that I should be able to add any autoflash (like the one above) to the C group of my canon setup and have it fire as a slave controlled by the 580EX. I understand that that the C-group in the canon system is not evaluated for exposure calculations and that its power will have to be set to manual (I am assuming this flash can be set to manual).

Does anyone have any experience using a third canon flash as bg?
Anyone have an untested but likely theoretical answer?

And if you use a three-flash canon system, can you tell me what flash you have used as the C-group?

It doesn't look like the Vivitar 2800 is an ETTL compatible flash so you won't be able to use it in a wireless remote configuration controlled by the 580EX. You may be able to get it to fire if you used the appropriate optical triggering unit with smarts to ignore preflashes but that's a big IF.

You can use it for BG, however, if you fire the Vivitar via a long sync cable.

Thanks Leo - 'preciate the input...

Why don't you get a brand new Vivitar 285HV ($89 at B&H) plus get yourself a Wein peanut slave for about $20 which will fire when your other flashes fire.

You can adjust the power on the Vivitar from 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/16 so it should do what you are looking for.

Spores, I just had an exchange here on this very topic, as I wanted to use a 2800 I found in my closet with those same two speedlites...I was just going to fire the 2800 at a background to do high-key-BG portraits and product shots. Vivitars have proprietary sync jacks...so you can't simply plug in a cheap PC-jack optical slave like a Wein Digital Peanut. I got a Vivitar-to-PC cord at a local shop, but they only had 5' lengths and I can't get a longer PC-to-PC cord to work while lengthening the cable run.

After a week of experiments, it'll take a US$44+shipping 15' sync cable from ParamountCords.com to meet my needs. If you want a longer cable for your purposes, that'll cost more.

At that point, looking at other options starts to make sense, as others described above. Just sharing my very similar experience so you can gauge how you want to proceed.

atomick wrote in post #2716645
Vivitars have proprietary sync jacks...so you can't simply plug in a cheap PC-jack optical slave like a Wein Digital Peanut.

Actually I think the Wein "Peanut" will plug directly into the proprietary Vivitar sync jack.

The Wein "Peanut" seems to have a very interesting hybrid connector that will plug into the more standard PC connector, and the proprietary Vivitar connector.

Some complain that the connection to a PC cord is not as tight as they would like, possibly the hybrid design accommodation to also fit the Vivitar has netted this additional downside.

But in general a Vivitar connector will not plug into the PC connector, but the Wein "Peanut" seems to do the impossible.

This web link cites this unique function (look down in the page until you see a pic of the "peanut":

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com …02/return-of-classic.html

Enjoy! Lon

Gatorboy wrote in post #2713784
Why don't you get a brand new Vivitar 285HV ($89 at B&H) plus get yourself a Wein peanut slave for about $20 which will fire when your other flashes fire.

It's not a viable accessory when using Canon's wireless flash system. The Vivitar will fire with the pre-flash.

Leo's idea seems to be the most feasible and economical so far.

Curtis N wrote in post #2718454
It's not a viable accessory when using Canon's wireless flash system. The Vivitar will fire with the pre-flash.

Leo's idea seems to be the most feasible and economical so far.

The digital Wein slaves will not fire with the preflash