Norman optical slaves - anybody used them?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …EG&addedTroughT​ype=search

Does anybody have them? A slave's a slave, right?

I don't need digital slaves.

Lemme know please

Depends, what flash unit are you wanting to put these on. Is here a PC connector on that flash unit. If not, you wasted your money right there.

gryphonslair99 wrote in post #2814628
Depends, what flash unit are you wanting to put these on. Is here a PC connector on that flash unit. If not, you wasted your money right there.

Of course there will be a PC connector. I'll be slaving vivitars.

EDIT: I'm concerned about reliability and sensitivity of them.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2815032
Of course there will be a PC connector. I'll be slaving vivitars.

EDIT: I'm concerned about reliability and sensitivity of them.

Regarding your answer to "Is here a PC connector on that flash unit".

Most Vivitar flash units have a sync connector on them, but it is not a PC sync connector.

If you have more than one flash unit you might want to try the inexpensive Indian manufactured ones on Ebay. I have several and they work fine, but the suction cup is flaky.

Enjoy! Lon

Would you have a link to the ebay seller? Do they combine shipping?

Thanks

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2815263
Would you have a link to the ebay seller? Do they combine shipping?

Thanks

This is the dealer I got mine from.

http://search.stores.e​bay.com …2QQsaselZ228175​04QQsofpZ0

I ordered 5 optical slaves units for about $12.00, including shipping. It was a grand deal. I later ordered 10 more for members of my camera club. This has been in the last 6 months.

They have worked fine the few times I have used them. But, I did not do any sort of rigorous testing for range, etc. They all did have gross function when I received them as I checked all 15 I received.

Hey, it is $12.00.

Enjoy! Lon

gryphonslair99 wrote in post #2814628
Depends, what flash unit are you wanting to put these on. Is here a PC connector on that flash unit. If not, you wasted your money right there.

Just because the flash unit you want to connect these optical slaves to does not have a "PC" connection, does not mean they cannot be used efficiently. Many flash units have some sort of wire accommodating sync connector, but just not a "PC" connection.

And, you could use these with a hotshoe to PC adapter for flash unit without any wired sync connector port.

Enjoy! Lon

londuck wrote in post #2815525
This is the dealer I got mine from.

http://search.stores.e​bay.com …2QQsaselZ228175​04QQsofpZ0

I ordered 5 optical slaves units for about $12.00, including shipping. It was a grand deal. I later ordered 10 more for members of my camera club. This has been in the last 6 months.

They have worked fine the few times I have used them. But, I did not do any sort of rigorous testing for range, etc. They all did have gross function when I received them as I checked all 15 I received.

Hey, it is $12.00.

Enjoy! Lon

Oh my god. I love this. Thank you so much.

I was about to pull the trigger on normans. India rules.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2815688
Oh my god. I love this. Thank you so much.

I was about to pull the trigger on normans. India rules.

Remember, the suction cups are flaky.

I have intended to put adhesive backed velcro on the suction cups and strategically place the mating velcro on my flash units in an advantageous position, but up till now they just dangle from the flash on a very short sync cord.

Enjoy! Lon

londuck wrote in post #2815705
Remember, the suction cups are flaky.

I have intended to put adhesive backed velcro on the suction cups and strategically place the mating velcro on my flash units in an advantageous position, but up till now they just dangle from the flash on a very short sync cord.

Enjoy! Lon

That's my plan also. I had a novoflex slave dangling like that and it worked fine.

Then I dropped it and broke it. (unrelated to dangling) And now I'm slaveless. Do you know of cheap source of pc/vivitar cords by any chance? BH has them for 8 bucks a pop.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2815032
Of course there will be a PC connector. I'll be slaving vivitars.

EDIT: I'm concerned about reliability and sensitivity of them.

Funny thing, I checked every Vivitar flash unit on B&H's site with the exception of the flash rings and only 1 has an off camera termainal. That is the 285HV. None of the others do. Older Vivitar units almost always did, but then your origonal post never mentioned what equipment you were looking to use the slave on.

As for vivitar cables, go to any photography store and ask them. My local store has a couple of drawers full of used cables for every flash you could ever think of. The owner sells them for a $1.00 apiece.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2815857
That's my plan also. I had a novoflex slave dangling like that and it worked fine.

Then I dropped it and broke it. (unrelated to dangling) And now I'm slaveless. Do you know of cheap source of pc/vivitar cords by any chance? BH has them for 8 bucks a pop.

I think the same merchant has short Vivitar to PC cords (I have never purchased any of these).

How about 10 cords for $14.00.

See:

http://cgi.ebay.com …egoryZ43479QQcm​dZViewItem

These optical slaves are not likely to break if you drop them, they look like they are solid polyester or epoxy resin.

Need extra battery clips for your Vivitar 283 and 285 units, the same guy has good deals on them, and metal feet for the same flash units.

Do you need any silk dancing shoes, stove pipe, microscope slides, floss, bean dip, etc?

Enjoy! Lon

londuck wrote in post #2815647
Just because the flash unit you want to connect these optical slaves to does not have a "PC" connection, does not mean they cannot be used efficiently. Many flash units have some sort of wire accommodating sync connector, but just not a "PC" connection.

And, you could use these with a hotshoe to PC adapter for flash unit without any wired sync connector port.

Enjoy! Lon

True, but the more "pieces" in the chain, the better the chance for a malfunction. For the money you can get a hotshoe mounted optical slave such at the Hama, Kaiser, Morris, Vivitar, Wein or any number of similar manufactures of similar slaves. With lighting I have found the KISS principal to be the most effective.

gryphonslair99 wrote in post #2816272
True, but the more "pieces" in the chain, the better the chance for a malfunction. For the money you can get a hotshoe mounted optical slave such at the Hama, Kaiser, Morris, Vivitar, Wein or any number of similar manufactures of similar slaves. With lighting I have found the KISS principal to be the most effective.

A hotshoe based optical slave may keep it simple electrically, but it also may force the placement of the optical slave in a very disadvantageous position and frustrate reliable function.

A slave on a short cord keeps it simple with regard to efficiently placing the optical slave in a very advantageous place.

Sometimes simple tugs more than one way.

Enjoy! Lon

gryphonslair99 wrote in post #2816272
True, but the more "pieces" in the chain, the better the chance for a malfunction. For the money you can get a hotshoe mounted optical slave such at the Hama, Kaiser, Morris, Vivitar, Wein or any number of similar manufactures of similar slaves. With lighting I have found the KISS principal to be the most effective.

I'm gonna get cords for exactly the reason londuck mentioned above. You can point the slave where you want it increasing the effective sensitivity.

That seller is great! I'm putting together quite an order of some items I wanted to get for a while, including metal screw-in caps, a body cap, slaves, cords, pc cords... Great price.