Should I connect my strobe flash direct to the camera?

And is that even possible with my 300d rebel?

I couldn't find a pc/sync cord port on my 300d, so I've just been using my strobes as slaves. Am I blind and there is one? Or do I need to buy an adapter and attach one? The strobes came with sync cords.

At this point I've got two 110watt strobes set as slaves and am using a 420ex on camera?

Thanks in advance ,
~Rae~

You have to buy an adapter to sit in your hotshoe and provide a PC socket that your synch cord can be attached.

Depending upon which flash unit you are trying to trigger, there is an outside chance their trigger voltage is too high (>250v), so a Wein Safe Synch might be needed rather than an ordinary hotshoe-PC adapter. What flash are you using?

You'll need a hotshoe adapter like this.

The 420EX emits a pre-flash that will trigger the strobes prematurely if you try to use it as a master.

Well I can't afford AB's ... so I got a smaller Set that is adjustable.. but just a small name brand. A friend here on the boards recommended this set.
http://cgi.ebay.com …eName=STRK:MEWN​:IT&ih=012

Oh drat figures the 420 is a poor master flash.. just one more reason why I am getting such terribly underexposed shots! Okay maybe I should use my 420ex as a slave, would it work as a hair light or anything?

sigh.. I just 'thought' I knew something about photography.. haha till I got my studio lights.. now I almost feel like I'm starting over!

you can also buy the cheap ebay radio triggers... use em on all three lights! this way you CAN shoot the 420 as a BG/hair light, only thing is, the 420 has no manual settings... something to keep in mind!

zacker wrote in post #2962681
you can also buy the cheap ebay radio triggers... use em on all three lights! this way you CAN shoot the 420 as a BG/hair light, only thing is, the 420 has no manual settings... something to keep in mind!

You cant use the 420ex flash as a slave to her strobes... There is no manual mode so its really not possible, or really worth her time.

The e-bay radio slaves he is talking about using is this...
http://cgi.ebay.com …tem?hash=item18​0062663980

I did a full review on the item here:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=250975

Its actually what I use with my Strobes and my L-358 light meter. I have two sets of them. One sender unit on the camera, the other on the light meter. So I can both take photos and meter my lights w/o switches stuff around and any cables. I really recommend the ebay-slaves for a budget buyer.

If you are also intrested in these items, they are also for sale along with my L-358. Its all part of my big upgrade to the L-758 and Pocket Wizard units.

The 420EX won't easily mix with studio strobes. It's an E-TTL only flash, so it only works when it's on the hotshoe, or triggered by an E-TTL master (550EX, 580EX, ST-E2).

Get the adapter for starters. The cheap E-Bay triggers can be nice, but they're unreliable enough that you'll want a plan B.

sonshine_rae wrote in post #2962634
Well I can't afford AB's ... so I got a smaller Set that is adjustable.. but just a small name brand. A friend here on the boards recommended this set.
http://cgi.ebay.com …eName=STRK:MEWN​:IT&ih=012

Oh drat figures the 420 is a poor master flash.. just one more reason why I am getting such terribly underexposed shots! Okay maybe I should use my 420ex as a slave, would it work as a hair light or anything?

sigh.. I just 'thought' I knew something about photography.. haha till I got my studio lights.. now I almost feel like I'm starting over!

ABs are good strobes but if you are just learning and want to take some simply shots what you bought is great to learn with, and you can always add more lights as you go along.

About using the 420ex as your master to trigger the strobes, it wont work, as said above, the pre-flash will trip your strobes so you will get under exposed shots. Since there is no manual, you really cant turn off the pre-flash either. Only real options are the hot-shoe adapter (wired) or e-bay slaves (wireless).

You can use pocket wizards (wirelesS), but I dont think you are prepared to spend $188 for each unit...

Curtis N wrote in post #2962746
The 420EX won't easily mix with studio strobes. It's an E-TTL only flash, so it only works when it's on the hotshoe, or triggered by an E-TTL master (550EX, 580EX, ST-E2).

Agree 100%

Curtis N wrote in post #2962746
Get the adapter for starters. The cheap E-Bay triggers can be nice, but they're unreliable enough that you'll want a plan B.

Depends on where and what you use them on. I hear performance of the e-bay slaves outside are not that great.. But in the studio I get very good results. I dont have many complaints except that I dont get a full 1/250 sync speed, I shoot at 1/200 or 1/160 to be safe...

When you look at the cost, you really cant complain. $25-30 for a set vs $376 for Pocket Wizards. Keep a sync cord around just incase, I guess thats the "Plan B".

Wow.. I'm learning a lot today just from chatting with you all. I had no idea there was so much 'missing' in my studio setup... maybe it really wasn't my 'fault' that the images are turning out underexposed.. but rather my 'lack' of proper equipment after all!

I bet this is why 90+ % of my images were underexposed... wonder if the reason a few of mine appeared over-exposed (aka the strobes actually worked!) was because I was rapid-firing my shutter a few times trying to catch the kids smiles.. hence I 'might' have caught the mis-timed strobe firing? Confusing but interesting.

Quick question.. just to 'test' things if I use the on-camera flash (built-in) will it properly time the strobes? I'd like to at least play around learning white balance.. while I wait to get/receive my new equipment.

Oh and about the 420ex... hum I knew I was getting a lower end model and liked the fact that it could work with both my film an digital (which of course I practically never use film anymore).. I do remember it not having as many options as those just a little more pricey then it did though. I guess I'll either end up selling it and upgrading.. or buying an additional flash at some point.

sonshine_rae wrote in post #2963061
I bet this is why 90+ % of my images were underexposed...

That's part of it. The pre-flash is what the camera uses for metering the flash output. Since the strobes fired with the pre-flash, this messed up the camera's metering calculations so the "real" flash from the 420EX was extremely weak. The built-in flash will give you the same problem, but there is a clunky work-around. Hit the FEL (*) button to fire the preflash, wait for the strobes to recycle, then take your shot.

StealthLude wrote in post #2962733
You cant use the 420ex flash as a slave to her strobes... There is no manual mode so its really not possible, or really worth her time.

yeah i know this, i even stated it has no manual settings.... see the last line in my post ...

stealthlude if you google it or better yet look at some of the posts on the strobists page on Flicker.. there are a number of Mods for the ebay slaves, tons of info and tips on getting the most from them and such....it seems the biggest problem with them is the antenna length.

zacker wrote in post #2964972
stealthlude if you google it or better yet look at some of the posts on the strobists page on Flicker.. there are a number of Mods for the ebay slaves, tons of info and tips on getting the most from them and such....it seems the biggest problem with them is the antenna length.

I use ebay radio slaves, I have threes set and I really like their utility. But getting this utility is not without bumps in the road for many.

They are not without very significant issues, and these issues are not congealed into just one issue, the length of the antenna.

I have personally ordered over 35 sets of these devices (for my camera club members) and the biggest issue is that they just do not work at all as received. About 20% of the units I received were non functional as received. Some had non functional transmitters other had non functional receivers.

The dealer happily replaced them, but the replacement units also were about 20% defective.

So, this leads me to believe that about 20% of these units are defective "as received".

If you get a good one "as received" then they seem to work pretty well. But, my sampling indicates that about 2 out of 10 will be out of luck.

But, because of the high possibility of problems (20% is an enormous defective rate) I avoid suggesting them to anyone that is new and already confused about off camera flash. They do not need another layer of problems added to their admitted initial confusion.

Get them going with a cord, and a stable working setup. Them let them meander on their own to a inexpensive ebay radio slaves when issues surround the radio slaves will be the only issue (not general confusion about the whole process).

The OP in this post needed exactly what Wilt suggested in the first post, a simple camera hotshoe to PC adapter. And Curtis so kindly illuminated this suggestion.

The solution need not be any more complicated.

Enjoy! Lon

sonshine_rae wrote in post #2962634
Well I can't afford AB's ... so I got a smaller Set that is adjustable.. but just a small name brand. A friend here on the boards recommended this set.
http://cgi.ebay.com …eName=STRK:MEWN​:IT&ih=012

Oh drat figures the 420 is a poor master flash.. just one more reason why I am getting such terribly underexposed shots! Okay maybe I should use my 420ex as a slave, would it work as a hair light or anything?

sigh.. I just 'thought' I knew something about photography.. haha till I got my studio lights.. now I almost feel like I'm starting over!

If you are using the 300D do make sure you check the trigger voltage on your strobes as suggested. The fact that they are inexpensive and lower powered does not mean the trigger voltage is safe. You could still fry your camera.

And once you get the connection to your camera the 'lights will come on' and your studio exposure will surely be better. I would definitely shoot with the cable before introducing radio slaves.