Off Camera Flash Questions

I am looking into working off camera now with my flash. I do have a 430EX Canon. Can I use Nikon SB28DX and/ or a Vivitar 285HV with no issues (off camera)? Can I use ANY flash? All I will need is a pc cord and a hotshoe?

I look to mostly go with the strobist kit but I already have a stand, umbrella and softbox. Now I just need a flash. Eventually I will get a AB800 but I am looking for portability right now.

Also can the Nikon, Sunpak, Vivitar be my master and the 430EX slave off that too?

Don't think in terms of master/slave with these flashes. That only works w/ Canon wireless E-TTL.

Using a sync cord, your camera can fire any of these flashes, but a flash can't fire a flash. With all those nice lights, I think you need a mix of wireless radio triggers (maybe some optical slaves to save money)

There are some triggers available on eBay for really cheap but I recommend Elinchrom Skyports, I know they work. For the adapters and cords, I'd go thru www.flashzebra.com

This thread might answer some of your questions.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=308108

Yes it did help alot Curtis. I see I need more equipment than I thought.

So my new list at BandH is Vivtar 285HV
Hot shoe to household
hot shoe for camera (XTI)
Impact umbrella bracket
16' sync cable

I have the stand and umbrella already. So that should set up up fine. In a few weeks I will get another umbrella and stand do slave my 430ex too. Great times ahead.

slimninj4 wrote in post #4650842
So my new list at BandH is Vivtar 285HV
Hot shoe to household
hot shoe for camera (XTI)
Impact umbrella bracket
16' sync cable.

Typically people use a hotshoe to PC male adapter on the flash, a hotshoe to PC female adapter on the camera, and a PC cord in-between.

Nothing terribly wrong with a household connector, but you still need the right kind of adapter on the other end of the cord.

If you just want a sync cord to the Vivitar:

• Camera hotshoe to PC adapter for the camera (to gain a PC port)
  
• Long flash cord with a male PC on one end and a Vivitar connector on the other.
  

For that setup I'd go for an optical setup with a digital optical slave on the Nikon and Vivitar with the 430EX as the master (set on low power if you don't want it to flash the subject itself). That's the cheapest option but you have to get specific digital optical slaves. Ordinary optical slaves will be set off by the 430EX pre-flash.

An alternative would be to use an infra-red slave controller.

Wow rhys what you just said, confused me. LOL.

I am happy to say I got my accessories in last night and tested it out. Works great. Now I will try and figure out how to use the 430EX as a fill light or hair light.

Yes you can go with any flash off camera, I'd go with a radio control pc cords are just to hard to deal with and you know you don;t have a voltage problem
I use a couple of Sunpak 444d's and my 580 ex II when off camera

Jack