Corded flash set up

I have been using three 550EXs wirelessly with a 5D and ST-E2 outdoors but it is proving very hit and miss, and if sunlight hits the flash gun sensor it won't fire at all. Is there a means to connect 3 guns to the 5D using cable or am I barking up the wrong tree. ETTL is not necessary as I use a meter.
TIA
DAve

bump

Dave

if you don't need ETTL and are happy with the flashes in manual then the Elinchrom Skyport Universal Trigger Set would be a good start in wireless.

Pocket Wizards are onother option but are significantly more expensive.

A third option is the cheap ebay triggers but having some experience of these I would recommend going the more expensive route. If you are consistently within 20 feet of your lights then the ebay triggers will be fine.

I have just purchased the elinchrom set and two additional receivers from The Flash Center. Will be using them in earnest tomorrow but have tested them and they worked very well.

If you must go the cable route then the 5D has a connection for a standard flash synchro socket. Warehouse Express does a full range of cables (Kaiser brand) and a splitter. It is cheaper than wireless but my own experience is that unless you are doing small product photography (where the cables are relatively close to the camera and you should not be tripping over them) then the flexibility and quick set up of wireless is hard to beat.

Thanks John, I find it very hard to get 3 guns within range of the transmitter and really would prefer a corded set up if such a thing exists. Wireless is fine indoors but I usually spend too much time trying to get the odd flash to fire as it more often than not is behind the car or even inside it.

Dave

the significant difference between the Pocket Wizard and Elinchrom set ups and the ST-E2 is that the PWs and Elinchrom are genuine wireless. The St-E2 is optical wireless (near infra-red) and really needs line of sight to work reliably. Even with line of sight the ST-E2 has a very limited range.

The PWs and Elinchrom products are genuine wireless units working in the 2.4 Ghz band. The PW's are rated up to approx 1500 ft and the Elinchrom up to 600 ft. They will happily work through a couple of walls and do no require line of sight. Range is reduced when out of line of sight but in 99.9% of working scenarios this should not be a problem.

Hope this helps.

I would love a proper radio setup John but at the moment cheapest is the only option....one day I will be able to justify pocket wizards..... I hope!

Is this the one on Ebay you suggested John?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk …3A12&_trksid=p3​286.c0.m14


How does the flash attach to a stand when the receiver is fitted to the shoe?

dont buy them ebay triggers they are a pile of s***

Hi Dave

those look very much like the ones.

http://www.gadgetinfin​ity.com/product.php?pr​oductid=16766

the receiver bottom is threaded and fits to a standard 1/4 in stand thread and the flash then slips into a flash mount on the top.

The strobist site has quite a good write up on them

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com …-cactus-v2s-mod-page.html

Got to agree to some extent with Canon400 though - if you us them within very tight limitations and get used to the limitations then they are fine but they are not designed for a hard working pro bag.

You could buy the single transmitter and receiver Elinchrom set and then cable from the receiver to the flashes. this would give you the advantages of wireless at a reduced cost and the reliability and pro build of the Elinchrom.

I'll add this review to the pot as the summary seems to succinctly arrive at a very similar conclusion to myself but says it much better than perhaps would

http://photonotes.org/​reviews/radio-flash-trigger/

These are the type of parts for the easiest to set up wired system:

1) PC plug-PC jack extension cords (will need different lengths, all are male-female extensions):
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …NP6971_PC_Male_​to_PC.html

2) PC Splitter (PC plug to 3 PC jacks):
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …y_Flash_Sync_Ad​apter.html

3) Hot Shoe to PC plug:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …SF941_PC_to_Hot​_Shoe.html

There are many different brands of all the items, and different lengths, but it should be pretty simple to visualize: one cord from camera to 3 way splitter, one cord from each of the three ports of the splitter to each hot shoe adapter, and then insert each flash in one hot shoe adapter.

Thanks John, as it is not a lot of money I think I will give those a try even though 10 metres may be a bit on the short side for what I want.

Michael, don't suppose you know what maximum cable length corded flash can handle....would 20 metres from camera to flash be pushing it too far?

You can go probably a thousand feet using standard sync cords before you would be able to determine any difference.

Thats well over 30 metres! That might be my best bet then,,,,,thanks everyone for your help.

Lookout, a corded system based in 8 standard PC connections? Sounds like intermittent flash hell to me.

One at the flash
One from the camera flash cord to the triple PC splitter.
One each from the PC splitter to each of the three flashes (three total)
One each at each hotshoe to PC adapters (three total)
---------------
Add them all up - Eight Total

I would not touch that setup with a whip, a gun, and a chair.

Enjoy! Lon