Can I use my D-Lite 4 kit with my EX580II?

hi folks,

i'm still learning my studio setup and lighting and have a question that may seem simple to those who know but bear with me!

i have a D-Lite 4 Kit and also a speedlite EX580II.

my question is how can i use the two D-Lites in conjuction with the speedlite? I would like to use the speedlite as a hair light in my studio. The two D-Lites are perfect as they are, however i do need to add a hairlight to bring my subject off the background more.

any help would be appreciated!

How are you triggering the d-lites? Radio, cable, or optical?

Either way you can use a cable to trigger it (with the right foot), a radio slave, or an optical slave (you have to buy one of those, one known to work with the 580). The 580s are pretty powerful, but you wouldn't want to hammer them at full power over and over all day, they'll overheat. Strobes will fire all day, they're fan cooled.

hi tim, thanks mate.

i am triggering the d-lites with the included cable.

as the main d-lite fires the second one is fired (presumably via a radio channel?) if this is how it works, is it possible to have the speedlite on the same channel as the second d-lite to fire at the same time? or have i got this all completely wrong?

The 2nd will be firing as it's an optical slave, there's no radio involved. Get an optical slave trigger for your 580EX, this should work.

ahhh, thanks so much for that tim! you have cleared it up nicely. so, optical slave huh? nice. will look at getting one asap.

Wait for someone else who's used an optical slave with a 580 to chime in, you might need a specific one.

To save yourself the hassle, trigger the 580EX II with a cord and have the D-Lites slave optically! Optical slave triggers can be problematic with some of the EX series flashes (usually it's to do with the ETTL pre-flash, which is not an issue here, but you never know)...

rudi you are a genius mate. (for those playing at home, rudi was the POTN member who put me onto the d-lite 4's in the first place)

rudi, what type of cord are we talking here? i know the one that came with the d-lites has a "headphone jack" male ending that plugs into the d-lites female, but on the 580EX II the input is different? is there are standard cord i should be looking for? got a link?

also, how do you set the d-lites to slave? so many questions!

They have General Brand, but I prefer a real brand, even for the cords

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …A_6975_PC_Male_​to_PC.html

or, if you want longer:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …A_6979_PC_Male_​to_PC.html

If you connect the optical slave via the pc port of the 580exii it will work fine. Problems only occur when you try triggering via the hotshoe.

Thanks for that Martin, that's good to know. The other reason I would choose to get a cord for the 580 is that then he will have cords to trigger both flashes, in case he chooses to take the 580 only on a shoot and want to trigger it off-camera. He'll be spending his $10 on one thing that will enable him to do more, rather than just get a slave trigger that will only be useable for him with the D-Lites.

I have a set of Cactus on my 550s, and then trigger the Ds optically. I also have a set of interfits to use with just the Ds and nothing else.

bumping this thread as i have not bought that cable just yet. i have been stalling with it because i think i will shortly be taking a bunch of outdoor shoots and will be needing to trigger my 580EX II off camera. Rudi, i have been looking into radiopoppers as they have been recommended from a mate. what are your thoughts? will i be able to use them in conjunction with my d-lites when back in the studio (as per the original post)

I use the Elinchrom Skyport radio triggers. Can't tell you much about anything else, but I love my Skyports! I use them with the D-Lites, as well as my hot shoe flashes when traveling light. Being Elinchrom, they work perfectly with the D-Lites, and they work just as reliably with anything that you connect them to. You will have to get the "Universal" Skyport transmitter and receiver(s). They will trigger any flash (the Skyport RX is designed to work with the Elinchrom RX strobes).

Hope that helps.

thanks rudi, looks like you have steered me in the right direction yet again

on this page
http://www.kayellaustr​alia.com.au …/ElinchromPrice​li4689.pdf i would be looking at these two right?
01.19351 ELINCHROM SKYPORT TRANSMITTER 165.00
01.19352 ELINCHROM SKYPORT UNIV RECEIVER 165.00