Adding a Second Flash (383) to Off-Camera Set-up.

At the moment I have my 580EX II with a male Screw-Lock to male Screw-Lock sync cord to go between it and my 20D.

I would like to add a second flash (a Sunpak 383) to my set-up, but don't want to go with a wireless set-up yet due to budget restrictions! I am trying to work out what adapters and cords I need to get in addition to the flash.

I want to get another Screw-Lock sync cord the same as my existing one, so any extra fittings would need to be compatible with that in my set-up. What would be the best way to take the signal from my camera to the two flashes?

From the camera end I presume the best way of connecting things would be to have a short cord leading to a splitter, then the two long sync cords leading to each flash. The 580EXII will be easy because that has a Screw-Lock connector, but on the end of the other cord I need something to go from male Screw-Lock to Sunpak's awkward plug.

The nearest I can find is this one: http://www.flashzebra.​com/short_pc_sync/0054​.shtml , but it has a male PC connector instead of a female one to mate with my cord. Is it possible to get a double-ended female PC adapter to join that with the male Screw-Lock plug on my cord?

For the camera end I'm also a bit stuck on what I need to split the signal. If I get one of those three-way sync cord splitters they look as if they have got male connectors, which is no good for my cords, which would also be male. Also I'm not sure if I can use a PC adapter with Screw-Lock cords either.

This seems ridiculously complicated for the simple task of adding a second flash, so maybe I'm overlooking something.

I just want to go from my 20D to a splitter, use two male Screw-Lock to male Screw-Lock cords and connect to a flash at each end, one being a 383 (the other, a 580 EXII I already know how to connect).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

Studio or portable use? How about an optical slave?

I'm thinking of portable use really, but I would be learning with it at home to start with.

I hadn't thought of an optical slave, but I do want to get a second (longer) sync cord, so the idea would be to use that in my set-up, leading to the second flash.

Mike

Hmmm, just looking at those optical slave things. That could make things a lot easier.

Are they any good? I was going to get the 32 foot sync cord, so any alternative would ideally need to work reliably up to that sort of distance.

Mike

Is it really this simple?

http://www.flashzebra.​com/short_pc_sync/0054​.shtml

http://www.flashzebra.​com/opticalslaves/0050​.shtml

Mike

Don't forget if you use an optical slave you need line of sight, and the 580EX needs to be in manual mode. If you want to have the 580EX in ETTL you can get a Wein slave, they have one model which ignores a preflash.

The optical slaves work well indoors. I'm experimenting with a 430EX in manual on the camera firing straight up at 1/32 or 1/64, it's firing the optical slaved units on stands.

With a splitter, I'd be concerned about the different voltages the flash units put across their terminals. I have an extended ETTL cord that I would use in addition to the PC connector if i wanted two different flashes wired to the camera.

Have Fun

Rob

You could always go with the super ridiculously cheap cactus/gadget infinity V2s triggers. They'll cost you about 30 bucks. I use them and they work fine.

perryge wrote in post #6530995
You could always go with the super ridiculously cheap cactus/gadget infinity V2s triggers. They'll cost you about 30 bucks. I use them and they work fine.

I bought 2 sets of cheapo triggers ($40 total) from dealextreme and they have been working great with my 430EX and 580EXII.

Thanks for your replies everyone.

For this set-up I would only be using my 580 in manual mode. I have got an ETTL off-camera coiled cord for any time I want to move it slightly off camera, but the main reason for all this is to learn to use manual flash.

I hadn't thought about the different voltages. I think I'll probably go with an optical slave for my second flash to keep things simple.

For a wireless upgrade at a later date I quite like the look of the Alien Bees CyberSync units. The cheap eBay triggers seem good for the price, but by the time I go for wireless triggers I'll probably be more serious about spending a little more.

Mike