Firing Genesis monolight with speedlight

I've just begun working with my new Genesis 2-light kit. I wasn't thrilled about using the sync cord to fire the strobes, so I decided to try using my speedlight on minimum power to trigger the optical sensor on the Genesis. It worked! Is there any reason not to do this? The light from the speedlight seems minimal in comparison to the strobes and I fired it up and behind me to try to keep the light from impacting the resulting image.

Works for me. I also use a poverty wizard to fire off my genesis and/or flash.

If you don't mind the flash on the camera it's a perfectly fine solution.

Having the flash on the camera seems more manageable than being tethered by a sync cord to the strobe. Thanks for the advice!

I do it all the time; 1/64 power in manual mode pointed at the celing. Fires the strobes reliably and doesn't have a noticable impact on the subject.

Wouldn't this cut down on the life of your flash if you used it all the time for a trigger? I can see occasionally in a pinch or make do til something better but I wouldn't plan on using it all the time for a trigger.

I think you can find a cheap set of triggers to do the same. I paid $80 for a set of interfit radio triggers and they work VERY well.

All you need is one trigger and one receiver - Cybersyncs would be $130

I just got a set of Genesis 2 - 400 lights today. I have 2 580EX II with the ST-E2. I am planning on using the ST-E2 for the trigger. Then use the 580EX II for rim lighting, background or extra fill.

queenbee288 wrote in post #6807775
Wouldn't this cut down on the life of your flash if you used it all the time for a trigger? I can see occasionally in a pinch or make do til something better but I wouldn't plan on using it all the time for a trigger.

I would expect a few shots using HSS to take more of a toll on the flash than firing at 1/128th power a few hundred times, but yeah, a real wireless trigger is where I'll be headed ASAP.

junebug wrote in post #6808283
I just got a set of Genesis 2 - 400 lights today. I have 2 580EX II with the ST-E2. I am planning on using the ST-E2 for the trigger. Then use the 580EX II for rim lighting, background or extra fill.

What is extra fill ?
For the rim light and especially hair light speedlights is a poor choice because of the absence of modeling light.

junebug wrote in post #6808283
I just got a set of Genesis 2 - 400 lights today. I have 2 580EX II with the ST-E2. I am planning on using the ST-E2 for the trigger. Then use the 580EX II for rim lighting, background or extra fill.

I suspect that you might have problem with triggering with that setup. But run some test shots and let us know if they work together.

junebug wrote in post #6808283
I just got a set of Genesis 2 - 400 lights today. I have 2 580EX II with the ST-E2. I am planning on using the ST-E2 for the trigger. Then use the 580EX II for rim lighting, background or extra fill.

How were you going to trigger the Genesis strobes? If optically, then you're going to have issues using those strobes with the ST-E2 and the EX flashes as Lotto mentioned above. Canon flashes in a wireless configuration do not work very well with optically triggered strobes or flashes.

PacAce wrote in post #6810776
How were you going to trigger the Genesis strobes? If optically, then you're going to have issues using those strobes with the ST-E2 and the EX flashes as Lotto mentioned above. Canon flashes in a wireless configuration do not work very well with optically triggered strobes or flashes.

Can I ask why ? What the difference to Genesis it makes ? When the EX goes on triggered by ST-E2 the monolights get triggered by EX.
There could be a slight delay but nothinig that would be tangible on 1/125 sec synch.

PacAce wrote in post #6810776
How were you going to trigger the Genesis strobes? If optically, then you're going to have issues using those strobes with the ST-E2 and the EX flashes as Lotto mentioned above. Canon flashes in a wireless configuration do not work very well with optically triggered strobes or flashes.

I did quite few test shots last night. It seems to work fine. Now if I can just figure out how to get the proper set ups. I only have small areas at my house. But I have made trade arrangements to have access to Hotel Suites.Actually I was surprised how well test shots came out with just the 2 Modeling lights.