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Brentste's picture
Submitted By: Brentste
Joined: Feb 18 2007
Posts:
Monolight Sync Issues
Posted: February 18, 2007 - 10:09pm

I am setting up my first studio and am using 3 AC powered 180w/s monolights. I am using my Canon 380EX flash unit mounted on the hot shoe of my Digital Rebel XT to trigger the strobes. When I shoot a picture, it is grossly under exposed but if I shoot continuous shots the second shot exposes properly; unfortunately that method is eating card space and batteries like you wouldn't believe! I would think this is a sync issue with the strobes.

Please advise of a solution that would help with this without spending a fortune. Thanks

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ronk II's picture
Submitted By: ronk II
Joined: Oct 2 2006
Posts:
#1
Re: Monolight Sync Issues
Posted: February 19, 2007 - 5:42am

Are both the camera and HS flash in manual?
Tradtional settings are F11 1/60 for the camera.
The HS unit should be pointed away from the subject and
at one of the studio mains. The flash does tilt
and swivel, yes?. Turn off all preflash/red eye
modes. If there is a proportion ratio for the HS flash,
set it at the lowest possible setting.
Are you using an incident flash meter to get the settings and ratios on the studio mains? Adjust the main light to give the above reading. Set the fill to a 3:1 ratio and the background light to yield the visual effect you desire; some like a hot spot, others don't.

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BobF's picture
Submitted By: BobF
Location: Oshawa, Canada
Joined: Mar 27 2005
Posts:
#2
Re: Monolight Sync Issues
Posted: February 19, 2007 - 4:09pm

I'm not sure the 380EX will work in manual mode Ron. I know it won't swivel though.

Spend $10 and buy [url=http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=3625&A=details&Q=&sku=109453&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation]this[/url] then get a sync cord that's compatible with your lights. You don't say what lights you're using but sync cords aren't that expensive either. Make sure you're working at the proper sync speed for your shutter, connect your main light with the sync cord, put the other two on slave and you should be good to go.

Firing your studio lights with an on-camera flash isn't the best idea. It can add unwanted light to the scene and mess up your exposures plus you can have sync issues like you're experiencing. I'll use an on camera flash to fire another speedlight that's in slave mode when that's all I'm using, but not studio lights.

EDIT: Hey, how come the auto link didn't work? That's odd.

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ronk II's picture
Submitted By: ronk II
Joined: Oct 2 2006
Posts:
#3
Re: Monolight Sync Issues
Posted: February 20, 2007 - 4:20am

Bob, I have used my Olympus FL50 to fire my White Lighning and Alien Bees units w/o problems, though I usually do use a sync cord. It has both tilt and swivel and I can point it straight up at the ceiling. W/o manual mode and tilt and swivel, however, the flash will be useless for firing studio mains for the reasons you described.
If the poster's camera does not have a PC connector, the alternative is a buying a Wein HS safe sync for the camera and plugging the cord into it.
The other alternative is the wireless radio/IR send/receive units, but they can be costly. WL has units that are a bit more affordable, but I don't know about their universal application possibility.
Some cameras, like the C5050Z have a special flash menu selection expressly for firing studio mains.

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