remote flash question?

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Gary
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I dont know if they could be set to go off from your main flash, but if you use the wireless trigger with the receivers, that'll do it.
I would imagine it'd be all set manually, though, no auto exposure calculation for the flashes.
 
I presumed the triggers on e bay have a light reciever that pick up the flash from the camera and fire the flash its connected to?
 
I presumed the triggers on e bay have a light reciever that pick up the flash from the camera and fire the flash its connected to?

That's how I see it;)

You may have a problem if your on board flash only works in ettl though. The ettl pre flash will trigger the remote units before the shutter trips.
 
You may need to look for triggers that ignore a pre flash. But if you're going to that much trouble, just getting wireless triggers will probably be easier/more versatile.
 
You may need to look for triggers that ignore a pre flash. But if you're going to that much trouble, just getting wireless triggers will probably be easier/more versatile.

Thats great thank you, will I be ok with the flash thats on ebay though? I am always a bit warey of cheaper stuff as I presume its cheap fir a reason, usually because they are not compatable with digital etc.
 
I'm not an expert on Minolta flashguns, but if you're going Manual, you want something with variable power settings.

If you look through the flash section here you might get some tips, or go to the Strobist site and see what everyone else is using nowadays.

Found this-no idea if it's any good.

There should be no 'compatibility' issues, because you're removing all the complicated modern stuff away from the camera and just using your 'brain' to work stuff out instead.

Don't worry if your brain needs an upgrade to cope, I get regular firmware updates for mine as downloads from the Internet.:nuts:
 
Many flashes have that optical sensor already built in, I don't think you'd need it unless you have an older flash without.
 
This is where the problem of digital comes in, Minolta flashguns of the XI series and later all support wireless TTL flash using the pop up flash or a high end flash (e.g a 5600(d) ) on camera. This was actually the first built in wireless flash mode in about 1993 and also supports a 2:1 ratio mode.

Unfortunately because their designed for the (superior) TTL off the film plane metering which needs no pre-flash and which digital cannot support because the sensors are not reflective enough, so these flashes don't work with DSLR's in TTL or wireless mode as the camera doesn't send the necessary 'information' in the two very brief flashes from the controller (although they will fire with the test signal). Only the much later (2002 onward) flashes from Minolta support the necessary digital wireless mode.

In my opinion, why not just pick up a cheap Ebay wireless trigger and a Vivitar 285 for about £40? That way you've got manual control as well as automatic flash from the light sensor and a fair amount of power. I use mine frequently off camera with my 1973 Spotmatic F (with a PC sync cable though) and it works great in nearly all situations.

BTW, that Minolta flash that you linked won't work with the trigger you linked as it has the standard hotshoe fitting rather than the later unique Minolta/Sony one that was introduced with the second generation of Minolta AF SLR's.
 
This is where the problem of digital comes in, Minolta flashguns of the XI series and later all support wireless TTL flash using the pop up flash or a high end flash (e.g a 5600(d) ) on camera. This was actually the first built in wireless flash mode in about 1993 and also supports a 2:1 ratio mode.

Unfortunately because their designed for the (superior) TTL off the film plane metering which needs no pre-flash and which digital cannot support because the sensors are not reflective enough, so these flashes don't work with DSLR's in TTL or wireless mode as the camera doesn't send the necessary 'information' in the two very brief flashes from the controller (although they will fire with the test signal). Only the much later (2002 onward) flashes from Minolta support the necessary digital wireless mode.

In my opinion, why not just pick up a cheap Ebay wireless trigger and a Vivitar 285 for about £40? That way you've got manual control as well as automatic flash from the light sensor and a fair amount of power. I use mine frequently off camera with my 1973 Spotmatic F (with a PC sync cable though) and it works great in nearly all situations.

BTW, that Minolta flash that you linked won't work with the trigger you linked as it has the standard hotshoe fitting rather than the later unique Minolta/Sony one that was introduced with the second generation of Minolta AF SLR's.

Thats great and even though I didnt understand half of your reply because I am a pleb, I got enough of it to understand that what I was proposing to do wouldnt work so thank you, I will have a look for the 'cheap Ebay wireless trigger and a Vivitar 285 for about £40? ' :thumbs:
 
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