Sony wireless flash...

carl.w

carl.w

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Carl
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My head is really hurting with this so please be gentle, ive had my A300 for around 18 months now and about 8 months ago i added a HVL-42 flash which ive been using on camera fine (well fine-ish) and having seen some of the off camera flash work i was wow'ed and decided to give it a go and got a lightstand umbrella and the umbrella holder, to fire the flash wireless ive been using the pop up flash. My question is how much light does the pop up flash contribute to the image? ive tried researching myself and get very mixed reviews, some people say its better to use radio triggers but with the non standard hotshoe im having a nightmare....:bang:.........others say use a ttl cable but my A300 doesnt have a pc socket, am i right in thinking i need one? any chance of a little guidance would be greatly appreciated.

To add more confusion to my battered brain my dearly beloved had made a mental note that i mentioned another flash was on my wish list and has lovingly obliged, albeit unaware of my frustration. How on earth can i put it all together, maybe i should disregard the 2nd flash unit untill ive sussed the 1 out.:bang::bang:........whats that saying again..? learn to walk before you run. Any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Carl.
 
I'm no expert on Sony but I think the A350 has a basic form of master function from the pop-up flash, which is presumably what you're using to trigger the remote gun? But isn't it restricted to just one remote flash? Something like that - handbook will confirm.

But either way really, probably the best answer is to get a set of Yongnuo RF-602 triggers which I believe fit Sony via an adapter. About £40 for two. That is also assuming that your gun/s have manual output control, because the RF-602 will only trigger the flash at whatever power level they are set to, there's no auto-TTL control.

I'm sure there's another workaround, there always is, but that should function reliably. You never know for 100% without actually trying these things, unless someone else has actually done it, but I'd be surprsied if it wasn't fine. You don't need auto flash exposure control in a studio type situation and it only takes a couple of minutes to set up and balance everything.

Probably best to get the hang of things with one flash first, then add the second as a background light or effect/hair light when you're confident.
 
Cheers guys, just getting all confused with the adaptors, i think i will get the triggers and go manual but if i go with the yongnuo RF-602 triggers i need an adaptor to convert my sony hotshoe to standard and also an adaptor to convert my HVL-42 to standard, so thats 2 adaptors and the yongnuo RF-602's..? if so i see the yongnuo RF-602's are available in Nikon and Canon fit so does it matter which i go for, and are the triggers only available from Hong Kong and China?

Carl.
 
I got mine about 2 years ago so I don't know if these model numbers are still valid but the hotshoe adaptor is a Yongnuo YN-H3 and onto that goes a Yongnuo YN-128 which sends the trigger to the lights if that makes sense ?

Mine came from Hong Kong if I remember correctly, but they always worked fine, although I haven't taken a picture of any sort for about a year :'(

Edit - Sorry I'm a berk - the YN-128 is just to trigger the camera remotely so you don't need that (unless you want to trigger it remotely of course). The YN-H3 is the hotshoe adaptor as I said. My triggers came with the Lencarta kit I bought.
 
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Just seen these but no mention of the 42 flashgun.:'( http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Flas...shUnits_JN&hash=item3f052a1549#ht_1638wt_1026 if im reading it correctly i wouldnt need all the adaptors..?...Grrr Sony and these adaptors. What i have managed using the pop-up flash to trigger i have posted an image here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=287278 and the double catch lights are grating me.

Lasagne you haven't taken a picture of any sort for about a year..? :nono:

Carl.
 
I would just send them a message and ask them - but I'm sure they'll be fine for you.

As for those catchlights it would be simple to clone one out in each eye if they bother you.

And yes - it's been about a year. I've just lost any sort of inspiration - hopefully it'll come back soon.
 
carl.w said:
Just seen these but no mention of the 42 flashgun.:'( http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Flas...shUnits_JN&hash=item3f052a1549#ht_1638wt_1026 if im reading it correctly i wouldnt need all the adaptors..?...Grrr Sony and these adaptors. What i have managed using the pop-up flash to trigger i have posted an image here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=287278 and the double catch lights are grating me.

Lasagne you haven't taken a picture of any sort for about a year..? :nono:

Carl.
Click to expand...

Nice shot on the link. Probably some more mithering potential there :D

The pop-up doesn't look like it's doing much, if anything. Maybe a tiny dash of on-axis fill-in, which is often a good thing. Not knowing how the Sony system works, I'm not sure how you would fool it to test with the pop-up only. Maybe with second curtain sync and a longish exposure, covering the remote gun after the pre-flash and before the main flash? Can you not disable it from firing, like you can with Canikon, so it just sends out the metering pre-flash?

But no worries, easy options are a) clone out the double catchlight, or b) get her a box of Quality Street for her troubles and take the dark red cellophone wrapper and stick it over the pop-up with a rubber band. This usually kills the light to almost invisibility, but doesn't prevent it from triggering the remote gun. Usually! All academic if you're going RF-602 though.
 
I've messaged them on the triggers just wait for a reply but if they are compatible i'll go with them. Hoppy haha she is more than patient really (incase she reads this :cool:) she doesn't mind her pics done but loses patience with me messing around with changing settings and such, which is a long time in fairness till i get to grips with everything.:lol:
 
carl the pop up flash does not have any impact when using it wireless with the hvl-42 off camera. If you look at my last post of smoke it was done with side lighting using the hvl-42 and there was no spill on the background from the pop up flash.Hope this helps
 
cheers mission i've just had a look and yeah i can see what you mean. For now i might just go with cloning out one of the catch lights it causes in portraits. I daren't even get that 2nd HVL-42 out of the box yet.
 
Ok so i bit the bullet and got the 602's after i had an email back to confirm they do work with the hvl-42 afterall. Received them today and all seems good, the only snag is you have to attatch the flash to the camera 1st to activate the wireless function....for £42.00 delivered im not complaining.
 
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