Off camera flash question

[LuckySe7en]

My set up at the moment is a Canon T2i, 18-55 kit and a Promaster 7200EDF bounce. I've been googling this but cannot find a definate answer.
I would like to explore with off camera flash however I'm not sure if I'm able to fire this flash from a trigger of some sort. I've read since it has no manual settings on the camera itself, that I can only fire it from a cord attached to the camera. I've also read that it was possible.
Can somebody please help me out and tell me if this is possible and what I need to get to make it happen.
Thanks

 

[jwbryson1]

Have you read the manual?

 

[Rephargotohp]

The problem is Your Promaster flash has no Manual Means of adjusting power on it. So while you could trigger it with radio triggers to fire. You would have no way to adjust the power of it, (Other than moving the flash (inverse Sq Rule) using diffusers etc) And being able to adjust power is pretty essential to OCF.

You could use it with a TTL cord off camera but of course you have the cord to deal with and using TTL, it's an Auto Flash mode and is pretty inconsistent.

You could Get a Vivitar 285HV flash fro about 100 Bucks that does have adjustable power

 

[Big Mike]

You should be able to fire any flash with a remote trigger, provided you have a way to make the connection.

If the flash unit itself, does not have a manual mode, then it will most likely just fire at full power when triggered. This isn't ideal, as it takes away one of the controls you have for the exposure of your photo, but it's still usable.

 

[LuckySe7en]

@jwbryson1-I've read the manual but it's pretty useless

@Rephargo- I really don't want to purchase another flash yet. I'd rather play around with ocf with what I have at the moment. Do you think using a soft box will help out with it firing at full power?

@Bigmike- Do you think using full power in an outdoor environment will tone down the flash? Or would I still get that deer in headlights look?

 

[Big Mike]

@Bigmike- Do you think using full power in an outdoor environment will tone down the flash? Or would I still get that deer in headlights look?

There are too many factors involved to give you an easy answer. You need to learn how to set the exposure on your camera (in manual mode) and you need to know how to control the exposure from a flash that is in manual mode (or firing at full power consistently). Then you can figure out how to balance flash exposure with ambient exposure. Then you can learn about lighting (in general) and how your light placement will affect your photo.

It's a lot to learn, but it can be a lot of fun. The first step is to get that flash off the camera and start experimenting.

 

[Rephargotohp]

Honestly, shooting outdoors, you end up shooting at full power a lot anyway, So youcould use it and play around with it to see. Remebering that a Umbrealla will knockw off about 1 stop of light and also If you know how to use distance (Inverse square law) and know that if you have your light 4 foot from a person and you move it back to 8 feet, you will have 1/4 the power. It can be done. It just doesn't alllow you the versatility of adjustable power.

I have shot with a flash that had no power setting when my main flash died.And I was able to make it work.

Play, it won't hurt at all and sometimes working with something difficult makes you a better photograpgher.

get some Cheap Cactus Triggers and go fo it

 

[Rephargotohp]

Haha, Mikeand me = Same Page

 

[LuckySe7en]

Thanks gentlemen, this helps a lot. Now I gotta get this trigger, a lightbox/umbrella, a stand and somehow rig my flash to it.

 

[LuckySe7en]

oh yea will any of these cactus triggers work? obviously for a canon but does it need to be specific for the flash?

 

[Rephargotohp]

Cactus triggers work with most flashes, however there are a few flashes that don't use the center pin as the fire pin (on the foot of the flash) that won't work.I don't know if Promaster is one of those

You can get the V2s or V4's just be aware on cactus triggers that the only channel they really like to work on is the factory one, Both switches to ON. They are inconsistent on other channels but what do you want for 30 bucks

MPEX has the triggers and the Bracket you will need to hold the flash/umbrella and a bunch of other stuff at good prices

 

[LuckySe7en]

you guys are a big help, thanks :thumbup: