wanting to make my own in home studio

That One Guy · Feb 17, 2008

if you want to go the strobist route which is using flashes off camera, then check out the link and then go over to b&h photo and look at flashes there. vivitar 285hv are $89 each. you will also need a way to trigger those.

a couple of options here:

1 sync cord between cam and one flash. peanut slaves on the other flashes.
2 cheap wireless triggers. ie gadget infinity

JerryPH · Feb 17, 2008

Peanut slaves will work more than adequately in a home studio and cost what, $10 each?

Once someone shoots in an environment where there are possibilities of multiple camera flashes (not something that happens often in one's own home studio), then start to look for "poverty wizards" or better.

That One Guy · Feb 17, 2008

JerryPH said:
Peanut slaves will work more than adequately in a home studio and cost what, $10 each?

Once someone shoots in an environment where there are possibilities of multiple camera flashes (not something that happens often in one's own home studio), then start to look for "poverty wizards" or better.

yep! that's what gadget infinity triggers are. the biggest complaint i have heard about them is the occasional misfire, but for the price you can't expect them to perform like PWs. strobist even mentions using those.

JerryPH · Feb 17, 2008

Do the antenna mod and add 20-30 yards range on them and reduce misfires to a thing of the past, unless you start pulling some distance from the receivers... but again, not an issue in a home studio envirnment.

Sontizzle · Feb 17, 2008

what if i dont want to use a flash on my camera? i currently still havethe stock flash on my xti and its junk so i dont like using it. how would i fire the lights without a flash or would i have to buy a flash anyway?

JerryPH · Feb 17, 2008

Good quesiton! You can manually set the flash on your camera to not use eTTL, and set the power to it's lowest level. That way it doesn't contribute to the "photo" but does trigger the peanuts, and all off camera strobes fire. Thats what I do in my setup. I set my D200's built-in flash to 1/128th power and I can still trigger the strobes from as far as 30-40 feet away without misfires.

Edit... or you can use the on camera flash to fill in the front a little (fill flash) by incerasing it's power a little more, its more than good enough for that... its just not powerful enough to do the things you want to do in a home studio setup... short of using it to trigger your strobes. It works fine, trust me.

I can post a few pics if you want?

If you absolutely do NOT want to use the on camera flash, thats where you need to use something like the Pocket Wizards, poverty wizards, Elinchrome or Radio Popper triggers. This at the current time may exceed your budget.

Sontizzle · Feb 17, 2008

yea post some pics!

Sontizzle · Feb 17, 2008

ok so here is what im going to buy...

2 of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61441-REG/Vivitar_233965_285HV_Auto_Flash.html

and which one of theses triggers will work best?
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16741&cat=274&page=1
or
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16657&cat=274&page=1

That One Guy · Feb 17, 2008

you will want this

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16766&cat=274&page=1

and for your second 285hv an additional receiver

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16767&cat=274&page=1

make sure you are buying the v2 version as they are made to work with the 285hv. i had spoke with their rep and this is what they said.

That One Guy · Feb 17, 2008

and just like Jerry said. check out the mods for these on youtube. the mods do take care of some of the problems.

good luck

Sontizzle · Feb 17, 2008

is there a way to mount those flashes on a tripod or anything or are they just made to sit on the floor?

That One Guy · Feb 17, 2008

looking at the pics on gadget infinity's page, there appears to be a threaded hole for mounting onto a stand.

email their customer service to find out for sure.