Reading mode: Light Dark

stupid wireless flash question....

Go to last post
J

jcoleman

Member
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Location
Jasper, IN, US
I recently purchased a sunpak 383.

I am an absolute flash novice, but so far this thing seems quiet simple to use, although there is much I need to learn about flash in general.

Anyway, I'm wanting to play with wireless flash and I'm not quite sure how to go about it. Do I just need to get one of the "ebay" triggers - like the cactus? If so, how does this work - one trigger fits all flashes/cameras?

Sorry for these dumb questions - I am ignorant on this, so I thank you for any recomendations.

BTW: Although the on-board flash as been useful on several occasions in the past, it now almost seems ridiculous to ever use it again.
 
Yes, the cactus triggers will work fine with that flash.

You should get a receiver/transmitter pair. The transmitter goes on the camera hot-shoe and the receiver fits to the flash. Simple enough and you will then have a workable off-camera flash setup.

--

 
There are people doing all sorts of things to increase the range of these units - but out of the box I would think about 50ft would be the most you should expect.

--

 
I bought a set of the Cactus triggers and an extra receiver. I immediately went to a battery store and bought new batteries, but they were still too unreliable to trust for a wedding I was asked to shoot. In fact, with the K10 mounted on a flash bracket that allows instant rotation from vertical to horizontal format, the flash would fire if the camera was in the horizontal position, but not if it was rotated to the verical position, even though the transmitter and receiver were only about six inches apart. Ridiculous.

If I ever am talked into shooting another wedding, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and purchase a set of Pocket Wizard triggers.

--
Jonathan Blocher
Instructor of Art, Design, and Humanities
http://homepage.mac.com/jblocher/humanities/photography.html
http://blog.myspace.com/mr_blockhead
Pentax K10d, DA16-45 f/4; FA 50mm Macro; DA 50-200; FA 80-320
Lumix FZ20 (great for school stuff)
 
Oh, by the way, I used to use a few Vivitar 283 flashes and a 285 for weddings back in my medium format film days. They were good, reliable, powerful (for their size) light sources. Since their trigger voltage is dangerous to digital cameras, I bought a Sunpak 383 like yours. I like it even better than the Vivitars. It lacks the zoom head of the 285, but it has the same amount of power, and it's head swivels as well as tilts. I have to keep a pocket flashlight with me to read the tiny numbers on its calculator dial, but it works well. Put some Eneloops batteries in it for long lasting, reliable performance.

--
Jonathan Blocher
Instructor of Art, Design, and Humanities
http://homepage.mac.com/jblocher/humanities/photography.html
http://blog.myspace.com/mr_blockhead
Pentax K10d, DA16-45 f/4; FA 50mm Macro; DA 50-200; FA 80-320
Lumix FZ20 (great for school stuff)
 
I've already noticed it likes to suck up the battery juice.
Must get some better batteries....

I think I'll really like this flash... whcih I guess I already do, but haven't used it in any "real" pix with it yet, mainly just testing in my apartment.
 
I have the latest model, about two months old now, I've fired it about a hundred times at all positions and distances up to 40 ft and it has never missed a beat. It is supposed to be "improved", so maybe it is? Pretty handy little gadget, and for the price, very nice.
--
'This is more serious than I thought.....but it is still fun!
http://www.pbase.com/rupertdog Take a look- It's Free!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top