Trigger problems with flash heads

[andy-xr]

Messing about with the Interfits earlier using the radio trigger I got with the kit. 1 in every 5 or 6 shots was getting a black covering across the top half of the photo, similar to what would happen if the shutter speed is too high for the sync speed. I was at F11, 1/125 so nothing out of the ordinary.

Didnt happen on a cable no matter how many nasty self portraits I took, and it's a Visico trigger system if it helps. Fairly new, barely used and hasnt been left on. Same thing happened on different channels

Just a duff battery, or are they prone to this and worth swapping to something else?

[stigmundfreud]

urgh radio triggers are the devils piss

I'd go either IR trigger (10 quid from karlu) or just use optical trigger in the form of an extra flash head

As for the issue take a look at the exif on the image or post some up?

[andy-xr]

I've ordered a new battery anyway, but will look into an IR trigger

F9 gave a half black half colour, F11 gave 1/3 black 2/3rds colour

EXIF:

Make - NIKON CORPORATION
Model - NIKON D300
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - Ver.1.10
DateTime - 2009:03:17 11:47:16
Artist - Andy
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
Copyright - All Rights Reserved.
ExifOffset - 348
ExposureTime - 1/125 seconds
FNumber - 9.00
ExposureProgram - Manual control
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2009:03:17 11:47:16
DateTimeDigitized - 2009:03:17 11:47:16
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 2 (bits/pixel)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 1.74
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Flash
Flash - Not fired
FocalLength - 85.00 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 2
SubsecTimeOriginal - 2
SubsecTimeDigitized - 2
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 4288
ExifImageHeight - 2848
InteroperabilityOffset - 21706
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Manual
DigitalZoomRatio - 1 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 127 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Unknown

GPS information: -
GPSVersionID - 2.2.0.0

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Data version - 0210 (808595760)
ISO Setting - 0
Image Quality - NORMAL
White Balance - FLASH
Focus Mode - AF-S
Flash Setting - NORMAL
Flash Mode -
White Balance Adjustment - 1
White Balance RB - 670
Exposure Adjustment - -1308554240
Thumbnail IFD offset - 8014
Flash Compensation - 67072
ISO 2 - 0
Lens type - AF-D or AF-S
Lens - 826
Flash Used - Not fired
Bracketing - 0
Noise Reduction - OFF
Total pictures - 3633

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 21864
JpegIFByteCount - 3744
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited

Edited by andy-xr on Tuesday 17th March 19:35

[mas99]

I'm possibly talking b*llocks, but is the flash set to be 2nd curtain or whatever its called when the flash goes at the end of the exposure rather than at the beginning?

Would that not give the possibility that the slight lag you get withthe wireless jobbies would push it outside the normal results. I know that I find I cant go as fast as the quoted sync speed with my wireless flashes - I'd always assumed that it was because there is a slight lag with the wireless.

[Scho]

i don't go above 125th when shooting flash. i have had problems bellow that occasionally when my previous bownes radio sync units were low on power.

don't have a problem with the new pocket wizards but if i ever run out of batteries for my radio sync i use a flash gun to fire some light at the slave cell.

[stigmundfreud]

reliability in order

IR/Optic
cable
radio

actually I find both cable and radio equally flakey. Radio has a huge range advantage for out of studio but in studio I cant understand why, if optic/IR is an option, people would use anything else

[Scho]

stigmundfreud said:

reliability in order

IR/Optic
cable
radio

actually I find both cable and radio equally flakey. Radio has a huge range advantage for out of studio but in studio I cant understand why, if optic/IR is an option, people would use anything else

not sure about that stiggy, cables tend to fall out of cameras. not sure what you mean by optic?


as long as they have juice in the batteries my pocket wizards are 100% reliable.


http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.as...

[stigmundfreud]

sorry Scho by optic I mean light trigger. You can trigger most heads (by default) with an IR trigger or a camera mounted flash. Yeah agree with cables droppng out = pain, also those bloody pc connectors fail so easily. Have encountered problems on a few occasions with radio (admittedly not used pw's)

how come you use PW's in your studio?

[Simpo Two]

Scho said:

as long as they have juice in the batteries my pocket wizards are 100% reliable.

Yebbut - you'd expect PWs to be reliable at that price. Pay £10 on eBay for a Chinkomatic Deluxe and you can hardly complain if it doesn't work!

I found Wein IR very good for 'line of sight' but prefer radio.

[andy-xr]

So am I Speshul with this particular problem then?

[stigmundfreud]

sounds like a sticky shutter RIP Nikon

are any of the pics up on flickr?

[andy-xr]

stigmundfreud said:

sounds like a sticky shutter RIP Nikon

are any of the pics up on flickr?

Just uploaded one

[stigmundfreud]

yep looks like a sync issue. I couldnt imagine 2nd curtain being an issue but worth checking but that looks like a delayed trigger response

[Simpo Two]

stigmundfreud said:

sounds like a sticky shutter RIP Nikon

If the camera works OK in other situations logic tells me it can't be the shutter. More like a delay in the radio trigger/dodgy connection.

[andy-xr]

Tethered wins again!

Thanks all

[stigmundfreud]

Simpo Two said:

stigmundfreud said:

sounds like a sticky shutter RIP Nikon

If the camera works OK in other situations logic tells me it can't be the shutter. More like a delay in the radio trigger/dodgy connection.

wasn't being serious Had a look at his shot on flickr and it def looks like a delay/slow trigger causing only the briefest amount of correct exposure

[stigmundfreud]

andy http://www.karlu.com/product_info.php?products_id=... thats the trigger, paid tenner for mine but there you go. Double check to make sure you heads have an optic receiver but if they are interfits I'll almost guarantee it

[Scho]

Simpo Two said:

Scho said:

as long as they have juice in the batteries my pocket wizards are 100% reliable.

Yebbut - you'd expect PWs to be reliable at that price. Pay £10 on eBay for a Chinkomatic Deluxe and you can hardly complain if it doesn't work!

I found Wein IR very good for 'line of sight' but prefer radio.

you can't expect them to run without power, not real majic wizards you know simpo!

stig. i use them out on location and in the studio, just have a fresh set of AA charging all the time. saves messing about with PC cords. PITA!

using optic all the time might be a problem too if you want total control of the light since you'd be adding fill all the time (from a really harsh light source if were talking on camera flash/gun)

eta, missread simpo's post.

Edited by Scho on Tuesday 17th March 22:33

[stigmundfreud]

scho by optic I know what you mean about fill but IR works too, so long sa you can get one head to trigger the rest will follow. Only downside I suppose would be if you wantedto use one head alone behind camera