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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Speedlite Question

Axis
User

Nov 3, 2005, 7:53 AM

Post #1 of 6 (887 views)
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Speedlite Question	Can't Post

Hi,
Long time ago I was shooting this wedding video with a friend photographer, I remember him being kind of mad with this guest because he was taking pictures with a digital camera close to him (like following to learn or something) But that exactly was not the thing that made him mad, it was the flash, every time this guest "shoot" for a picture - the photographers speedlite activates. Hmmm.

It's very noticeable that lots of videographers are now also doing some photo jobs, some as a package, and some just for the disc and case printing, whatever the case is we have digital cameras, and with nice pro toys. In my case I have a 20D, with a couple of lens, and a speedlight 580EX. Now here's the question: Could it be possible that this flashing thing could happen (to us), lets say that I shoot and not only activate my speedlite but could also activate the photographer's? And a more important question is how can we avoid this... if .

aXis

Pacman
User

Nov 3, 2005, 8:07 AM

Post #2 of 6 (879 views)
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Re: [Axis] Speedlite Question [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm taking a guess here that your friend was using an optical trigger on his flash. If thats the case, any bright flash of light will set it off. Most photogs will say thats a bad setup in event photography.

#1 - You give every uncle Charlie a better chance of nailing a good shot using your lights.
#2 - Uncle Charlie doesn't care if you squeezed off your shot yet, and you will be the one waiting for your own flash to recycle all night long as everyones P&S camera is melting down your flash.

An easy way to avoid that is to buy a radio trigger and then only the transmitter hooked to his camera would set it off. If you and him both have the same setup going, just switch radio freq's, and it's fixed.........just like on wireless mics.

Ask him if it was an optical slave setup......bet it was. Wink

PAC

Axis
User

Nov 3, 2005, 11:42 AM

Post #3 of 6 (861 views)
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Re: [Pacman] Speedlite Question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for your answer Pacman, so does this mean that in my case and maybe in the case of many Videographers here who are just using a speedlite on camera without any other setup there should be no problem?

Thanks again

aXis

Storm Crow
Veteran

Nov 3, 2005, 11:57 AM

Post #4 of 6 (859 views)
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Re: [Axis] Speedlite Question [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

As long as the photographer is not using an optical sensor which would fire his flash based on your flash going off.
_________________________________________________

Good Friend, around these hearth stones, speak no evil of any creature.

Warning: Exposure to the Son can prevent burn!
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Beverly
User

Nov 3, 2005, 3:31 PM

Post #5 of 6 (835 views)
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Re: [Axis] Speedlite Question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just make sure the slave is turned off on the back of you flash and you will not have this problem.

JesseR
Enthusiast

Nov 3, 2005, 3:49 PM

Post #6 of 6 (834 views)
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Speedlite Question [In reply to]	Can't Post

But doesn't the Speedlite use both Optical and IR? If you have your 420/430/550/580 set to IR slave it wouldn't go off with someone's P&S shoot. Right? I don't really know because I have a set of Pocket Wizards that control my lights, but I've work with photog's using all Canon units and they only fired when the Photog did.

Just wondering as I don't really know.

--
Jesse R
www.Take5Video.com
www.JesseReich.com