clefgf wrote:
> Is there a way that I can use my 5700 with my JTL Strobe Lighting
> Kit? I've used my Lighting
> with my Canon AE-1 Program (film), but I rarely use film now that I'm
> growing more
>; confident with the digital. Why let the strobe go to waste if I can
> still find a way to use it with my 5700? I also have a Vivitar 285 HV
> flash but neither one has an input for my lighting. How
> does a slave work or can I even use one?
>; HEPL!
Couple of ways. I have a case of Vivitar 283 units that I used in
multi-flash setups, and tested with the flash on the CP5k as a trigger. I
manually set the ISO and aperture and matched it on the 283s, and got
perfect exposures. I have little slave units to receive the flash from the
camera and trip the flash units. I expect that the same could be done with
the JTLs, which might actually have the slave receivers built in. Many units
do, but not sure about those. The slave units have a photocell that sees the
flash from the camera, and triggers the other flash unit.
Digital cameras have rather delicate internals and many strobes have rather
high trigger voltages, specially older units that assumed they would be
tripped by mechanical cameras. There is a web-site that is a good reference
on individual units
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html
I would check there before trying the 285 in the hot shoe - it could fry the
camera's innards. However, there is a company - Wein - that makes a variety
of voltage converters that will drop the voltage to safe levels. These
units - SafeSyncs - would work with both the Vivitar and JTL units. They are
not cheap, but a whole lot cheaper than replacing a blown camera. Wein is
also a supplier of slave units.
http://www.weinproducts.com/
Exposure should be very easy with the 285 - just match the ISO and aperture
on both the camera and flash. Do a test shot and check your histogram.
Adjust flash level if necessary. Coolpix cameras have between the lens
shutters, so will sync at any shutter speed - unlike dSLRs. They share this
with high-end film cameras like Hasselblads.
With the JTL equipment, either calculate exposure based on guide numbers,
use a strobe-meter or resort to trial and error, using the monitor on the
camera to make sure you have the correct exposure. The CP5700 should be a
lovely studio portrait camera with these lights. Again, use a Wein SafeSync
for triggering if you wire directly to the camera. If the units have a slave
mode, set the flash on the CP5700 to -2.0EV as a starting point, and it will
serve as a fill light. I have an illustrated beginner's guide to classic
studio portrait lighting on my web site at
http://www.larry-bolch.com/portrait-basics/
Hope this helps.
larry!
http://www.larry-bolch.com/
.
