Off camera flash but not wireless... Anyone have experience?

[alfa147x]

So my 480ex and 550EX have been put to good use but now I want to get it off camera! and lets not get into IR wireless BS!
So I am thinking about getting one of these:

and a small PC sync cord

then extending the cord my self and a 3 way splitter that way I can hook up 2 - 3 flashes and not have to deal with crappy IR wireless flash... I have no need for wireless and I want something that will work almost all the time

So has anyone tried this before any tips? Things to watch out for? Maximum length for my extended PC Cords?

Thanks,
Alfa147x

 

[alfa147x]

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/04/lighting-101-build-pro-synch-cord-pt-1.html

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/04/lighting-101-build-pro-pc-cord-pt-2.html

 

[randomlinh]

I was about to say, PC Sync chords aren't all that reliable, you should check out strobist for a mod.... and there you have it linked, heh.

I'm not sure how splitting works tho, I'd like to maybe build a couple, even though I use alienbee cybersyncs, it'd be nice to have as a backup option when I can.

 

[virtuamike]

I have a pair of generic hotshoe adapters that I use with my SB-600's when I want to go with my PW's instead of CLS. I don't use them too often but they work fine for me. I cut off the PC sync and soldered on a minijack instead.

Not sure how long PC sync cables can be.

 

[shocksyde]

You mention not wanting to go IR, but what about radio?

 

[alfa147x]

You mention not wanting to go IR, but what about radio?

Too much money this can be done for $10 per flash + $5 splitter + $10 wires

 

[shocksyde]

Too much money this can be done for $10 per flash + $5 splitter + $10 wires

There are very good options for under $50 total.

I have these and they work great + they have built in optical sensors:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CTR-301P-Wirele...ZCamera_Flash_Accessories?hash=item4a9db1ec6d

 

[alfa147x]

There are very good options for under $50 total.

I have these and they work great + they have built in optical sensors:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CTR-301P-Wirele...ZCamera_Flash_Accessories?hash=item4a9db1ec6d

Not bad... I might do both... I always borrowed a friends Pocket Wizard
How long do those batteries last?

 

[tdawg]

I actually made a couple of DIY PC cords per Strobist and they worked fine. I had a D2H that had a PC port, and I played with them a bit. But I changed over to a D90 and gave up the PC port (in exchange for CLS with the SB-600, which seems great).

The pc cords I made are quite long and worked well when I played with them.

 

[randomlinh]

anyone have any comments on splitting the cords to fire two OCF's?

 

[alfa147x]

I actually made a couple of DIY PC cords per Strobist and they worked fine. I had a D2H that had a PC port, and I played with them a bit. But I changed over to a D90 and gave up the PC port (in exchange for CLS with the SB-600, which seems great).

The pc cords I made are quite long and worked well when I played with them.

Give this a shot

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...l_Adapter.html

 

[alfa147x]

anyone have any comments on splitting the cords to fire two OCF's?

Wondering the same thing here

 

[virtuamike]

anyone have any comments on splitting the cords to fire two OCF's?

I've split cords coming out of my PWs and it works fine. Just be careful that the sync voltage between whatever you're triggering doesn't vary by much.

 

[alfa147x]

I've split cords coming out of my PWs and it works fine. Just be careful that the sync voltage between whatever you're triggering doesn't vary by much.

How do you do check for that?

 

[twistedlogic]

electrical multimeter, as long as the input impedance is 10 megaOhms or higher

 

[virtuamike]

How do you do check for that?

Sync voltage usually listed in manual.

 

[alfa147x]

Sync voltage usually listed in manual.

Ah thanks