Using Nikon Flashes for Large Format

I Have an SB-800 and two SB-600 flashes, which work wonderfully with my D-300 using CLS. However, I would like

to be able to use the same flashes for my large format camera that has a Copal shutter with a PC connection.

 

Using a hot shoe connected to the Copal shutter, I am able to fire the SB-800. But, I need a simple way (not too

expensive) to fire all three flashes simultaneously. From what I’ve read, Pocket Wizards are the ideal solution.

If I were to go that route, how many would I need and how would they be connected? Also, is there reliable

cheaper way go? I’ve seen may reviews on the Wein Peanut that are not very favorable.

 

Any recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Ray J

I dont own any 600's but I think you can set the 800 to be the 'flash commander' and then set the 600's to the slaves. that wouldn't require any additional trigger hardware other than the PC->hotshoe widget for the 800.

On the large format camera, you can't use the Nikon CLS wireless system. Optical slaves are reliable if you don't need the trigger system to be proprietary. However, I would not get the Peanut, I'd get at least the Wein XL model or better.

 

For wireless, try Cybersyncs, made by Alien Bees. I just got some, and they work great. For Pocket Wizards, you need 3 units, one for each flash, if one of the flashes is on the camera. If not, you need one to go on the camera, and one for each flash, although you can mix optical slaves into the picture (if you don't need them to be proprietary), meaning you need at least 2. For Cybersyncs, you need at least one transmitter and one receiver. You can mix them with optical slaves as well. Note that you CANNOT mix i-TTL and Pocket Wizards or Cybersyncs (or Skyports or Freewires). On your D300, you can use a flash on the camera in i-TTL, and fire off camera flashes using Pocket Wizards (etc.) by plugging the transmitter into the PC port. You just can't activate the CLS system while using Pocket Wizards, etc., and you can't use optical slaves because i-TTL's pre flash will set the flash off prematurely.

With a Large Format, or Copal shutters, you cannot do any of the COMMANDER, REMOTE, as that is part of the Nikon CLS built in the compatible Nikon latest cameras. Large format cameras do not have any of TTL fetures that I know.

 

SB-800 has built-in optical slave trigger sensor, part of SU-4 mode. SB-600 do not have optical trigger slave, but you do not need it, keep reading.

 

I suggest you connect the SB-600 to Copal shutter and fire in SB-600 Manual flash mode. Set SB-800 remotely wirelessly to SU-4/Manual mode. The SB600 light (single blast) will trigger your remote SB-800.

 

You do not need anything else with your large format and SB-600 as master trigger wired flash, and SB-800 as wireless optical slave.

I forgot that some Nikon flashes have an auto thyristor sensor built in. Sounds like Frank has a good solution.

All great suggestions. Frank..how can I get both SB-600s and the SB-800 all to fire at the same time?

Thanks Ray J

The second SB600 will need an optical slave.

I do not undesrand your question: "how can I get both SB-600s and the SB-800 all to fire at the same time?" - may

be you mean something else ?

 

Are we still talking about large format camera, right?

 

The SB-600 in Maual mode connected to Copal flash sync socket will filre, and the remotely located SB-800 in SU-4

manual mode will also fire, both at the same time wen the iris leaf shutter opens triggered by taking picture on your

large format camera.

 

 

...I see, ... you possibly got confused by your D300 preflash based flash commanding?, ... you do not have that on

large format camera, ... just one shutter press, and both flashes fire at the same time simultaneously.

Oh, Yes, ... you have 2 of the SB-600. You need optical slave as Nadine stated, for the second SB-600.

'Also, is there reliable cheaper way go?'

 

I would think that the cheapest, most reliable way to go is to use 3 sync cables... but that might not suit your set-ups...

Thanks again for all he great suggestions. To further explain my setup, I’m trying to use my two SB-600 flashes as remotes that shoot through transparent umbrellas. I would like to use he SB-800 as a “bounce” fill because of its greater power. Also, I have a Sekonic light meter that conveniently connects to the SB-800. So my desire is to use the SB-800 as a master and the two SB-600s as slaves. This worked quite well with my D-300. I understand completely that the Nikon CLS system will not work with the situation I have for my large format camera (a new adventure).

 

Based on the info and some of the links you provided, I found a cheapie solution that may work. FlashZebra has a simple hot shoe adaptor (item 0065) that I would need for almost any option that I choose (the SB-600 does not have a sync connection). Additionally they have Item #0100 Optical Slave (Sonia Extended Range), which will plug directly into the previously noted adaptor. From surfing various forums, it seems that the Sonia gadget will work O.K. with the SB-600 (apparently not so for Cannon flashes). For a pair of each total cost was about $50.00.

 

If this doesn’t work, it looks like the Cybersyncs option would be the next best bet. For this option it looks like I would need one transmitter (connected to the large format camera) and three receivers. Is this correct?

 

Again I appreciate all comments and suggestions.

 

Thanks,

 

Ray J

Yes on the Cybersyncs, but you could get away with 1 receiver and 1 transmitter and 1 or more optical slaves if you don't need them to be proprietary.

Thanks again for your response. Nadine….how would I hook up the Cybersyncs and slaves with only one transmitter and one receiver? The system does not need to be proprietary since it is a home-based system to be used mainly for portraits of friends and family and to take photos of our pottery and sculptures that we make and sell. Thanks again.

 

Ray J

Would it be possible to use the 800 to control the 600s wirelessly in manual mode? TTL obviously won't work. I know that this can be done with Canon EX flashes. From the above responses it sounds like Nikon Flashes can't. It would be good to know in case I ever consider switching systems.

 

If the Nikon wireless doesn't work I don't see why you'd need the radio remote, just use some cheap optical slaves on the 600s and set them manually. If the 800 is in manual mode it will fire any optical slave since there is no pre-flash. Since you're going to be in an indoor studio, you can set it once and the settings should be the same as long as daylight isn't changing the ambient light too much. The thyristor mode should also work with the optical slaves if you don't want to use manual.

Raymond,

 

You would be much better served to just find a used Alien Bees light.

Less trouble, more light.

I too have Nikons and also have Large Format cameras.

 

Your Negative shouldn't be larger than your light source!! :)

 

jmp

Thanks for the multitude of suggestions. I will have to explore most of them. This a great forum were folks are more than willing to share their ideas. I will report the results of my experiments. Thanks again.

 

Ray J

Raymond--hook up the transmitter to your camera via the cable. The Cybersync transmitter has a sub-mini port, so you need a sub-mini to PC cable, which comes with the unit. Put the receiver on one of your flashes. You will likely need a hotshoe to mini plug adapter. Or go to Flash Zebra and look at the many options. Put optical slaves on the other flashes. Assuming you are using manual flash mode and/or auto thyristor mode, the flash from the receiver-ed unit will fire the other units optically.

Jamie--I don't know for sure, but I would bet you can still use the Nikon wireless system to fire other SB flashes in manual mode. I know you can put the D300's pop up flash in manual to fire off camera flashes wirelessly, so I would think the capability is there. I'd be surprised if it wasn't.

I shoot LF (8X10 and 4X5) extensively, I can tell you that you are going need/want waaay more light than the Nikon SB's put out. Don't get me wrong, I have three SB-800's in my location bag (next to my Profoto Compact 600) - and they are great for wider apertures.. But for 4X5 at f22 or 8X10 at f45 even my Profoto 600 (by itself) is not really going to cut it. Of course you can shoot wide open (f5.6-f9) – but you will get sick of that fast! I generally use my Profoto Acute 2 - 2400 for LF work.. The light modifiers (especially softboxs, umbrellas and scrims) eat up your available power - fast.. You'll see..

 

There is nothing that compares to LF - Have fun..

If your subject is stationary (machine, food, furniture, obese uncle) you might paint with light...multiple flashes with a moving strobe. I did a lot of that years ago: 4X5, architectural interiors. There's a learning curve.

<p>Thanks for all the good info. For my two SB600s, I purchased two hot shoe adaptors (item #0065) and two Optical Slave units (Sonia Extended Range Slaves, item #0100) from Fashzebra. The slaves plug directly into the aforementioned adaptors thus eliminating additional PC cords. Using a PC sync cord to connect to my SB-800 and the camera, all three flashes fire reliably. A very inexpensive solution (under $50.00). As a note, I found Fashzebra to be very reliable vendor with quality products and prices below the norm.<br /> <br /> Thanks again.<br /> Ray J<br /> <br /></p>