Elinchrom Transmitter Pro & On Camera Speedlite

Hi All,

I'm considering purchasing some brand new Elinchrom lighting gear, which is being offered to me at a great discount. It's all latest stuff [ELB 500 TTL packs/heads, etc.] I have a question about the latest pro transmitter. Let's say I've got a couple of these strobes on stands set up in a room at a particular ratio, but I still want to have an on camera speedlite working independently. Is it possible to have the command control of the Transmitter Pro for the ELB 500 heads and also have a speedlite working from the camera hot shoe. I'm thinking the speedlite can go on the hot shoe and the Transmitter Pro can be connected connected to camera via sync cord.

At one time, I was considering a Godox system because they make speedlites that have the command control system for external strobes built in to the speedlite. Eliinchrom does not make speedlites for their system. I'd like to get the Elinchrom system, because it's good gear and I'm getting a great price on virtually new stuff. I also do plenty of work without on camera speedlites, so this system is just what I want for general strobe work. Just want to check with you all regarding this particular functionality.

Thanks!

 

At one time, I was considering a Godox system because they make speedlites that have the command control system for external strobes built in to the speedlite.

 

Thanks!

I am incorrect about the Godox speedlites having full command function... but I am still interested in the Elinchrom transmitter and speedlite-on-camera combo. Can I just use the sync connection from the transmitter to camera and mount an independent speedlite on the camera's hot shoe?

You can trigger Elinchrom transmitters via PC-sync on your camera, leaving the hotshoe free for an on-camera flash. However, you will loose the TTL feature of the ELB500TTL as that requires the Transmitter Pro mounted in you camera’s hotshoe.

Have you considered a flash bracket for your on-camera speedlite?

The older Godox X1t will allow you control of other Godox flashes and offer a hotshoe mount on top of it for a camera mounted flash.

You can trigger Elinchrom transmitters via PC-sync on your camera, leaving the hotshoe free for an on-camera flash. However, you will loose the TTL feature of the ELB500TTL as that requires the Transmitter Pro mounted in you camera’s hotshoe.

 

Have you considered a flash bracket for your on-camera speedlite?

 

The older Godox X1t will allow you control of other Godox flashes and offer a hotshoe mount on top of it for a camera mounted flash.

Thanks Heimbrandt. I thought about a flash bracket, but I find that they make the camera extremely cumbersome to handle... but I'll consider that. TTL is a great starting point for exposure and for quick/spontaneous set up, but I almost always end up modifying it in an on-camera flash only situation. In a multi off-camera flash scenario, I would certainly go manual. In a combination of on-camera and off-camera, I would rely on modified TTL for "on" and manual for "off" (camera). Get the position and ratios of the off camera lights to shape the environment; then on camera for the prominent subject(s) in front of you. That being TTL (most likely with compensated setting... as well as a physical modifier.) In commercial photography terms, that would be an "event" or "meeting" type of set up.

So, given that TTL goes away for the whole system if I use the sync, I can either find a flash bracket I'm comfortable with... or not use TTL for my Elinchrom off camera set up... which in my experience I'm very comfortable with. I'm wondering what happens to TTL of my on-camera speedlite if it is connected via sync... and not hot shoe. As I said, I don't shoot with flash brackets normally, so I haven't tried that.

I'm wondering what happens to TTL of my on-camera speedlite if it is connected via sync... and not hot shoe.

If you mean via the P-C coax socket - TTL flash is not possible. You'd need a multi-pin hotshoe to hotshoe dedicated extension cable for that.

However, if your speedlight supports Auto Aperture mode separate from the camera (Nikon speedlights do, Canon speedlites don't) then that'll work with just a P-C trigger cable.

If you mean via the P-C coax socket - TTL flash is not possible. You'd need a multi-pin hotshoe to hotshoe dedicated extension cable for that.

However, if your speedlight supports Auto Aperture mode separate from the camera (Nikon speedlights do, Canon speedlites don't) then that'll work with just a P-C trigger cable.

Got it... thanks. Years ago I had a SC-17 Nikon TTL cable for that. Probably still have it somewhere.