Here's a handy setup for hotshoe flash/slave combo

[chris_newkumet]

A few weeks ago I asked on this forum for advice on using a Pocket

Wizard radio slave to trigger a Canon EX580 Speedlite. Lucas Bennett

was quick to suggest item #PW-MHSF1 marketed by Paramount Cords

http://www.paramountcords.com/ Thanks, Lucas, the hotshoe/cord works

great, and I thought I'd share a handy setup that I worked out for a

background/veil light for wedding portrature and other uses. At

first, I had planned to use the plastic base that comes with the

EX580 to set the flash, with the radio velcroed to the top, on the

floor behind the bride. But when I put everything together, that was

kind wobbly and prone to tipping over. Then I noticed that the base

of the hotshoe end of the Paramount cord assembly is designed as two

pieces held together by a hefty screw. So I set about looking for

another base unit that would be more stable but not so bulky that it

would take up a bunch of room in one of my bags. The answer: a double

wall switch cover, which goes for about 39 cents at Home Depot, with

a hole drilled through the middle. Remove the bottom section of the

Paramount hotshoe assembly and use the screw to fasten the top part

to the front side of the wall switch cover -- it's perfect, really

stable and really thin and light. Without the flash, it can be stored

in the side or top pocket of any camera or light bag. As a final

touch, I used black gaffer tap to cover the plate, making it look

like something other than a discarded wall switch cover. This setup

is a lot easier than using a short stand or simply setting a Q-Flash

on the floor behind the bride. And it's a great way to make use of

your spare flash (you do carry a spare, right?) to add highlights to

bridal portraits. Just thought I'd pass that on.

[conraderb]

Chris - can you give us a quick picture of what you are using? I like the description, but can't see how a 580 is being stabilized by a power switch cover...

 

thanks.

[chris_newkumet]

Conrad: I'll try to get to that this afternoon..assuming I figure out how to post a jpg