novice question: calumet lighting kit problem_ [master/slave/sync issue?]

[saintjohnstone_saintjohnst]

super novice question:

 

at my work, i use a nikon d80 and a calumet ce-1452 travelite III 750 two-head

kit to photograph stone materials in our warehouse.

 

we recently moved our photo area to another portion of the warehouse with

somewhat less ambient light. we also had a fellow trip over one of the

lampstands. since these events, the lighting is [perhaps not surprisingly] all

wonked out.

 

when i took this position, i was given a set of standards to shoot by in

different scenarios. i have done some adjusting of settings at times for other

uses; but the camera is set to exactly what it was/should be [for this

particular setting]. the images are so dark they are unviewable. and i am trying

to diagnose whether it is a lamp issue or an accidental camera setting change.

 

i have cross-referenced all the exf information for images pre-move and

accident, and those post - and can't find a distinguishing characteristic to

indicate the problem is a camera setting switch.

 

i replaced the flash bulb on the lamp that isn't flashing_and when the sync cord

is plugged directly into either lamp, they will flash. but when sync cord is

[Y-ed] together, only the lamp with sync cord will flash.

 

aren't they both supposed to flash? i don't know that i ever noticed for

certain how the flashing went exactly, but i know the lighting is messed up

significantly.

 

so: the modeling lamp and flash bulbs function on both lamps independently. the

actual sync cord is free of physical damage, the camera is able to send signal

to make flash happen, and the sync cord connecting master and slave seems to be

connected properly [snug].

 

i can't find anything on the actual lamp to switch to make one the master, and

the other the slave. how do you establish that relationship other than the

master gets sync cord plugged directly in?

 

any other thoughts to troubleshoot? thank you

[frank_skomial]

What flash mode is your D80 camera using ? Do you use an iTTL/CLS mode, or a Manual mode ?

 

Do you use the D80 built-in flash ?

 

Where do you connect your wires from - to ?

 

"only the lamp with sync cord will flash." - how is the other flash connected or what type or remote triggering it uses ? Does it flash ever, or just not in sync with the camera ? Can you test you "Y" connector with a Ohmmeter ? Are all cables OK, can you test them ?

 

"can't find anything on the actual lamp to switch to make one the master" - depending on the D80 camera mode, master could be the flash that is directly connected to the D80 camera hot shoe or sits in the shoe, or the D80 built-in flash - if used. All remote flashes can only be slaves, unless connected by a wire or radio signal from a transmitter that sits in the camera shoe - then subsequently triggered flashes could be slaves.

 

If you connect both flashes via cables and "Y" connector to the camera, both flashes could be a master flash. "Y" connector makes both connected flashes of the same type. (master or slave but not different).

[nickwhite]

From your description you are obviously trigering via a sync cord not by the D80's flash.

 

With the cord connected between the D80 and one of the Travelite heads, the other one should be triggered by it's in-built photocell - make sure that the photocell switch is in the 'on' position.

 

The D80 should be in manual mode with the shutter speed set to 1/200sec or longer. Correct exposure is obtained using the aperture (f stops) on the camera - determined by a flash meter if you have one, or trial and error.

 

The most likely cause of your problem is that the photocell on your second light is not switched on, and therefore not being triggered by the flash from the cord-connected light.

 

When you have both heads flashing, if the pictures are still too dark you can either increase the power of the flash using the rotary dial on the side of the heads (it has a range of 1 to 6, 6 being the brightest), or using a wider (smaller f no) aperture.

 

If you visit this page and click on 'Download the Travelite User Guide' - http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CE1452/ - page 4 gives a diagram of the Travelite controls etc.