My one-light setup

[james.d53]

Originally Posted by Fireball

James, I'm happy so far. I got the CyberSyncs to fire them but sometimes the transmitter has to be jiggled a bit on my camera hot shoe to make it work. I did not get the CyberSync Commander which I'm now regretting. It will allow you to make adjustments to your strobes from the camera. Right now I'm having to do it manually which is a pain for this petite lady to sometimes reach, lol!

Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely get the Commander and CyberSyncs if I go with the B's.

[spartacus06]

Originally Posted by Fireball

Unfortunately, the background light stand doesn't go as short as I would like.

I actually just bought an AB800 myself and was in a similar situation with my stand not being short enough.

I made this with spare materials I had just lying around:



Works great!

Originally Posted by Fireball

I eventually found that with all the lights out and only the modeling light on my softbox, it's too dark for my camera to focus. I had to turn on the overhead lights in the room.

I'm also thinking the catchlights aren't big enough, that I should have had the softbox closer to him.

The two are probably related in that the modelling light will be brighter on a subject that is closer to the light. Also, with the AB800, make sure the your Track button is off so the lamp is at full power. If Track is on, then the modelling lamp dims proportional to the set output power.

That being said, the picture looks very nice!

[Fireball]

Oh wow, great idea for a background stand. Thanks Seth! Appreciate your help. Oh, and welcome to Pixtus! :)

[thumper]

Charrie:

Been (un-characteriscally) sitting back and observing. Some people get one light settings and some don't. You do. That's special. Keep it up!

[Fireball]

Wow, that was unexpected! Thanks so much William. Helps me keep practicing. :)

[TxTowman]

Hope to be that good someday!

[Jaymoney$]

Originally Posted by Fireball

I still don't understand why the strobe wouldn't fire at times. Does it make a difference letting the receiver hang from the strobe?

The reasons the strobe wouldn't fire could be because

1. It maybe came loose from the sync contact
2. They go to sleep mode if not used for a while. If they are ON there should be a green light blinking if not hit the ON/TEST button on receiver.
3. Also make sure the channel selected is pointed correctly and aligns with the number. I don't have nails so i use a credit card to line mine up.

[Fireball]

Thanks Jay. I found that if I jiggled the transmitter a bit then it would fire again even though the thing is so tight I can hardly get it in my hotshoe.

[Outlander]

I recently purchased a Minolta flash meter on ebay for $40 and a Wein meter for $4.

[David Whatley]

Charrie, try turning the transmitter around the other way. That seems to help with mine. The will go on the hot shoe either way

[Fireball]

Nope, it's just as tight either way. I'm afraid I'm going to break it since it's just made of plastic. Hopefully it will get looser over time.

[SergeiR]

Originally Posted by Fireball

What, 23 people looked but no one has any suggestions?!

- need more space between subject and b/g to stop having wrinkles (or spring for seamless paper ) :)) Obvious one.
- need more space between subject and light . Less obvious one. You distance is too small so light cant travel equally enough between cheek/nose/forehead and so you getting blown out highlights.

[RKEnnis]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Charrie, try turning the transmitter around the other way. That seems to help with mine. The will go on the hot shoe either way

My wireless transmitter only works reliably when installed one way on the hotshoe. I can't explain why - the contact is in the dead center, and it fits tightly either way.

But still, on my camera body it only works one way - fires intermittently when installed to other way.

[StevenGWebb]

Charrie,
It's been a few days. I just wondered if you'd done any more testing with your studio equipment and how your progress is coming.
Steven