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| Alien bees wont flash outdoor http://www.paulcbuff-techforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1816 |
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| Author: | Deafy Dad [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Alien bees wont flash outdoor |
Ok, I set up a photo shoot yesterday for a senior high school girl. i used my ab1600 with softbox, b400 with grid. I used the SYNC cord that came with alien bee for the b1600. When i point my camera to the subject (The girl) and it wouldnt flash and when i point the camera to the softbox and pressed shutter button. IT flashed so i tried again with the subject (Girl) and it wont flash! What went wrong??? I also did the same thing with 600 with sync cord and both wont flash at the girl but it will when i shot the b600. maybe because of the extension cord? I didnt think it affected because model lights were on and it flashed when i point it to the softbox.. I had to joke to the girl that alien bees didnt like her... was little embarrassed... it worked great in my studio room b ut it was first time doing outdoor shoot with ABs. HELP? DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG? |
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| Author: | Deafy Dad [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alien bees wont flash outdoor |
HELLLLPPPPPP! Anyone!???!??!??! will do some more testing today....... |
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| Author: | Technical Support [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alien bees wont flash outdoor |
The direction of the camera in and of itself will not change the behavior of the flash units. If the extension cord was the problem, then it would not fire regardless of where you were pointed. When the photo was taken of the subject, did either flash fire? Was the determination made based on actually looking at the lights, or by reviewing the photos? What kind of camera were you using? Was the dial on top set to M? What was the shutter speed, aperture and ISO set to? Was this day or night, or in between? Depending on camera make and model and the settings applied, there may be a background gremlin that is causing the flash triggering operation in the camera to not happen. Or it could be as simple as a bad sync cord. However, If you are expecting the slave eyes to function in that scenario, you may find they will not. The optical slave eyes rely on line of sight (which includes bounce light), which is not as present out doors. With the mods you are using, the slave eyes are facing away from the master light source, and there is nothing to bounce the master light off of. So the master light (the one with the cord) should fire, but I would not be surprised if the slaved light does not. |
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| Author: | Deafy Dad [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alien bees wont flash outdoor |
My replies are in RED Technical Support wrote: The direction of the camera in and of itself will not change the behavior of the flash units. If the extension cord was the problem, then it would not fire regardless of where you were pointed. I used the extension cord and pointed to my alien bee and the softbox and clicked the camera, it flashed... when pointed to the girl, it wont.... like it refuse to flash to the girl. slave didnt flash either.. so i assume it was too bright for slave eye to detect flash..
When the photo was taken of the subject, did either flash fire? Yes and no.. it flashed like twice. Was the determination made based on actually looking at the lights, or by reviewing the photos? no i noticed it wasnt flashing through view finder. and also asked model if it flashed and she said no What kind of camera were you using? Canon 7D Was the dial on top set to M? What was the shutter speed, aperture and ISO set to? Yes dial was set to M, shutter speed.. not remember but i think maybe 125? iso 200? Was this day or night, or in between? 5-6pm before sunset Depending on camera make and model and the settings applied, there may be a background gremlin that is causing the flash triggering operation in the camera to not happen. Or it could be as simple as a bad sync cord. Sync cord silver outlet is smashed little but it fits in my 7D However, If you are expecting the slave eyes to function in that scenario, you may find they will not. The optical slave eyes rely on line of sight (which includes bounce light), which is not as present out doors. With the mods you are using, the slave eyes are facing away from the master light source, and there is nothing to bounce the master light off of. So the master light (the one with the cord) should fire, but I would not be surprised if the slaved light does not. |
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| Author: | BDP [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alien bees wont flash outdoor |
Sounds like a bad (intermittent) synch cord connection to me, especially since you note the end that plugs into your camera has some damage, and moving your camera seemed to be related to the misfiring. |
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| Author: | Deafy Dad [ Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alien bees wont flash outdoor |
BDP wrote: Sounds like a bad (intermittent) synch cord connection to me, especially since you note the end that plugs into your camera has some damage, and moving your camera seemed to be related to the misfiring. Yes i think i came to an conclusion! it was synch cord connection problem. I think it was loose when i turned my camera (portrait) and it got loose at the bottom so i turned camera (landscape) it worked and i turned it upside (portrait) with connection on the top, it flashed, so when i turned it back to bottom (portrait) and it wouldnt flash.. it is loose.. so im gonna try again tomorrow with cyber commander and 5 csrb+ and will do the same thing and see the result.. I think ill be glad it was just bad sync cord connection after i confirm with cc and csrb+ |
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