Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

So I am having a major issue with my lights (and wasn't sure what category it would fit under). I tried to take outdoor photos today using two of my B800 lights with my Cybersync system. Normally everything works all fine and dandy indoors, but I could only get one flash to fire even if I adjusted the brightness of the lights and slowed down or sped up he shutterspeed. I tried switching the receiver to the other light, and that one fired, but then the other one wouldn't. I tried switching the channels on the transmitter and receiver (not knowing if that would help) and still only 1 light would fire. I then tried bringing my lights inside (which was only 5 feet away from the outdoor spot) and they both fired together perfectly fine, so I know it's an issue with them being fired outdoors. This is REALLY frustrating to me and I have a shoot I have to do tomorrow and have NO clue how I'm going to do it without the other light (we are supposed to use a second light if the sun isn't bright enough, which most the time it isn't where I live. PLEASE help me!!! :o

From this I take it that you used a receiver on just one flash, hoping that the second AB800 gets triggered optically by the slave cell. Well, this may or may not work outdoors as the daylight / sun decreases the sensitivity of the cells to some degree. Also, there are no walls to bounce the light from the first flash to the "slaved" brother's cell, in the common case that the cell is averted.
Either if possible use another receiver or use something reflective close to the slave cell to bounce sufficient light from the radio triggered "master" to it.

peteb is spot on. Optical triggering would be especially difficult if the back panels of the lights are facing away from the other light source. Also, the bright ambient light could flood the optical slave eyes, and that could defeat triggering even if the master was firing straight into the slave.

As peteb suggested, something behind the slaved light to bounce the mastered light into it could help. A 5-in-1 reflector, large sheet of aluminum foil, windsheild shade, etc. would be good choices.

It sounds like the second light is only need if the ambient light is low, which will work in your favor. If you have the choice, use the light that has the slave eye pointed toward another light as your slave. Plug the remote into the light that cannot see another light.

Incidentally, the slave eye is the white dot next to the sync jack on the back panel. If something is plugged into the sync jack, the slave eye is disabled.

"As peteb suggested, something behind the slaved light to bounce the mastered light into it could help. A 5-in-1 reflector, large sheet of aluminum foil, windsheild shade, etc. would be good choices"

What if your set up has both slaves facing away from eachother? Here is an example

(O)

Subject



(O)




*the (O) are my lights. the back light is to the back right of her and the front light is in right in front. Here is my other set up I also intended using:




(O)




Subject



(O)


The second set up has the key light to the front right the backlight to the back left. With both of these set ups, I can't really avoid the slaves being away from each other, so what would you suggest to reflect the light from the one slave to the other? Is this possible in these set ups?

my diagrams didnt show up and the light "(O)" arent in the right place. sorry. you can get the idea from my explanations though!

What modifiers are you using and on which light? (modifiers being softboxes, umbrellas, reflectors, etc).

I am using a softbox on my key light and the other light I tried using my ringflash with a reflector and orange warming gel or my B800 with a honeycomb grid. I have a 5 in 1 reflector.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b303/ ... ccfe42.jpg


Not sure which of these links, if any, would work, but in the link there is a picture of my setup.

Ah, you have a free / third flash available? If the reflector-to-slave cell-trick doesn't work, you could set up the "spare" flash pretty close to the "slave flash". This in a way that it lights the "slave" flash's backplate (with the slave cell). It's backplate again faces the softbox flash (carrying the Cyber receiver). Now the "spare" flash gets the light from the "master" and triggers the "slave flash".
I hope that I made clear what I have in mind... a daisy chain of flashes. ;)

Yes I do have 3 lights.. I actually have 4 B800s and the Ringflash. That is a great idea to do the "daisy chain" of lights. I will try that later today (if the rain stops) and see if that fixes the problem. Thank you!