Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I have Alien Bees in my smaller studio now but I'm setting up another large studio to primarily shoot speed and pontoon boats. So far I love the Einsteins with the Cyber Commander system. These boats are complicated to light and have tight spaces with many nooks and crannies. I believe the best way to light these are with a combination of these strobes and off camera flash units (Similar to Speedlights). I'm open to suggestions on alternatives over the use of small battery operated flashes, but my real question is can I mix the Pocket Wizard with the Cyber Commander system? I'd like to do this so I can control the output of both the stobes and flash units... Once I get the lights into position I need to get on a man lift and position the camera. It would be nice to adjust both the Einstein and Speedlights output without getting off the man lift.

I have not purchased any of the studio lights at this point until I hear a few opinions:

1. Are off camera flash units (Speedlights) the right way to light small areas where I can't fit an Einstein, diffuser & vagabond unit?

2. What system can I use to allow control over both the Einstein and off camera flash units (Speedlights)?

3. What brands/models of off camera flashes work best with these recommended systems?

FYI, All I have at this point is my Nikon D810...

Thanks in Advance,
Jay

Example:

You can't run a PocketWizard from a CyberSync, but you can run them in parallel. I am not sure what systems run what number of flashes independently. I would recommend CyberCommander to run Einsteins, as there are 16 different channels, or 16 different lights available. Most speedlight capable remotes would be able to control 3 to 4, maybe 5 lights independently, and I am not sure if they are stackable.

You will probably need the other trigger in the hotshoe of the camera, and a CST plugged into the hotshoe of the camera (parallel triggering) or maybe put a CST onto/into a receiver of the other remotes (relayed triggering).