Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi there...

I am contemplating getting an Einstein lighting setup but I had a few questions I was hoping I could get answered before jumping in.

Right now I am using a Nikon D300 with SB900 flash setup so that it fires off camera using the on-camera flash to trigger it.

I was thinking about purchasing 2 of the Einstein units but I had some questions regarding transmitters/receivers and metering.

If I have the 2 Einsteins setup I imagine I would be plugging one of them into my camera (as I do not have any wireless transmitters or receivers) and then the other Einstein unit would fire based on the flash from the first unit? Is this correct?

If I wanted to use my SB-900 alongside this Einstein setup how would I accomplish this? Would I just set my camera to master, SB-900 to slave, and have both Einsteins set to slave trip to fire based on the flash from the camera / sb-900??

Is there any advantage to using a wireless setup, aside from it being wireless or am I fine with just plugging one into my camera?

If I wanted to go the wireless route, how many transcievers/receivers/transmitters would I need and how would I set them up to work with 2 Einsteins and an SB-900?


I spoke with a rep and they told me that the Einsteins do not use TTL. So I will be shooting them in manual mode I imagine. I read somewhere that the Einsteins have a build in meter. I do not own a light meter. Would I be able to use these lights effectively without a meter, or use my cameras meter to meter the scene?

I imagine I adjust the flash output on the flash units themselves rather than in the camera settings for the different flash groups?


Can you guys give me some advise regarding wireless & metering. I just want to make sure I get the most out of my lights.


I appreciate your help.

The most basic way of triggering an Einstein is by the sync cord, which is included. The other Einstein will fire via the optical slave. You can then set the SB900 to SU-4 mode, and it will fire off camera as well. You will need to set the flash output on all three lights on the flash units themselves. Alternatively, if you wanted to use the 900 on camera, you can set it to manual mode, and use it to trigger the Einsteins.

Any wireless set up will offer the advantage of not having a sync cord. It may not sound like much, but it is a huge difference. You are not tripping over it, you can move anywhere you want, not just 15' from the light, sync cords are notorious for shorting. Likely designed by "Mr. Murphy" himself, they will go bad when you need them the most. Usually sync cords go bad on the camera connection end. most radio remotes would use the miniphone to miniphone connectors, which are far more reliable, and easier to find/make replacements for.

The Cyber Commander and CyberSync modules offer even more advantages in that they allow you to adjust the output of the light, meter and group the lights, and make changes of pretty much every parameter of the Einstein (even turn it off). Cyber Commander has the meter, not the lights. You cannot change the output of the 900 from the Cyber Commander.

My recommended set up would be 2-CSXCV, 1-CSRB+, 1-CC, and 1-CST. At minimum, a CST and 1-CSXCV will at least break the tether that is a sync cord.

So for the setup above, I would be changing the strobe settings with the Cyber Commander and the SB900 would be in remote/slave mode and settings changed on the camera body?

If that is the case, how would lighting ratios work?

If I wanted the strobe1:strobe2:sb900 ratio to be 1:2:4 for example,

strobe 1 would be f5.6
strobe2 would be f8
how would I change the sb900 to f11?

In the setup he described, the SB900 would be mounted off the camera, and triggered by the CSRB+. The SB900 wouldn't need to be a slave or a master, just a normal flash. You'd adjust the power using the switches on the back of the flash, which would need to be set to manual mode.

In order to measure it, you'd use the meter in the CyberCommander to fire only the SB900 and take an incident reading. Adjust and repeat until it's where you want it. Or simply adjust it by trial and error using the review screen on the camera.

It took me a while to get comfortable with the workings of the CC, but it's pretty slick once you get it all sorted. Never thought I needed a flash meter, but it sure is useful now that I have it.

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a sort of similar question. I have 1 einstein with csxcv, 1 580 ex II with csrb+ and 1 vivitar285hv without a receiver plus cyber commander to trigger and meter the lights. So far i have only tried to use the einstein and 580 ex with their respective receivers. If I plan to include the vivitar can I set it up as a slave or use the einstein as slave vice versa? I don't know if the 580 ex II will be capable of being slave if I trigger the einstein or vivitar. I was thinking of using the einstein as main light then 580 ex 2 for rim light and then the vivitar for background light.

Thanks for your future reply TS

Nick

There would be no need to slave Einstein, as you have a reciever that is dedicated to it. You could slave either the 580 or 285, but either way, you will need to purchase a slave tripper. Also, if you do optically slave one, it will fire each time one of the other flashes will fire, so you will not be able to deselect it or individually meter it.

Do you guys sell the slave tripper? I don't see it in the hardware list. Thanks for the reply


Nick

We do not sell one, as each of our lights incorporate one. Check www.flashzebra.com, he has several to choose from.

Sorry to the OP for another "Hijack", But I cannot send PM's to members ......

@Nick, If you buy an "Optical Slave" from Flash Zebra ENSURE you get the one suitable for a Canon 580 EXII !!

They sell quite a few different types, you need the "Canon" one !!

I have one, and it works just fine.

AB.

Edit, Just checked, you want the Item #0100, it is a couple of dollars dearer then the one that doesn't work !!

thanks alphabug

nick