Wireless Flash issues....

Ampersand_Jones · 03-02-2012

I recently purchased a Cowboystudios wireless flash trigger. It's the NPT-04. I want to use it with my Leica M6 Classic. I tried it with my Nikon FE, works fine. I tried it with my Lomo LC-Wide, works fine. Leica M6, not so much. The problem is this... The flash won't fire until I lift my finger from the shutter button. Literally, if I push down and keep my finger pushed down on my shutter button the flash won't fire until I release it. I have the M6 set on 1/50, like it should be.

So any thoughts on getting this to work?

Or

Anyone use a wireless trigger with an M6 that works?

Please help. I'm headed to London in just over a week and would love to have this fixed!

-Thomas

charjohncarter · 03-02-2012

Not a M6 but I have with my IIIf. And I also have three different flash triggers. One behaves somewhat like yours, another seems to transmit to the slave unit as its light goes on but it doesn't work with some of my strobes. Then the last set works perfectly?????????????????? I find I just don't use the first two very much as I can't remember which cameras and which flashes work together. So, my answer is I don't know.

Ampersand_Jones · 03-02-2012

What is the manufacturer of the one that works?

-Thomas

charjohncarter · 03-02-2012

Paul Buff's Cyber-Sync(s):

http://paulcbuff.com/cst.php and http://paulcbuff.com/csr.php

I use the Cyber-Sync receiver CSRB, and the Cyber-Sync Trigger Transmitter CST (the small one)

They never have failed me, the transmitter has a battery that isn't uncommon but not AAA or AA so you need to have a spare.

easyrider · 03-02-2012

Why do people with Leicas use flash? Just asking . . .

Ampersand_Jones · 03-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by easyrider

Why do people with Leicas use flash? Just asking . . .

I'm playing around with some off camera flash Street Photography.

-Thomas

segedi · 03-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampersand_Jones

I'm playing around with some off camera flash Street Photography.

If you are handholding the flash off camera, it might be easier to use a pc cable and pc-hotshot adapter for the flash. Or pick up a better wireless transmitter that sends the signal via pc trigger by connecting pc to transmitter.

charjohncarter · 03-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by easyrider

Why do people with Leicas use flash? Just asking . . .

Why not, I always have flash with me. I use it at least once a roll. I have plenty of great photos using RF cameras with flash. And the way lighting equipment has blossomed because of the limited tone range of digital, there is no end to the possibilities. Of course, the FP shutter is a very constricting feature with many RF cameras. So outdoor use is limited, but I have a few leaf shutter RF cameras that make outdoor fill and beating the sun very possible (much more so than with a DSLR or and SLR). One of my favorite flash cameras is a Topcon Unirex (SLR), I have three lenses and as it is not a FP shutter it is synced to 1/500.

I would have missed this in 1966 when I took my IIIf to a wedding, and was lucky enough to have an AG-1 bulb flash unit:

kdemas · 03-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by charjohncarter

Paul Buff's Cyber-Sync(s):

http://paulcbuff.com/cst.php and http://paulcbuff.com/csr.php

I use the Cyber-Sync receiver CSRB, and the Cyber-Sync Trigger Transmitter CST (the small one)

They never have failed me, the transmitter has a battery that isn't uncommon but not AAA or AA so you need to have a spare.

Very timely post as I was just looking for flash triggers for an M. Thanks for the info...those are pretty reasonably priced as well.

charjohncarter · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdemas

Very timely post as I was just looking for flash triggers for an M. Thanks for the info...those are pretty reasonably priced as well.

Like many people I bought the Cheapo triggers from Ebay which I had to modify. And finally someone here suggested these (Buff's). The Cheapos are better now so maybe they are more reliable. I use film so I don't like to waste a frame. With the Cheapos and digital just take another one.

MCTuomey · 03-03-2012

I've used one of my PocketWizard II's successfully on an M6 and an M7, also on the digiM's. Ungainly but reliable.

I also liked doing off-camera fill flash using an SF20 with a nikon shoe cord, holding the unit in my left hand with a makeshift wrist strap. Small but sufficient for fill duty.

Ampersand_Jones · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCTuomey

I've used one of my PocketWizard II's successfully on an M6 and an M7, also on the digiM's. Ungainly but reliable.

I also liked doing off-camera fill flash using an SF20 with a nikon shoe cord, holding the unit in my left hand with a makeshift wrist strap. Small but sufficient for fill duty.

I don't mind dropping the money for a good one but the Pocket Wizards are huge! And I currently use a cable but that gets in he way. So if I can't figure out what's wrong with the Cowboystudio ones I have I'm going to look for another set. But I'd like to keep the size down.

-Thomas

charjohncarter · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampersand_Jones

I don't mind dropping the money for a good one but the Pocket Wizards are huge! And I currently use a cable but that gets in he way. So if I can't figure out what's wrong with the Cowboystudio ones I have I'm going to look for another set. But I'd like to keep the size down.

-Thomas

I like small too. Plus the Wizards which are probably the gold standard for triggers have too many settings and too long a manual. I just want to shoot. I'm never in competition with other photographers at events so I also don't need all those channels either.

The poster just ahead of you likes to use a cable for fill which I also do, but sometimes I just have a flash stand for fill which is light. I then have the camera on a strap with a trigger and carry to flash stand where I want it. Lots of times I just use the meter auto setting rather than figuring each exposure. Luckily, C-41 and B&W is forgiving so even an error isn't important. The convenience may not be very 'purist' but at parties it is great.

mathiasprinz · 03-03-2012

I use a 35$ wireless flash trigger from yongnuo, which works perfectly with my M6. Be sure to get the one for nikon, tough. The Yongnuo flashes are also a great for the money, if you ask me.

Ampersand_Jones · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathiasprinz

I use a 35$ wireless flash trigger from yongnuo, which works perfectly with my M6. Be sure to get the one for nikon, tough. The Yongnuo flashes are also a great for the money, if you ask me.

I've seen that one. Good to know it works. Image try that. Thanks.

-Thomas

bigeye · 03-03-2012

Flash is no fun on-camera, but when you can put it anywhere in a room or outside, it's a blast. A digital makes it very easy to learn. Once I figured out the way it works, I've used them on the view camera (nice to not have cables) and the Speedex (isolette), just for fun:

- Charlie

shimokita · 03-03-2012

SMDV 16 Channel Flash Wave III Radio Trigger at USD 139.95 for the pair (TX and RX) at http://www.amazon.com/SMDV-Channel-t.../dp/B004G13WLS and other online sites. If you are in Korea it's somewhat less expensive.

The small on camera TX unit is very nice...

Casey

charjohncarter · 03-03-2012

All these triggers may be great now. But the original cheapie triggers, the cases didn't even fit together. What I want is a strobe that looks like a flash bulb; as the photo I posted. I find strobes really too harsh for me. And dragging a reflective umbrella to a party is stupid.

Maybe Paul C. Buff will come up with something.

Ampersand_Jones · 03-07-2012

So after trying 4 different triggers, I finally found one that works on the M6. The Yongnuo RF-603 N. It was also one of the cheapest at $35. Glad I finally found something. Now I'm ready for my trip to London next week! Thanks for all the the help guys!

-Thomas

rjbuzzclick · 03-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by charjohncarter

What I want is a strobe that looks like a flash bulb; as the photo I posted. I find strobes really too harsh for me.

I agree. Not trying to hijack the thread, but have you ever tried a bare bulb strobe in a flashbulb reflector? It's something that I've been wanting to experiment with. I'm sure I've got all the parts around to cobble one together.

(You may all post your warnings about the dangerous voltages inside of strobe units now...)

charjohncarter · 03-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjbuzzclick

I agree. Not trying to hijack the thread, but have you ever tried a bare bulb strobe in a flashbulb reflector? It's something that I've been wanting to experiment with. I'm sure I've got all the parts around to cobble one together.

(You may all post your warnings about the dangerous voltages inside of strobe units now...)

A while back I decided to built one out of an old Brownie Hawkeye Flash flash gun. When I got digging around in it I realized it would be better to just find a reflector and mount a flash. I still haven't found a big enough reflector.

I did make a DIY ringflash with two WalMart cake pans and even though it acts like a ringflash I did see potential to the above idea.

My DIY ringflash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carter3...%7Ccarter3john

rjbuzzclick · 03-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by charjohncarter

I did make a DIY ringflash with two WalMart cake pans and even though it acts like a ringflash I did see potential to the above idea.

My DIY ringflash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carter3...%7Ccarter3john

That's a pretty neat idea, much better looking than other DIY ringflash projects. Thanks for sharing.