Help: M 240 + SF 58s multiple flash set up.

[ShotCapture]

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I have SF 58s to use with my M240. Please help me with camera and flash settings.

In the distant past I worked this out with my M9, but I'm lost with my M240.

I want to take photos with TTL, Auto, or Manual flash, what ever works best.

I normally take all manual photos without flash.

I have four SF58s. One that can be used for on camera trigger and catch light, at low power. One as the main flash. One for fill light, and one for background or hair light. The main and fill are in 24" softboxes.

I also have available Pocket wizard Mini TT1 for canon, and PlusX 10.

I want to use this type of set up both for times when there is little ambient light, as well as when I want to balance it with strong ambient light.

If there is an article I can read, or if you can list and explain the camera and flash settings needed to pull this off, I will greatly appreciate it.

Edited January 19, 2015 by ShotCapture
additional information

[sillbeers15]

I typically only use my SF58 for travelling or when I need the HSS and TTL fn as it can only be connected via cords. Not my preferred option though.

 

For wireless set up with my Pocketwizards Plus III, I use Lumopro LP180 manual flashes on softboxes and umbrellas.

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[ShotCapture]

I typically only use my SF58 for travelling or when I need the HSS and TTL fn as it can only be connected via cords. Not my preferred option though.

 

For wireless set up with my Pocketwizards Plus III, I use Lumopro LP180 manual flashes on softboxes and umbrellas.

 

With the Lumopro180, do you use the M240 in complete manual?

[sillbeers15]

With the Lumopro180, do you use the M240 in complete manual?

 

I can still set to AE mode for exposure if I want to and start filling in the flash on manual mode until I get the desired effect. Else use a light meter to determine the level of flash and exposure required.

[Tmuussoni]

If you are wanting to use several SF58 flashes in TTL mode then I am not aware of a way to do this. The only way to use the flash in TTL is to have it on the hot shoe or use a NIKON TTL flash extension lead connecting the off camera flash to the hot shoe. I have a 2m one and it works perfectly. NIKON is the correct pin arrangement CANON wont work as the pins are not compatible with Leica.

 

If you want to use several flashes off camera then you have the following options:

 

1. Put the "Master" flash on camera and set the others to slave. Set flashes to either manual or auto to achieve whatever lighting ratio that you want.

 

2. Use remote triggers and receivers - trigger on the camera and receiver on each flash that you want to fire.

 

The most elegant and reliable solution is to use remote radio triggers as the optical slave is OK but can be unreliable where there is bright ambient light or the distance is such that the slave can't see the master flash. Also radio doesn't rely on line of sight, so the flash can be in another room and it will still work - ie when photographing the interior of a room from outside it.

 

You DONT repeat DONT need the most expensive Pocket Wizards get the Yongnuo RF602 NIKON triggers and receivers on Ebay - note that these HAVE to be the RF602 NIKON type the RF603 transceivers DONT work. They work fine on Nikon but wont work with Leica or any other type of camera you must use the RF602 triggers and receivers.

 

These units are well made and work 1st time every time over massive distances. These triggers only work in MANUAL mode but that is what you want as TTL with multiple flash is not a good idea.

 

The way to use this set up is: Get a ball park figure for the number of flashes that you are going to use. So for me it works out at flashes set at 1/8 power camera on ISO 400 usually it wont be far off at about F6.3. This is what I use with the following flash arrangement - Two flashes in softboxes, manual mode at 1/8 power. Position the flashes then pop a test. Chimping the screen move the flashes to fine tune exposure and lighting look. If required add a third flash with a homemade snoot set at 1/16 power, as a hair light.

 

Flash whatever the manufactures would like us to believe is NOT an exact science and the more complicated it becomes it just adds problems and unreliability.

 

I have Pocket Wizard Flex TTL triggers ONLY to take advantage of the NIKON ITTL system outside with bright sun so that the flash can be triggered above the 1/250th flash sync for fill in. The Yongnuo triggers go up to about 1/200 and wont sync above that whereas the Flex triggers will. For all inside work I use the Yongnuo because they are simple cheap and I have NEVER had a misfire with them whereas the PW are a pain in the ass for being so finicky - OK when working but to me at least not very reliable.

 

If you want a good site for flash information and a wealth of knowledge for off camera then have a look at DAVID HOBY STROBIST site as it's amazingly good and informative.

 

Strobist: Lighting 101

 

For anybody wanting to learn how to light with off camera flash then this site cannot be bettered and David gives it all for free!!

 

 

Paul Mac

 

Hi.

 

Thank you for great answer. I am thinking about going for RF-602 (Nikon) + Yongnuo YN560 III/YN560 IV combos. As the YN560 includes the receiver, so it would be an easy option.

 

I have just one question: would you happen to know if the new YN-560-TX transmitter units would work with the M 240?

Edited January 20, 2015 by Tmuussoni

[wparsonsgisnet]

I just ordered some RF 602 (Nikon) units: one trans and 4 rcvrs. They will be here in about 6 or 7 weeks. I'll report on their functioning.

[thsc]

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Whenever I have to travel with little volume, I use a similar setup. I use flash type YN 560 III. They have built in a radio transmitter. The trigger is a YN 560 TX. This has the advantage that the strength of the individual flashes can be set via the trigger. Works perfectly for me.

[ShotCapture]

thanks everyone for your great ideas. I appreciate the help.

[thighslapper]

 

I have just one question: would you happen to know if the new YN-560-TX transmitter units would work with the M 240?

 

I'm not sure what the advantage of this is really ....... I suspect the Nikon version will as you would only be using the camera to trigger the unit ..... then it remotely fires the flashes with whatever settings you have dialled in.

 

Even if it doesn't you can probably use an RF 602 to trigger it .... and then the remote flashes.

 

At $40 on ebay it's not much of a gamble .....

[LocalHero1953]

I support all that Paulmac says, though I have no problem with PWs - utterly reliable as far as my experience goes. I use multiple Nikon SB28s, and a studio flash when I need more power. The best investment I made recently, though, was a Sekonic flash meter that triggers the PWs. It's taken all the guess work (OK, for pros, read experience ) out of multiple flash power settings.

[LocalHero1953]

Mine are MiniTT1 and FlexTT5. If I was buying now I would go the Chinese route for price, but it is useful that quite a lot of other kit can communicate with PW, like the Sekonic meter.

 

Edit: and PWs are OTT for basic trigger shooting, I agree.

Edited January 23, 2015 by LocalHero1953

[fore]

So these triggers will not work with HSS? Great price nevertheless.

[Tmuussoni]

I'm not sure what the advantage of this is really ....... I suspect the Nikon version will as you would only be using the camera to trigger the unit ..... then it remotely fires the flashes with whatever settings you have dialled in.

 

Even if it doesn't you can probably use an RF 602 to trigger it .... and then the remote flashes.

 

At $40 on ebay it's not much of a gamble .....

 

Correct me if i'm wrong but the advantage of trigger like YONGNUO YN560-TX is that you can control the flash powers directly from the trigger. Instead for RF 602 when you have to walk to each flash and make proper adjustments. I would greatly value this feature, so perhaps I will give it a try some day (YN560-TX). If it doesn't work, then I will simply return it and go back to RF 602.

[wparsonsgisnet]

No - as far as I am aware there is no trigger made that will work with Leica HSS.

 

If you want HSS with Leica then you will have to use the SF58 either on camera or use a NIKON flash extension lead.

 

I have a cheap Ebay Nikon 2m flash extension lead specially to allow off camera HSS with a M240 and SF58.

 

This works perfectly and is just like having the flash mounted in the camera hotshoe.

 

Regards Paul Mac

 

By extension, does that mean that if you have slave units as well that they will work along with the SF58 for the HSS?

[wparsonsgisnet]

I just ordered some RF 602 (Nikon) units: one trans and 4 rcvrs. They will be here in about 6 or 7 weeks. I'll report on their functioning.

 

2 very nice bits of news:

 

1. The Yongnuo units arrived on Feb 4, only 19 days after placing the order.

2. They work very nicely: (both) my flash units go off when either the firing button on the transmitter is pushed, or the shutter on the camera is triggered.

 

I'm very pleased to have such an inexpensive set of remote triggers. I got one tx and 4 re's.

Guess I'd better buy a backup tx unit.

 

Thanks Paul Mac.

[wparsonsgisnet]

... get the Yongnuo RF602 NIKON triggers and receivers ...

 

If you want a good site for flash information and a wealth of knowledge for off camera then have a look at DAVID HOBY STROBIST site as it's amazingly good and informative.

 

Strobist: Lighting 101

 

For anybody wanting to learn how to light with off camera flash then this site cannot be bettered and David gives it all for free!!

 

 

Paul Mac

 

Thanks for the link to Strobist, Paul. In addition to buying your, suggested Yongnuo remotes (2 TX and several RX -- I am a charter member of the Always-Have-2-Club), I went thru Hoby's tutorial and just also bot 2 40-inch white umbrellas, as he suggests. I already have stands and bendy-holders like he recommends.

 

This is a *Very* cost-effective, portable studio.

 

Many thanks. Bill