Jump to content

Leica M8 / 8.2 and studio flash


GMB

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I plan to attend a studio portrait workshop. The guy who runs the workshop told me that he uses either infra-red, frequency slave units, or a direct cable from the camera to the flash unit to trigger the external studio lights, He further said that the IR or slave units trigger system is mounted on the horseshoe of the camera and that the ones he has will work on Nikon/Canon and probably some other brands (definitely not Sony).

 

Do you know what units work with the M8 / M8.2? Also, my understanding it that it is not possible to use a direct cable to link the camera to the flash.

 

Apologies for asking such basic questions but I have no experience with studio lights.

 

Thanks.

 

Georg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Remote triggers are the best way to go, but if you do decide that you want to use a direct cable connection, this can easily be done by fitting an adaptor onto the hot-shoe. As some studio flashes use a pretty high trigger voltage though, you would be well advised to use a 'Safe-Sync' adaptor, or equivalent.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I use Bowens heads fired with a Kenro IR trigger mounted onto the M8 hotshoe. The heads in turn can trigger a couple of Nikon SB800 speedlights which I sometimes use for a more creative set-up or to illuminate a backdrop. Depending on the shoot I can switch from M8's to my Nikon DSLR's without a problem.

Only problem I found was that initially the trigger was a bit of a tight fit onto the M8 shoe. I was reluctant to force it and sorted the problem out with a bit of pressure using pliers. (On the trigger NOT the camera!) For some reason I never encountered this problem with the Nikons, they must have a slightly taller shoe gap. :o

Link to post
Share on other sites

Since I did not want to spend money on PocketWizard and such because I don't really use my studio much. I just bought a Nikon hotshoe adaptor that has strobe connection. Works great, but of course it is not as free as pocketwizard.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Pocket Wizard works well but I strongly object to the large physical size of the PW.

 

I bought and use the smaller radio trigger from Morris, a Chicago company whose USA phone number is 312.421.5739. (Or just Google your way to the Morris COmpany in Chicago.)

 

Fans of the PW will say that it has longer range. I don't doubt that but I don't care: for studio usage, who needs 1/4 mile? Heck, I'm quite happy with a radio range of 25 feet. Replacing the bloody flash cords is the main thing here, not photographing someone in a football stadium from a seat in the opposite end of the place.

 

For me, the tiny and cheap Morris unit works just fine.

 

-g

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...