I have a Vivitar portable flash unit, a 2800 I think. I have fresh batteries in it, and it's turned on but it doesn't act like it is at all. I attached to the hotshoe of the flash a peanut slave-like thing that intercepts a flash and powers the flash it's attached to. The problem is, nothing happens at all. At this point it's so frustrating, since I invested so much into these flash devices and nothing works. It's such a pain it doesn't seem like the extra bonus from flash was ever worth switching over to from continuous.
2007-10-17 15:14:05 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
I'm triggering it through the flash of a digital camera.
2007-10-17 15:29:32 · update #1
A cheap $200 one.
2007-10-17 15:30:09 · update #2
It is a 2800.
The optical slave was this exact one, the one I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Optical-Slave-Flash-Trigger-with-Sync-Socket-NEW_W0QQitemZ180168607082QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30086QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
2007-10-17 15:51:43 · update #3
Does the test button fire it? Does it work on a film camera (no film need be hurt in this testing). Does another flash work with the slave unit? How are you actually triggering it?
2007-10-17 15:25:14 · answer #1 · answered by Bob 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's always best to not take anything for granted, so I'll list everything I can think of you should check, including things you've probably already done/checked.
First thing first, make sure the slave unit works, I have used the same style for years and the truth is there is a high failure rate. Just see if it fires a known working flash unity.
When you turn the unit one does the thyristor charge (you'll hear a high pitched whine)?
If it doesn't charge are the batteries properly installed?
If they're properly installed are they charged (sometimes even new batteries are bad)?
Try some alkalines if you are trying to use something else.
If the thyristor is charging does the flash fire with the test button?
If it does then check to see if the hot shoe contacts work (You can short across the contacts or better yet, put it on a camera with a known working hot shoe.)
You can also try it with a sync cord instead of the hot shoe to see if that works.
Good luck
2007-10-17 16:29:51 · answer #2 · answered by John T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a thought. The flash on the camera you are trying to trigger the slave with may not have a long enough duration. Older film flashes were longer (one of the reasons may be that they needed that extra time to "sync" since alot of cameras were switches, levers, and gears that are slower than electronic connections). Since flashes are getting shorter and shorter they may not fire the film style slave trigger. If you have an old film camera with a flash on it, try it. You may be out of luck with your current set up.
2007-10-17 16:57:36 · answer #3 · answered by cabbiinc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your on-camera flash fires and the slave unit is working then the Vivitar should fire. Could be a bad slave unit or else it isn't making good contact with the pins on the flash foot. Try firing the Vivitar with its test button - maybe its bad.
2007-10-17 15:36:59 · answer #4 · answered by EDWIN 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋