rsguiting_usmc Loc: Texas

Hello everyone. If there is a topic on this can someone forward it to me? I couldn't find anything related to my issue on the search tab. Anyway, I have a yongnuo 600ex-rt speedlight and a trigger. I've already figured out how to sync them together using manual mode which is my preference but I want to make sure I am able to transition to ETTL if necessary depending on the event. I had mirrored everything to ETTL on both trigger as my master and speedlight as the slave. For the most part the speedlight and trigger are in sync and does fire when taking my shot. The concern is that whether I zoom in or out on the camera or even move my speedlight back and forth, the zoom on the speedlight is fixed and doesn't change unless I manually change it. I've tried to troubleshoot it using manual zoom or automatic but it still won't adjust the zoom to how I am moving the camera. However, it only works if I attach the speedlight on the camera itself. Please let me know if there is a step that needs to be corrected on the trigger or the speedlight. Thanks for your assistance.

CO

It may be the Yongnuo trigger doesn't transmit lens focal length data. When the speedlight is on the camera's hot shoe, the lens focal length data is being transmitted through the hot shoe contacts and the speedlight is adjusting its zoom head accordingly. I have PocketWizard TTL triggers. I will have to test out if that works with my PocketWizard triggers when the speedlight is off camera.

twowindsbear

Are you using the flash off camera?

rsguiting_usmc Loc: Texas

Thanks. I have pocket wizards as well packed in storage and may have to start bringing that with me if that’s the only route to get my TTL to start working.

rsguiting_usmc Loc: Texas

Yes

CO

I just took out my PocketWizards that support TTL - the Mini-TT1 and Flex-TT5. I first did a test with my Nikon SB-700 speedlight on my D500 camera. The speedlight's zoom head did adjust itself when I zoomed the lens. I then put the Mini-TT1 on my D500 and mounted my SB-700 speedlight on the Flex-TT5. The speedlight's zoom head did not adjust itself when zooming the lens. It must be that the lens focal length information is not transmitted with the radio triggers. TTL metering does work however. I can adjust flash compensation at the camera and that information is transmitted.

If you start using your PocketWizards again, be sure to load the latest firmware to them using the PocketWizard Utility. They come out with new firmware updates as new cameras are introduced on the market. They now have a new "E" release firmware. It's not compatible with the legacy firmware. Also, the Mini-TT1 has been discontinued. Fortunately, all of my cameras are supported with the current firmware release.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Think about it....

While it makes sense to auto adjust the flash coverage to match the lens focal length when the flash is "on camera"... It doesn't make sense to do the same when the flash is off-camera and being remotely triggered. The remotely triggered flash's coverage requirement is likely quite different. Depending upon where the remote flash is located in relation to the subject, it could be right or it could be wrong for the off-camera flash to emulate the coverage of the on-camera flash. The remote triggering systems have no way of judging what's correct, so leave it to you to manually set the coverage for the off-camera flash. The "safest" manual coverage setting of the off-camera flash would be its widest, unless that causes underexposure problems. (This is different from the system handling exposure TTL.... To accomplish that, all that's needed is a low power pre-flash and meter reading, that's then used to adjust the power of the flash.)

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

Stick with the major brands, Nikon, Canon, Sony, and alike, You buy off brands you get what you pay for.

rsguiting_usmc Loc: Texas

Thank you. Appreciate it.

petrochemist Loc: UK

I find often with the major brands you DON'T get what you've paid for. You pay extra yet actually get much the same. It does of course vary widely, some 'off brands' sell rubbish.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...The concern is that whether I zoom in or out on the camera or even move my speedlight back and forth, the zoom on the speedlight is fixed and doesn't change unless I manually change it..."

rsguiting_usmc I use off-camera speedlights (SB-910's) frequently albeit never without bouncing them off an attached reflector (Kachifoto)... There are many others nearly identical though the Kachifoto works well.
https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Flash-Diffuser-Reflector-Speedlight/dp/B07MYPYJMW
Here I use the Wide Panel on the SB-910 which kicks the Zoom to 14mm for a more even spread.
The beauty of this system is half the light bounces off the ceiling while the other is a soft reflected source.

I would never use direct zoomed speedlight illumination in as it is so harsh especially for young ladies.
Below are several images with the SB-910 at 14mm with the Wide Panel deployed and an attached reflector.

Hope this helps
All the best on your journey rsguiting_usmc... Semper fi
.

Off-camera speedlight (SB-910) with Wide Panel (14mm zoom) and an attached reflector

(Download)

Off-camera speedlight (SB-910) with Wide Panel (14mm zoom) and an attached reflector

(Download)

CO

I have a SB-700 and SB-5000. The wide panel you use is the one that pulls out of the flash head? There is a diffusion dome that comes with the flash. Do you use that one also? Is it useful?

(Download)


(Download)

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

CO yes I've used the Diffusion Dome on the SB-910 and it works nicely albeit not as effectively as attaching the 4x7 inch reflector with the Flash in a vertical scenario... This allows both a ceiling bounce and a direct bounce off the reflector...

That said I use the amber gel in the Dome a lot for indoor illumination... setting the WB to 2500K or 3200K...
Again the Diffusion Dome is certainly a major improvement over a bare flash head, and even better if you pull down the Wide Panel... Both the Dome and Wide Panel are detected by the SB-910 which kicks the zoom to 14mm.

While the optical CLS system does work very well it's limited to straight line of sight...
I've opted for Phottix Oden radio trigger and receivers which are highly reliable and work around obstructions. I also am a major fan of the SU4-Slave Mode for placing floor stand mounted SB-700 fill to emulate classic Clam-Shell illumination with a BD at 24 inches above and in from of the talent...

I pretty much know the coverage of an SB-700 SU4-Slave set to full power and can place them as needed...
Love my speedlights :)

All the best on your journey CO

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

What, specifically are you shooting? I assume you are using one Speedlight on the camera and one off-camera. Waht kind of lighting configuration are you wanting to accomplish. Where, in a typical case, would place the off-camera flash? What kind of lighting ratio are you looking for.

This information would help me advise you on a method to control exposure and contrast.