My new strobe light, think I got sold something I don?t need. (Help)
 

I went out to buy a strobe light today, got one. I asked the sales man how my camera connects to the strobe light. He said either I use a cable or a wireless device. So, I got the wireless device as well.

The strobe light has a sensor on it though, it "sees" when my on camera flash fires and fires with it. Can I return the wireless device or should I keep it?

You should keep it. There aren't many times when I have ever used the on camera flash at all, let alone using it along with strobes.

If thats what you want to do, great but keep the wireless because you will need it someday.

:2 cents:

Well with my Canon 580 EX, I can use it as a fill in flash so the shadows from the strobe are nice and soft. Or I can use the catchlight on the 580EX together with the strobe. With the wireless thing on there, it takes up the shoe. I see what you are saying though.

bump for more input!

a strobe is excellent for good photography, having it wireless is even better. As you progress you will add more strobes and the need for a wireless system will increase, say you have a strobe ina location that your sensor won't read.(say by distance or tucked away in a corner or by another light source)
A 580 ex is good however canon flashes lick balls. You can get a quantum but for $600 plus a battery you are better with a strobe unless you need portability.
BTW what strobe you get! which wireless system?

Well, I am just talking about the wireless device. Since my Canon can trip it, and using the canon in addition to the strobe makes the shadows smoother? why have the wireless device. I can see how I will need it once I got more strobes and don?t want to have the canon firing.

I got a Cameron Studio Strobe 4001 something. Nothing fancy but it seems to be doing a nice job.

any camera flash can trip your strobe .. However the draw back is that you really won't have good lighting control by using your 580 .. Depending on the size of the room your shooting in .. and the hight of the cieling.

If you plan on bouncing your light, then a good strobe really isn't needed . you'd do just fine with a 100 W strobe as a side fill to your bounce ..

I'm figuring you got a min 250 w strobe .. One strobe alone really won't be the end all of your lighting skills, though it's a good start.

If you want to save some money, return your Remote trigger for a Cable. This way you can at the very least practice shooting with a single stobe .. should you add more strobes in the future, the cable will work just as well .. since strobe 2 and/or 3 will trigger with the sensors (just about all strobes on todays market come with a sensor)

Try different angles with your single strobe, For full on lighting shots add an Umberllas .. For soft Protrait shots Use a soft box (a small one will do for now) ... Hve fun exploring what strobe lighting can do to your photography ..

Remember the Word it self, PHOTOGRAPHY .. means Playing with light

For more info on easy lighting techniques for adult production, visit these folowing links (articles I wrote on the subject)

Basic porn lighting Part 1 http://www.ynot.com/modules.php?op=m...cle&s id=8992
Basic porn lighting part 2
http://www.ynot.com/modules.php?op=m...cle&s id=9043

What he said.

But if you use the camera flash to trigger the strobes make sure it's set to at least 2 full stops lower than the strobes. Monitor it as well with a light metre. I assume you did buy a light meter. :winkwink:

Ah, nice! Thank you. I will keep the remote trigger then. Just didn't want to have something I don't really need. But... yea. Good stuff. Thanks again!

No light meter yet. Thats down the road :) This is just a hobby... so I got to go easy on this one.