Get the Flash off Your Camera!

Off Camera Flash Can Make for Better Photographs

Nov 9, 2009

One of the easiest and most versatile ways to improve your photography is by getting your flash off the camera and in a position where it can do you more good.

There are a number of ways to use flash off camera. This article looks at those ways and shows some of the benefits.

There are a number of ways to operate a flash off camera. Let's look at the possibilities:

Each of these methods works pretty well, but cost and reliability vary depending on which method or methods you choose. In some cases it's possible to combine methods too.

PC Cable or Dedicated Off-camera E-TTL Shoe Cord Offer a Cheap Way to Start

The easiest and cheapest way to get your flash off camera is via a cord that lets the camera tell the flash when to fire. PC cables (which have nothing to do with computers) are dumb cords that merely trigger the flash without controlling light output at all.

Dedicated off-camera shoe cords on the other hand allow the camera to talk to the flash and shut off its output when the camera determines the proper amount of light has been emitted. PC cables are pretty inexpensive, but also unreliable. Dedicated off-camera shoe cords are more expensive and more reliable.

While both types tend to be modest in length, it is possible to get extension cables to extend their reach. The biggest problem with them is that they are attached to the strobes and can accidentally tug the flash off its perch.

Photoelectric Slaves Free You From Cables

There are two types of photoelectric slaves available, traditional ones and digital ones. Photo "slaves" trigger the strobe they're attached to when they sense the light from another flash. In most cases this is the camera's built-in flash or shoe mount flash.

"Digital" slaves are designed to work with modern digital cameras that emit a quick pre-flash to set the camera's white balance. Since this pre-flash can trigger a conventional photo slave, the digital slave is set to ignore the pre-flash (much the way my students ignore me during lectures).

This is necessary with point and shoot cameras, but not with most DSLRs which either automatically set their white balance to flash or can be set to flash manually. One problem with these devices is that any flash will set them off, not just yours.

E-TTL Wireless Flash Controllers Give You More Control

Dedicated wireless flash controllers such as Canon's ST-E2 and Nikon's WT-4A are powerful tools that not only enable wireless E-TTL control of remote flash units, but can also be set to control power ratios for even greater creativity. Some new cameras, such as Canon's 7D, come equipped with this capability.

These tools are significantly more expensive than the previous two choices but are worth it to many photographers since they provide far more versatility and control. The effectiveness of these controllers is limited by distance. They're more effective indoors than outdoors since bright sunlight can diminish their effectiveness.

These systems rely on flashes that have built in reception capabilities (both manufacturer and third party dedicated flashes often can work with the dedicated systems). These devices can usually be set to one of several channels so that if another photographer is using the same system, can switch so he doesn't accidentally trigger the other's strobes.

Infra-red Wireless Slaves Provide a Cheaper Wireless Option

Generic wireless slaves can be found on ebay and through various vendors. These devices may not provide E-TTL control, but free the strobes from cables and photoelectric slaves. They're lower in cost than dedicated wireless E-TTL controllers and can't be accidentally triggered by other flashes unless someone else is using a similar device. Workmanship on these can be dicey.

These systems need both a trigger and receiver unlike the dedicated systems which work with flashes that have built in reception capabilities (both manufacturer and third party dedicated flashes often can work with the dedicated systems).

Radio Slaves Give You the Greatest Range

This class of remote flash triggers uses radio signals rather than infrared to communicate with the remote strobes. Newer designs are capable of E-TTL with particular strobes, but there are many that only serve to trigger the strobes rather than control them. Still, the big advantage of this class of trigger is effective range.

Many are good for several hundred feet or more and the best of the breed can trigger strobes through walls at a distance of more than 1,000 feet. These devices are popular with news and sports photographers and usually can be set to one of several channels so that if another photographer is using the same system, can switch so he doesn't accidentally trigger the other photographer's strobes.

What I Like Best

Many professional photographers prefer E-TTL wireless controllers and/or the radio slaves. While expensive, they provide the greatest flexibility and range.

The copyright of the article Get the Flash off Your Camera! in Photography is owned by Daniel Simon. Permission to republish Get the Flash off Your Camera! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.