Mamiya 7 strobist

[meandihagee]

hello everybody,

can i use two (or 3) off-camera flashes with the mamiya 7?

what would that flashes be?

can i trigger them wireless?

I want to use a digital camera to do the test shots and then shoot with the mamiya with the same setup.

does this make any sense?

thanks

 

[Mcary]

hello everybody,

can i use two (or 3) off-camera flashes with the mamiya 7? Yes!

what would that flashes be? Depends on how much power you need, flash can be anything from Old Vivatar 285 to studio strobes/momo lights. Are you looking for a set-up that's completely portable or something that runs off AC power?.

can i trigger them wireless? Yes there are a number of wireless radio transmitter/receiver set-up available

I want to use a digital camera to do the test shots and then shoot with the mamiya with the same setup. Yes t

does this make any sense? Yes

thanks

See answers above

 

[meandihagee]

thank you for the quick reply, mike

for the flashes i'm thinking nikon sb 800 or sb 28. but i guess i cannot use them in ttl mode, right?

 

[ChrisN]

Right - you have to use it in manual mode. The SB-28 is an excellent flash in this role as you can set it in manual and dial the power up to full or reduce it in 1/3-stop increments down to -7 stops (I think!).

 

[Mcary]

thank you for the quick reply, mike

for the flashes i'm thinking nikon sb 800 or sb 28. but i guess i cannot use them in ttl mode, right?

As Chris stated in his post you'll have to use them in manual mode.

Here a system that should what you need http://www.amazon.com/Cowboystudio-Channel-Wireless-Trigger-Receiver/dp/B002SSH6TA
Note* you can buy extra receivers if you have more then two flashes.
Note** Max Sync may be lower that of you camera so start out 1/125 and work from there.

Start by using one Flash set at 1/2 power and your DSLR set at F-8 at 1/125th and fire a test shot. You haven't mentioned what your shooting so can't really say anything about were to place the light(s). Now check the historgram. If its to far to the left (shadows) increase the power of your flash if its to far to the right(highlights) decrease the power of your flash and then take another test shot repeat until the desired results are acheived. Then add the second/fill light for this one start with 1/2 or 1/3 of the power you have your main set to. take some more test shots.
Shooting outside or fill light. Set you DSLR to Shutter priority 1/125 second take a test shot of the background. Switch to manual and dial those setting in and then turn on your flash and shot some test shots of your subject adjusting the power output of the flash(s) until your subject and the background are fairly evenly lit.