I am trying to build a setup for high speed night photography using four Nikon SB900 flashes,the Nikon SU800 Commander, and three (possibly more) D800E Cameras. What I would like to do is to connect all three cameras to this setup so that they all use the same flash. So, when the four flashes go off all three camera record a photo, all at EXACTLY the same time.
Is there a way to have one camera trigger the other two cameras instantaneously with no lag?
Charlie, I'm sure I'm missing something not having done any of this type of work before. However, if the flash units are controlled by the SU800 Commander that is slaved off at least one camera, then would it not then just take the other cameras to all fire at the same time as camera 1 is triggered to benefit from the flash(es)?
With that said will just one remote camera shutter release all cameras at one time? I would think the remote camera release would fire any same unit in the range of the signal, maybe not.
Charlie, I'm looking forward to seeing some more neat bat photos with your resulting configurations.......good luck!....
Posted by Dennis Plank on October 8, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Charlie: I don't do Nikon, but the remote release for Canons is really nothing but an electrical contact being closed. I don't see why the circuitry would care if you had them all in parallel.
I don't see why the circuitry would care if you had them all in parallel.
Dennis, I'm sure this would work if direct cabled. However, the unit I had linked above is wireless. So basically the transmitter just signals all the camera receivers by wireless signal. This would be similar to the wireless way Charlie is already signaling all the slaved flash units he has now.
If I have the idea sorted out right the camera #1 actually sends the signal to the SU800 unit. That unit fires all the flash units in the zone of coverage. Now to get all the cameras to all fire at the same time, including camera #1, they need to be signaled by a wireless remote controller. All cameras in the zone must have their receivers set to the same frequency. Once the transmitter is tripped they should all fire at once and #1 signals the SU800.....BINGO........in theory.
The problem I am having is that the flashes are synching with only one camera. There is always some slight lag between the first camera and the second camera. So the first camera gets a well exposed shot, but the second camera doesn't. I am triggering both cameras at the same time through the ten pin connectors using a home made trigger, but both cables being hooked to the same output on a single trigger. My wife is out of town for two weeks, so a good time to turn the dining room into a big laboratory to test out a few things. You've given me a few ideas to try out. Thanks for the help, and I'll let you know how it goes!
Charlie, do you have the cameras hooked in series or parallel? If in series, meaning trigger cable hooked to #1 and then a cable from #1 to #2? If so there would be a delay. In order for both to go off at the same time they would need to be in parallel as mentioned by Dennis. Meaning the trigger hooked to both cameras with two separate cords from the same trigger.
In theory they should both get the signal at the same time then.
To be honest I'm not sure about hooking these all on a cord(s) either way unless it's a bit harmless. I just don't know if you can injure anything this way. With the wireless setups, although very pricy, I'm sure that is a no harm no foul fail safe way. That would not have anything physically tied together and sharing power items for burn-ups.
If you did any wireless stuff I would go slow, only buy enough to experiment with until it looks like it would work with say just two cameras at first.
Regardless of what you do to figure it all out let us know......thanks!
Thanks Paul,
They are in parrallel. It just seems to work that the camera that triggers the flash gets to synch. The other camera synchs also about half of the time. The rest of the time I get shots where half of the frame is black, as if the flash went off with the shutter half open. At 1/16 power the flash speed is very fast, something like 1/30,000 of a second. It could even be the cables. I'm going to try the cable route first before investing in a wireless system. I have a couple of electronic gurus in the neighborhood that are going to help out too.
Discussion
8 repliesIs there a way to have one camera trigger the other two cameras instantaneously with no lag?
Any ideas?
Thanks.
With that said will just one remote camera shutter release all cameras at one time? I would think the remote camera release would fire any same unit in the range of the signal, maybe not.
This remote says certain Nikon units but will trigger all within range of 66 feet.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/911439-REG/nikon_27104_wr_t10_wireless_remote_controller.html/prm/alsVwDtl]B&H
Good luck!
Dennis, I'm sure this would work if direct cabled. However, the unit I had linked above is wireless. So basically the transmitter just signals all the camera receivers by wireless signal. This would be similar to the wireless way Charlie is already signaling all the slaved flash units he has now.
If I have the idea sorted out right the camera #1 actually sends the signal to the SU800 unit. That unit fires all the flash units in the zone of coverage. Now to get all the cameras to all fire at the same time, including camera #1, they need to be signaled by a wireless remote controller. All cameras in the zone must have their receivers set to the same frequency. Once the transmitter is tripped they should all fire at once and #1 signals the SU800.....BINGO........in theory.
In theory they should both get the signal at the same time then.
To be honest I'm not sure about hooking these all on a cord(s) either way unless it's a bit harmless. I just don't know if you can injure anything this way. With the wireless setups, although very pricy, I'm sure that is a no harm no foul fail safe way. That would not have anything physically tied together and sharing power items for burn-ups.
If you did any wireless stuff I would go slow, only buy enough to experiment with until it looks like it would work with say just two cameras at first.
Regardless of what you do to figure it all out let us know......thanks!
They are in parrallel. It just seems to work that the camera that triggers the flash gets to synch. The other camera synchs also about half of the time. The rest of the time I get shots where half of the frame is black, as if the flash went off with the shutter half open. At 1/16 power the flash speed is very fast, something like 1/30,000 of a second. It could even be the cables. I'm going to try the cable route first before investing in a wireless system. I have a couple of electronic gurus in the neighborhood that are going to help out too.