Hotshoe

[numptette]

Hiya Everybody,

Is it possible to buy a hot shoe that you can mount on a tripod. So you can fire the flash from different positions without having to use the on board hotshoe or a flash bracket. I do have the cable that would run from my 400d to my 430ex.

If anybody could help that would be great.

Many Thanks

Numptette

[jfrancho]

Those font colors are atrocious, but here is an off camera shoe that allows you to use ETTL-II flash metering: Canon | Off Camera Shoe Cord 2 | 2391A001 | B&H Photo Video

[numptette]

where in my thread did i ask for advice on font colours?

[jfrancho]

Nowhere. It was an unsolicited response. They are that bad. Sorry.

[numptette]

And your point is?

[jfrancho]

The fonts are difficult to read. That's all.

[Latinbob]

You will have to forgive John. He's our resident style monitor.

Anyway, I think you are looking for something more like this: Photoflex | Multiclamp with Shoe Mount | ACSWCP | B&H Photo Video

You can attach it to a tripod and put your flash off camera. I use one just like that, and you can even put an umbrella on it and fire your flash into an umbrella. If you can do wireless flash, its even better.

Hope this helps!

Bob

[Tom Swaman]

Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.


Easy on John, Bob. John does not have chlorophyll and he gets very sensitive easily.



Tom

[jfrancho]

That, or I'm the resident blind guy. Actually, I am colorblind blue.

The off camera shoe will accept the standard 1/4" threaded stud most tripods use. I have actually used this setup for impromptu portraits. It helps if you can enlist an assistant to hold the tripod, allowing you to stretch the cord to get the full 3' range of motion. I've also held the flash head in my left hand, while shooting with my right.

But the system Bob describes is ideal, depending on your intended prupose and budget. I use a 580EX master, and two 430EXs as IR slaves. I use two lightweight Bogen light stands and Westcott 42" umbrellas, along with the exact unbrella/dlash holder Bob linked to. One tip, discard the aluminum dead shoes included with the tilt holders, and instead, screw the 1/4" stud directly in to the little flash stand included with the speed light. This will give you a safer, locking connection of the flash to the holder.

B&H is great, and very reputable, but I've found MPEX to be much more personable and more competitive. The strobist blog will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about off camera lighting "on the cheap and portable."

Here are pictures showing the holder and the whole setup.







Personally, unless you need to stay compact and portable, I do not think this is the most economical approach. For what I spent on this system, I could have bought a couple of Alien Bees and a light meter. It is compact though, and combined with a reflector and a few collapsible backgrounds, you have a portable studio that basically fits in a gym bag.

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Tom Swaman

Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.


Easy on John, Bob. John does not have chlorophyll and he gets very sensitive easily.



Tom

Speak up, please.

[Tom Swaman]

Numptette,

Camel Rule No. 1 is you have to have a sense of humor. Not all camels think alike.

Camel Rule No. 2 is you have to have a sense of humor. Not all camels think alike.

FYI, several companies make and or market tripod mountable hot shoes with PC cords. Hama, Dotline, and a whole lot more.

Tom

[Tom Swaman]

John,

I could not hear you. I think I heard "hot", but i could not make out the second word.

Hey, if I continue to fail at phot-o-graphy, maybe I can get a job writing one-liners for the TV Screen Guild..... Oh well, at least there may be some hope left for me.

Tom

[jfrancho]

FYI, several companies make and or market tripod mountable hot shoes with PC cords. Hama, Dotline, and a whole lot more.

Sadly, Canon speedlights do not have a PC outlet, and I don't think the 400D has a PC outlet, so you have to use a off camera shoe cord. Dot Line does make one for Canon, but its only $5-10 less than the Canon equipment. Even if you were to use a PC connection, you'd lose ETTL-II automated flash metering. This isn't any big deal, but can be daunting when first starting out.

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Tom Swaman

John,

I could not hear you. I think I heard "hot", but i could not make out the second word.

Hey, if I continue to fail at phot-o-graphy, maybe I can get a job writing one-liners for the TV Screen Guild..... Oh well, at least there may be some hope left for me.

Tom

You want to be a scab? If you go, I'm there too. But I want to write for the Cobert Report. Or Desperate Housewives.

[Tom Swaman]

John,

I hear that Rosie is coming back..... WOW, that is a whole number of hotshoes. Or is it an odd number?

Tom

[Lee4145]

Originally Posted by numptette

where in my thread did i ask for advice on font colours?

The unsolicited advice is free. No charge.


And they have a union for writing jokes? I thought unions were for getting children out of coal mines!