That's what Sony has done with the NEX-3/5 cameras. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving my NEX-5. But the inability to use anything but that puny, pointless little screw-on flash was making me crazy.
It took a while to figure out how to defeat/bypass/ignore/bribe-into-submission that pesky pre-flash function. I finally did find a way that is working well for me.
Actually, there's more than one way. The way I've tried came courtesy of someone with a very nice blog: http://whatdiduseetoday.blogspot.com/2010/08/strobist-with-sony-nex.html He found a little slave device that can actually ignore the pre-flash. I'd been trying to ignore it, but this thing actually does it! It's a Seagull SYK-5. A quick online search for "seagull syk-5", and I found a vendor. It looks like this from the front:
The back has a control that apparently sets the delay (I cannot read the Chinese instruction sheet that came with it, so can't say for sure). I set it where you see it, all the way to the right (minimum delay??). Whatever it is, setting it there did the job.
I hooked the thing up to a 300 WS monolight via a pc cord, and fired a few shots through a white shoot-through umbrella. Below are two shots of the little slave device, made using my NEX-5 with a Micro-Nikkor 55/2.8 macro lens attached. The primary light source is the 300 WS monolight, positioned above and to my right (from the shooting position). You can see the shadow to the left, showing the monolight did indeed fire and sync with the NEX-5. I used a white reflector off to the left to help fill in those shadows a bit. Shutter speed was set to 1/160s, lens at f/8, and the monolight set to it's lowest output setting.
At first the result was flat looking, because the little NEX flash was filling in the shadows at close range. For the two shots you see here, I used my hand to deflect the little NEX flash output upward, away from the subject. I'll probably make a little reflector to do that for next time I use this thing.
Earlier in this blog I mentioned there are two ways to get past the pre-flash. Turns out there are at least a couple of shoe-mount flash units that have the ability to ignore the pre-flash. One is made by Nissan. The other is a Chinese manufacturer called Yongnuo. You can search online and find the appropriate models. For now, I'll keep using this little slave device - works just fine for me!
how did you connect it to your NEX5, did it come with that cord or does it use RF
ReplyDeleteI did not connect it directly to the NEX-5. I connected the Seagull device to the off-camera monolight via a pc connector that came with the monolight. I then attached the little flash that came with the NEX-5 to the camera, and that flash triggered the Seagull device, which in turn fires the monolight. I did use my hand to re-direct the on-camera flash upward, so it wouldn't light the subject.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteDoes it work with high voltage trigger flash?
I got an old inut that i'd like to use. Could find any info if its safe with high voltage.
Thanks
Tony
Hi Tony,
ReplyDeleteI don't honestly know. I've used it on two different makes of studio type monolights, but haven't tried it on any old shoe mount flash units, if that's what you're hoping to use. I guess worse case the little trigger slave device is not terribly expensive, so maybe worth a try with whatever you're planning to use.
Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteThis has been an issue for me in the last 12 months. I were to buy NEX-7 because of this. Now NEX-5 looks so much nicer :-) I wonder if I need 5N or Sony may actually give us v5 with video control andI can save for new lenses instead.
Honestly, I would recommend the 5N over the 5 any day. I bought a 5N when they were first available, and haven't used my 5 since. The 5N does have several improvements, including a slightly improved sensor, and some UI custom setting options that I've found very useful. I'm still undecided on the NEX-7 - will wait and see after more people have used it.
ReplyDelete