off cam flash help required

[Alfonso_Frisk]

Anyone use a wireless flash trigger ?

I have just got one but cant get it to fire the flash

the receiver and sender has buttons 1,2 and I have tried all combinations on each.
pressing the test button on the sender is recieved on reciever
the flash (nissin) 622 has fresh batteries and fires ok when on cam

Cant see anything in the D200 menus which would stop the off flash cam, any ideas folks???

RR
Alf

[Hinfrance]

Alf,

Have you got PT-04s?

If the answer is yes I might be able to help, if it's no then here are some general things to check.

1) does the check light on the trigger illuminate briefly when you press the test button? Does the light come on when you release the shutter?
2) does the corresponding check light come on on the receiver when you test fire the trigger or release the shutter?

If the answer is no, try leaving the setting on the trigger to 1.1 and change the receiver channels to 1.2, 2.1, and 2.1 and see if anything happens. The first set of PT-04 trigger/receivers I had worked only when they were set on different channels (not the world's best quality control).

If the answer is yes, try setting the camera to manual and selecting a shutter speed lower than the camera flash sync. PT-04s don't sync reliably above 1/125 sec. The other possibility is that they simply won't trigger the strobe. My original PT-04s would not trigger my Pentax AF400FTZ strobe, but worked with my old Cobra strobes.

Lastly, I recently bought some tougher PT-04s with a much better build quality. They work every single time without fail, so far up to 50 metres range; the trigger has a much better internal aerial and the receivers are powered by AAA batteries with metal stand fixings.

[Alfonso_Frisk]

Cheeers for the reply H.
the kit was a gift from a mag and is a RF-425dhs-c
4 channel cr-2 3volt

the reciever light flashes when the test button is pressed and also when the shutter button is pressed.
there is 2 buttons on the reciever and sender and I have tried all combinations.

Going to have a go with the D50 now and see if it works with that

[Simple]

Alf It looks like there is a problem between the reciever and the flash. Check the connection.

[Alfonso_Frisk]

Just tried it with the D50 with the same result i.e. nothing
also tried it with a nikon SB400 flash unit
maybe the supplied 3V battery is on its way out or the kit is just cheap and nasty, hence being free

[Hinfrance]

Sounds like you have got a set of 'Cactus' triggers which come with many and varies brand names and markings. Generally they work really well for those of us who cannot even consider buying pocket wizards or some other equally expensive alternative.

It will most likely be that your flash doesn't like the erratic and rather low trigger voltage from the receiver, although the receiver hotshoe might be dead. If you have a volt meter, try checking that there is actually an output from the hotshoe on the receiver. Touch the negative lead to the centre pin and the positive to the outer contact. The meter should momentarily record a voltage.

These are the ones I have now and they are excellent:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Hot-Shoe-Flash-Trigger-3-Receiver-Canon-C35_W0QQitemZ280405384244QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL?hash=item4149769c34&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

they reliably trigger all my ancient and modern strobes and they arrived in less than two weeks.

Just seen your update Alf. When you release the shutter do the indicator lights flash?

[Alfonso_Frisk]

Yes mate the indicator lights do flash on sender and reciever when the shutter is pressed

[Hinfrance]

It suggests that the flashgun doesn't recognise the trigger signal. Have you got access to another strobe you could try it out on? Any luck with a meter?

[Alfonso_Frisk]

The only other flash I have is the Nikon SB 400. This dont even fit the hot shoe of the receiver right as it wont lock.
The only volt meter I have starts at 6 volt.
Oh well it was worth a play. Will consider buying a set of triggers which are compatible with the nissin
thanks for the help
RR
Alf

[Hinfrance]

I wish you all the best with your future adventures into wireless wonderland. Playing is almost always worthwhile, I find. 

Howard.

[Colin]

I had a similar problem with these triggers they won't fire my Sigma 530 flash BUT they do work on Canon flashes. I have since been given a couple of old flashguns by a friend a Hitacon (never heard of it before) and an Olympus T20 and both of these work perfectly. I agree with the suggestions above that your flash probably doesn't like the trigger rather than the trigger being faulty.

[Hinfrance]

I had one further thought - knowing nothing of the particular strobe you have - does it have a manual mode? I ask, because if it is set to TTL or PTTL it might be waiting for data that will never be coming.

[Alfonso_Frisk]

Morning H
the flash is a Nissin 622 and yes you can disable TTL mode.
I'm guessing its not compatable with the unit.
As said earlier I do have another flash, a SB400 but this is bottom end nikon and has no settings to change. In fact it dont fit the trigger receiver hotshoe correctly.

[Hinfrance]

How annoying is that?

Have you tried bending the shoe mounting on the receiver a little with a screwdriver? Sometimes there can be just a little bit too little clearance for the foor. The other thing is to press the spriing loaded contacts on the bottom of the strobe with your finger as you slide it one, sometimes they stick.

[Simon]

I have a D300 and Jessops 360AFD flash. It has taken me a year to find the command controls! I trigger my flashgun with the inbuilt flash adjusted so as not to affect the image. Very handy...

Try looking in Menu> Bracketing/flash>e3 - Flash cntrol for built-in flash.. you can setup power groups and of course the channel that it operates at, something there may help...