Sunday 11 December 2016

My new 50mm F1.8 lens doesn't focus in the dark.
Bought with bokeh Christmas lights behind a portrait in mind, the narrow band of focus shows up the slightest deviation from correct focus on the nearest eye.
I'm using flashguns to light my model and she is lit up beautifully, but, she's out of focus!
It seems the new Yongnuo 622 tx radio trigger have a transmitter that sends out an infra red gridde focusing aid. Before I bought a set I remember seeing a Canon ST-E2 lying around in my studio.
Sure enough it sends out an infra red focusing grid long enough for the lens to focus, then turns off automatically - Brilliant!!
Remote control of a Canon flash in most rooms, or even a large hall, is a doddle. Outside I need line of sight with 12 metres maximum reach, but with the flash in slave mode I can operate all the controls including high speed sync. Plus, I can fire several other flashes in two groups and have ratio control over both groups.

However, I have one Canon flash and three Yongnuo 560 flashes and although they will all fire there seems no way I can make the Yongnuo's fire in sync with the shutter.
 The infra red beam fires off the Yongnuo's before the shutter has opened no matter which mode I use.

To be continued after the purchase of a set of Yongnuo 622tx radio triggers.

1 comment:

  1. The answer to my problem is to use a Yongnuo 568 EXll which sends out a gridwork of red lines emitting long enough to focus each time I half press the shutter button. Or, whenever I take a photo.
    It does this regardless of whether the flash is in manual or ETTL and the camera can be manual or one of the auto modes.
    Not sure if a new Canon flash will send out a similar focusing grid but with the Yongnuo costing just £70 for what is appears to be a rip-off of a Canon flashgun. Not really sure about spending an extra few hundred pounds and ending up with an ultra modern flashgun that I might not even get along with. So far the Yongnuo is behaving itself in every respect.
    I now have the option to go with a Yongnuo triggering system but there is a masive range with most of them not being compatible with the TN 568EXll. Maybe I'll stick with my old fashioned iShoot radio trigger which seem to work with any flashgun and any make of camera. I hardly ever get a misfire, even with a three light setup. The iShoot / Yongnuo combination is cheap, cheerful, reliable and suit my needs admirably. Okay, so I may not be able to alter the powers remotely or use highspeed sync but my batteries will last for six months of shooting, whereas one particular make I was seriously considering only last 6 to 8 hours? They are kidding surely?

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