Nikon SLR Cameras

Setup multiple camera flash to fire individually?

Jules M
Jules M

I just about to buy a new nikon d800 and 3 flashes, I have discovered that the nikon sb-910 can act as a commander for other flashes such as the sb-700s so my plan is to get one sb-910 and 2x sb-700…
What I would really like to do is set up a rig so that I can shoot 3 photos in quick succession using different flashes.e. G photo 1 - flash A, photo 2 flash B… Etc.
I can't find any information suggesting the rb-900 can do this kind of thing without manually cancelling and enabling flashes,
does anyone know if it can?
Does anyone know another way in which I may do this?
I guess my budget is about £800 - £1000…

James
James

For that kind of money you could buy a dozen cheap Chinese flashes and an assortment of wireless remotes on different channels. It's not the optimal solution but it will allow you to selectively fire individual flashes without running around the studio.

Or you could just get 3 cords and swap them out at the camera.

AWBoater
AWBoater

Are you wanting to fire them in sequence, one after the other?

I don't know for sure, but I would be surprised that the D800 could do that. It can most certainly control three flashes, and depending if it has two or three groups (some Nikon DSLRs only have 2), you can independently control the flash output, but I don't think you can independently control the sequence or delay for each.

I could be wrong, but don't think so.

What you need is something similar to a Camera Axe.

http://www.cameraaxe.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Unfortunately, it only has two channels, so it can only sequence two flashes. But you could probably use it by mounting one flash to your camera (or use a remote cable) set to fire immediately.

That flash cable would also be hooked up to the Camera Axe, which is hooked to the second and third flash. If you put a delay into both of those flashes via the Camera Axe, then you would have the solution.

A bit Rube Goldberg, but it might work.

Otherwise you will have to search for a 3 channel version of a Camera Axe.

As a retired engineer, I could make one pretty easily (heck a 12th grade kid could these days). Actually it would be pretty simple. Just buy an Arduino Uno board, a Relay Shield, and a 9V battery adapter. Wire the Relay Shield up to your flash shoes, program the Arduino, and you got it.

You would need a few programming skills and at least some familiarity with working with electronics, but it would be pretty simple.

Actually, the Camera Axe uses an Arduino Microcontroller…