Hi Peter (and the list),
>I had an idea for something similar - but for multiple F280 flashes and
TTLF cords.
Yes, that's another thing I've been curious about too, as it would be very
nice to be able to use some 3 F280's in Super FP mode. I came to realise
that for studio work the T flashes will probably perform equally well (or
better) at a set-up with multiple flashes, but when taking outdoor pictures
and just wanting fill flash (given handily in Super FP mode), it would maybe
be nicer to be able to use several F280s for these purposes. This gives you
more free control over aperture/exposure time too...
>After failing to get any answer from anyone else I asked PatMacFarlane at
Olympus America:
>"I have 2 each of these (and one OM4T) and while I know that the F280 isnot
intended to be
>used in multiples (ala T series) I wanted to knowwhether:
While not really intended for that purpose, Oly's lack of providing us with
a more professional line of F-flashes along with their "brilliant"
marketing(?) decision to discontinue ALL T-flashes, more or less forces us
to start thinking of such solutions ourselves.
IMO there shouldn't really be any issue in using multiple F280s, as the
camera's TTL OTF will eventually determine when the film has received enough
light. So, whether this is provided by one F280 or by multiple ones, really
should be immaterial.
So, it should only be a matter of "acquiring" a TTL MultiConnector F, and
several TTL AutoCord F cables (as well as the F280 flashes of course).
Unfortunately Oly only makes the short cords, so this is not an "out of the
box" solution. Also, Hans van Veluwen told me that for the T flashes, you
can use a TTL AutoConnector T20 to steer whatever T flash (T18 and T20
excluded, as they don't have a T contact), and loop a T cable from the T
contact to the next T flash, effectively eliminating the need for a
MultiConnector. This, unfortunately is also not possible for the F280,
unless you can somehow create a hotshoe on one end of the F cables, and use
an F connector on the other side (but even then I'm not certain that the F
contact of the flash will output the signal to the F contact, when mounted
on a hot shoe) :(((
Then, building something yourself really should be the answer. Issue: the
TTL AutoCord F cables are hard to find, and only give you one "F connector"
per cable. Unfortunately, you'd have to find one of these cables per flash
(unlike the T cables where 1 cable could be used for 2 flashes)...:(((
So, to come to your points, here's some speculative input which would have
to be verified by actually trying it:
>1. the TTLF cable could be extended - by splitting it in the middle and
adding an appropriate
>length of cable. If it could what would be the limitations and what
specification of cable would
>be needed?
I think any type of 7-threaded electrical wire should do; just make 1-on-1
connections when extending the cable, either directly soldering in the
extension, or using generic 7-pin audio plugs for this purpose. Length wise,
there will probably be a limit to the total length of the cables you use.
Oly states that this is 30m (+/- 90 feet) for T cables, so this may very
well be the case for F cables too.
>2. two F280's could be used at the same time by interconnection the front
halves of two TTLF
>cables to one back half, on an OM4T, using some sort of locally
manufactured multi-
>connector."My intention was to use the multiple F-280s was , like T32's to
provide illumination
>from more than one direction, but with more flexibility on shutter speeds.
One or both flashes
>to be sited off camera, closer to the subject.
Yes, this sounds valid to me. Unless the camera somehow can't use the Super
FP mode when steering multiple flashes, but then, when just splitting one F
cable (coming from the camera) to drive multiple F flashes, how's the camera
to know that it's actually driving more than 1 flash? I would assume the
camera simply sets of the F280s' strobes, and will cut them off once the
camera's TTL OTF metering has detected enough light has reached the film.
>"Pat advised my that they had tried this. He advised that "The extended
cord should not
>exceed 14 ft.
When using two flashes? In other words: should the _total_ cable length not
exceed 14 ft., or should each cable not exceed that length?
>All connections should be soldered and covered with shrink tubing.
That goes without saying. :)
>If inductance (unwanted electrical signals generated by the flow of currant
in an adjacent
>wire) should become a problem.
Unless you've wound the cable around something (causing it to have several
"loops") and/or using the cables near strong magnets, I don't really see how
inductance could become a problem. (Or am I overlooking something here?)
>My thinking was to use computer networking cable which I already had. I
then bought the box
>to house the connections, the shrink tubing, and 7 way mini-din plugs and
sockets but I still
>haven't summoned up the nerve to cut the two TTL F cables and attempt all
the soldering!
>Hopefully I'll get around to it soon.
The plan sounds sound enough. Please keep me (and the list) posted if/when
you're actually going to attempt this...
Good luck!
Olafo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Olaf Greve Lucent Technologies
Advanced Software Engineer Bell Labs (R&D Centre Twente)
ogreve@xxxxxxxxxx Capitool 1-19
Direct lines: +31-(0)53-4845706 7521 PL Enschede
+31-(0)35-6875706 The Netherlands
Personal e-mail: ogreve@xxxxxxxxxxx
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