metz 45 long flash cable or wireless?

[game]

I use a simple metz flash in combination with several camera's.
At this point I only have a 1 meter cable that came with it.
I like to use the flash on longer distances, so I need a longer cable.
My questions:

Do I have to buy a metz cable? or does a universal x to x contact cable by HAMA or something like that will work? Do I have to buy a convertor than?
I also like to add a flash maybe later on...

OR is wireless a good option?

Can someone help me a bit here, cause I don't know much about flashes.
Many thanks Game!

 

[Nick Zentena]

Do you need TTL or not? If you don't then just using a normal Xsync cable with the right bits will work. If you need TTL then I think you need to see if Metz makes a longer 300 series cable. Wireless to the best of my memory doesn't support TTL with the 45s.

Instead of going the Metz wireless you can get one of the radio units of Ebay for strobes. A lot cheaper and you'll be able to use it on a monolight to.

It sounds like you want to run multiple flashes to?

 

[game]

Nick, thanks for replying.
To make myself a bit more clear:

I do not need TTL.

I want to able to fire of flashes at longer distances. My question regarding wether it has to be a metz cable or not are asked because if I see the cable that runs from my mets flasher to my camera, than the connectionport on the metz is not a x contact....

Or is has long x-cable a male connection on one side and a female connection on the other? In which case I can off course lenghten the current cable...

About wireless, and multiple flashes. I indeed wish to explore the use of multiple flashes. I also think there is a fair change I might be using monoblocks in the near future, so in that case the wireless option you suggested seems pretty atractive..

Can you tell me 1. is a x cable indeed male/female?
and 2. what sort of radio device should I need? Does that mean I have a transmitter in the camera, and lets say three recievers, that I can plug into the flashers?
And if so, how will they fit the metz?

Many thanks, Game

 

[Nick Zentena]

So you aren't using a module on the camera now? Just a X-sync connection.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ls&Q=&sku=78146&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

You want something like that.

For the slave go to Ebay and look for radio slaves. You want one of the battery powered units because the Metz doesn't plug into the wall.

They all tend to be sold in two piece sets. One transmitter one receiver. Some of the sellers offer to just sell extra receivers but at prices that are basically the same for getting an extra set.

Some are single channel. Some are more. Channels lets you control each light but you can easily manage with the single channel ones.

They all have x-sync connections of some sort. Basically instead of plugging the flash into the camera you plug it into receiver.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wireless-Remote...094998117QQcategoryZ30084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's like mine. You DON't want that one-) It takes power from the wall. They should have a similar model that runs on batteries.

You should check if they have a European spec model to. The frequencies are a little different.

 

[game]

Nick,
indeed such a male/female cable would be able to do the trick.
wireless of course is much handier. And multipple flashes is way easier too.
BUT ARE YOU SERIOUS on the 10 dollar priced equipment?

Is that any good? it seems extremally cheap..
Could you explain why and if it is proper equipment.
(10 ft is a little less then I need too)

Kind regards Sam

 

[Nick Zentena]

$10 plus shipping -)

Yup they work. They may have less range then some of the high priced units. But I doubt most people will have any trouble with the range.

To me the units are basically basic garage door openers. Just check how much a garage door opener remote costs.

Or look at the Speedotron unit. Very similar. 10X the cost.

http://www.speedotron.com/Trigger.htm

I bet all made in the same Chinese factory.

 

[derekh]

$10 plus shipping -)

Or look at the Speedotron unit. Very similar. 10X the cost.

I bet all made in the same Chinese factory.

Although there is a significant difference in the working range of the No-Name ebay units (30 feet) vs the Speedotron ones (150 feet).

 

[Nick Zentena]

I don't think that's really true. The multi-channel Ebay receivers claim much higher numbers. The single channel ones claim lower but if Speedotron was still selling a single channel unit I wonder what they would claim. I think the issue isn't the receiver/transmitter but the risk of interference with the single channel units.