My lighting setup is as follows:
1x Speedlite 430EX
2x Vivitar 285HV
x1 36" Black/White Umbrella
I've been using my Speedlite and triggering one of my 285HV's with a Peanut Slave. The other 285 has just been sitting around. I'm wondering what my best option is go for my whole setup.
Cybersync's seem like they would best suit my needs. I don't need any rediculous distane... 30 feet is more then enough. Or would another Peanut Slave be in my best interest?
Peanuts work fine unless there are other flash shooter around so for about $30 you can put your other flash in play. The Peanuts plug directly into the base of the flash or the end of a PC cord (which allows you to aim it better).
Two flashes are adequate for a wide variety of tasks if you use them intelligently so they work together the model shape and control contrast / lighting ratio. If you click the WWW button below you'll find some tutorials which will show you ways to do that.
I used pairs of Vivitars for many years but switched to a pair or 580ex when switching to a Canon DSLR. The Vivitars are in many ways a ball and chain that limit you to manual, 1/25Oth sec sync., and a somewhat regimented style of shooting. If you were to add a 550ex / 550ex / 580ex you could do everything you now do in M mode, but with finger-tip control from the camera. Plus you get the convenience of ETTL ratios, high-speed sync. and full use of all the capabilities of your camera and lenses (i.e. shooting in Av mode at f/2.8 on a sunny day with fill flash)
