It s all about communication. A VISUAL GUIDE As a manual photographer hoping to create amazing images totally in-camera, it's vital to be able to use a flash off-camera confidently. This means not only knowing the basics of flash photography but also being able to take the flash offcamera and ensuring that communication between the two devices remains pristine. To this extent we recommend the Cowboy Studio Wireless Radio Transmitter and Receiver set. These extremely reliable tools are less than $25 for a set, which includes one transmitter and one receiver. It's what we use, it's what our students use. For the money, reliability and versatility... there is nothing that comes close. SAN DIEGO IN FOCUS LEARNING CENTER www.incameramagic.com www.facebook.iflcsandiego.com SETTING UP AND TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR COWBOY STUDIO WIRELESS TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER
Set Don t be in a rush when setting up your gear, it ll make all the difference in the world Up It s easy to get overexcited when it comes to using your first wireless communication set, just don t let your enthusiasm cloud what is (in essence) a very simple procedure. You have to think a bit about every little piece. So slow down, take your time and think through what needs to happen.
Inspecting the Contents Step 1 Locate and examine your wireless receiver, noting where the channel control is, the hot shoe, the on and off switch and the hole for a light stand. Open the box and inspect the contents. Depending on which set you purchased, you will either have one or two receivers, one transmitter and one PC sync cord. The included cord is used for larger studio strobes (not small flashes). The transmitter comes with a battery already inserted. The receivers do not. You will need to purchase two AAA batteries for each receiver. You will also have an instruction booklet. Which you should read immediately. It s quite small.
Find the battery compartment on your receiver and open it. Your Cowboy Studio Wireless Kit will come with one transmitter. Remove it from the box. Step 2 Insert a new (totally fresh) set of batteries into the compartment. Step 3 Locate the radio channel options and set them to the same that are on the receiver. Make sure the batteries are inserted correctly and the compartment latch is closed securely. Locate the test button on the radio transmitter. It will be on the top, next to it will be a small light.
Step 4 Checking the Connection To check the connection between wireless transmitter and receiver, ensure the receiver is turned on (there is an on and off switch on the top), the channels are the same between transmitter and flash (you have four options) and press the test button on the transmitter. Both ready lights (the one on the transmitter and the receiver) will light momentarily. IMPORTANT: The range of the transmitter is approximately 90 feet. Obstructions however, radio interference, camera, flash and battery charge level can limit this range.to ensure best operation make sure that all batteries are new.
Step 6 Step 5 Attach the receiver to flash. Once you ve examined the contents of your kit, insert fresh batteries into both your wireless receiver and flash (we recommend an inexpensive Neewer Flash (about $35) Attach the transmitter to the camera Your wireless receiver is designed to sit snuggly in your camera s hot show. Push the transmitter into your camera s hot shoe with the name facing forward. Tighten the transmitter to the hot shoe, being careful not to over tighten the tool. Slide the shoe of the receiver onto the foot of the flash face forward and secure it tightly. INIGHT:. Often inexperienced photographers will attach the receiver backwards on their first try. If the receiver is attached improperly, it will not work. Make sure the receiver is facing the correct direction (with the name of the manufacturer facing forward)
Time to Practice! Once your system has been tested, you re ready to start shooting! Even though using your Cowboy Studio transmitter and receiver set is relatively easy to use, this doesn t mean that your pictures will be amazing at first. It takes time, practice and confidence to start create the amazing so don t put gaining that experience off, get out there and start experimenting, start shooting and start using your wireless gear today! Practice truly does make perfect, especially when it comes off-camera flash photography.
Mastering off-camera flash takes time, effort and a lot of energy. But if you re looking for a bit of incamera magic then it s an investment worth making. Even though the Cowboy Studio Wireless Trigger and Receivers are inexpensive, what they offer to the manual photographer is nothing less than priceless.
TroubleShooting TOP TEN Reasons Your Cowboy Studio Wireless Communication System May Fail While in the Field Every now and then, something can (and most definitely will) go wrong. In our haste to create the amazing, it s easy sometimes to overlook the obvious. Even the smallest, most simple, most innocuous detail in you communication system if neglected can stop you dead in your tracks. Just remember that each piece in the process (in the connection between camera and flash), no matter how small it may seem, is vital. You have to get ALL the pieces right if you want this to work! 1) SHUTTER SPEED IS FASTER THAN CAMERA S SYNC SPEED Your Cowboy Studio wireless system is purely manual. You must shoot at or below your camera s flash sync speed no exceptions. NOTE: Your transmitter and receiver do not offer advanced communication options. Should your flash offer high-speed flash synchronization for example, you will not be able to use the feature. 2) YOUR FLASH IS SET TO AUTO OR ITS BATTERIES ARE WEAK You Cowboy Studio wireless system does not transmit any exposure data. Your flash must both be set to manual control and have freshly installed batteries. 3) YOUR CAMERA BATTERY IS WEAK No matter how meticulous you are in setting up your gear, something will (at some point) go wrong and knowing how to troubleshoot the situation will prove very important. Your Cowboy Studio wireless system relies on a clear signal from camera to transmitter, to receiver. If your camera battery is weak, this connection will be compromised. Use freshly charged camera batteries when using an off-camera flash.
4) THE TRANSMITTER IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY Your wireless transmitter must be mounted face forward and secured to the camera s hot shoe. If it can slide easily off your camera, it is not attached securely. If the transmitter touches your forehead when you hold the camera to your eye, it is on backwards. 10) YOU HAVE A FAULTY TRANSMITTER OR RECEIVER It s quite rare that a new radio transmitter or receiver will be faulty, but it can happen. Before you return your gear make sure that you have checked and rechecked every piece of gear (including your camera settings). If you find that one piece of your system is faulty, return the entire kit. 5) THE RECEIVER IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY, IS NOT TURNED ON OR HAS WEAK BATTERIES Your wireless receiver must be turned on, mounted face forward and secured to the camera s foot. The batteries MUST be fresh! 6) RADIO CHANNELS DO NOT MATCH Both your transmitter and receiver must use the same radio frequency. 7) YOUR TARGET AREA IS OUT OF RANGE Your Cowboy Studio wireless system is good for 90 feet. Anything past this and the chances for proper communication expire. 8) THERE IS INTERFERENCE OR OBSTACLES BETWEEN TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER Interference (such as obstacles in the path or other electronic or radio signals) may weaken the effective range of your wireless gear. 9) CAMERA SETTINGS INADEQUATE While this does not affect the transmitter and receiver, it will have an effect on the illumination offered from your flash. If you choose your camera settings, flash setting, modification tools, direction of coverage or angle of spread poorly then your images will show it. It s quite possible that even though your flash will fire, your image will not show any addition of light.