[stephen P]

Hi I am new so I hope you can be patient with me, if I don't do this right :-)

I have just purchased a mini cell slave unit, which was supposed to trigger a second flash, so I merrily got all excited and tried it but nothing, assuming there was something wrong with it I went back and got another one but again nothing happened. I have now concluded operator error (the plonka factor)

Can anyone help and let me know if there is a common thing people like me forget, or don't do correctly.

Cheers

[P-E]

Hi &

Sorry I can't help you with your technical query ......I hope someone will be along shortly to offer you some advice

[sejanus]

Some obvious things to check...

1. Does the slave require a battery and if so, is it fitted the right way round?
2. How does the slave connect to the flash (i.e. hotshoe, PC cord) and is the connection compatible with the flash that the slave is supposed to trigger?
3. The flash that the slave is to trigger is actually working (attach to the camera and try it)
4. The flash on the camera is working (surprisingly easy mistake to make with a SLR )
5. The slave flash ISN'T firing (a powerful unit on the camera can drown out a weak off-camera unit) Get someone to stand close to the slave and check this for you.

If these all check out, then it's back to the shop for a replacement, I'm afraid.

[Dabhand16]

If you are referring to a slave trigger - like a table tennis ball but half black - after you have checked sejanus's list, make sure your camera is not set for red-eye reduction as this will cause it to 'pre flash' before it takes the picture. If this is happening, your slave flash might be firing too early and therefore not having any effect on the image.