Using multiple AF400FTZ's

I've been thinking about putting together a flash rig for macro photography and was thinking about using two AF400FTZ's with my DS. At the moment I've got one of those, plus a couple of off-camera cords and the hotshoe adaptor. I was thinking about getting another hotshoe adaptor and a 2nd AF400FTZ via Ebay and I was wondering if this would work, and particularily if it'll work in TTL mode.

I was thinking about stacking the adaptors - one per flash - and connecting both the flashes in TTL mode using the off-camera cables.

Regards
Steve

Yes it will work, in full TTL mode, and you can stack up as many adapters as you like.

For the DSLRs, the Adapter Fg is recommended in the manual, as that will enable the RTF to work. However, the Fg doesn't have a hotshoe on top, so won't allow stacking. If you already have the F (with hotshoe on top), then either an F or an Fg can go on the top of the pile.

The useful thing about the 400 flashguns is that they have their own 5P socket, so don't need an off-camera adapter.

BUT, you might well find that using manual flash rather than TTL will give you more control.

If cash is a consideration, the AF240FT also has a 5P socket, and is quite powerful enough, though it has a fixed head which limits flexibility.

Also consider a cheap slave trigger if you are prepared to use manual. In fact, do give manual mode your consideration. For your needs, it is the option I personally would prefer.

G

Thanks for that - sounds like it should work much as I was hoping.

Regards
Steve

Do the 400 flashes offer contrast control flash?
I'm sure that two 500 ftz's or a 500ftz and a 300 ftz will give ttl main and fill on an istd or ds2 with that kind of set up....just curious...

The 400 and the 240 don't offer contrast control.

The 5P cables let the guns do everything that they can do when mounted on the hotshoe, so you should theoretically get contrast control using a couple of 500s connected by 5P cables.

G

I'm thinking about producing the same kind of thing, a dual flash macro set up.

I've been looking for a couple of AF240FT's to do the job but I can't find any at the moment.

The 2 X AF500FTZ idea sounds very good but isn't that a bit overkill (too much light) for a flash to subject distance of only a foot or two at most. Would two lower powered guns be more controllable?

Would it matter if the two guns were of different output power, one 500FTZ and one 360FGZ for instance ? I'm thinking now that possibly the inbuilt flash could be setup as a wireless controller to trigger the 360FGZ and the 500FTZ will hopefully be triggered correctly by the 5P cable connection.

My fear is that the subject will not be evenly lit from both sides because of the different output levels from the 2 guns..

Hmmmm, worth an experiment I think. Sadly, it won't be for about a month because my 500FTZ and my 360FGZ are currently about 2000 miles apart but I'll get them together in the next couple of weeks and let you know how I get on.

With macro more power does seem to be a good thing, especially at high magnifications and small apertures. My single AF400FTZ provides enough light at 1:1 and F16 without any extra diffusion being used, but it's borderline when a softbox is fitted.

The biggest single problem with macro is getting enough DOF. The answer is to stop right down, and at small apertures you need more light.

G