TTL Coil Cord

[oddgirl]

I think I'll get the SB-28 after reading through everyone's comments here in the forum.

Question: The person selling me the speedlight also wants me to buy his TTL coil cord to go with it. He said, by using this cord, I can put the flash unit on a tripod, or hold it somewhere else away from the camera, and it will still work magically as it should. Is this true?

I'm sorry that I'm asking such an elementary question, but I've never used any of these computerized camera flash units, and it amazes me how they talk to the lens and camera and know exactly what to do.

Thanks for responding.

[GP's Photograph]

The TTL Coil Cord is what it means...a cord. This will connect your camera to the flash. The cord is most often used when someone is shooting with a flip bracket. Flip brackets are great because they reduce the side shadow created when shooting vertically.

[Mike Flood]

Don't pay more than about $40 for the cord.
You can get brand new ones @ B&H for just over $50.

Nikon makes the SC-17 cord. There are a few others out there.
I belive the brand is Promaster

[oddgirl]

Flip bracket -- is that some kind of diffuser or way to bounce/reflect the light? (Sorry!)

The plan is to pay $245 ($200 for the flash, $35 for the cord, $10 to ship) for the SB28 and TTL cord. Guy says they are like new. It sounded like a good deal to me. What do you think?

So the cord is a "must have" kind of thing to go with the flash? And then I need to find a "flip bracket"? Forgive me for my ignorance. I usually take pictures outdoors and so never really used flash much. I'm trying to get my act together so I can be more versatile and use my new 'spensive toys to the fullest.

Thanks for your help and your patience. Everybody's gotta start somewhere.

[memobug]

Don't worry too much about the flip or the TTL cable right now, then. It's too much apparatus for a time when you want to concentrate on learning how to balance flash with daylight.

Here is a link to the stroboframe site that shows some of their flash brackets. This is a nice piece of equipment for someone who is swapping back and forth between portrait and landscape format photos using flash as a main light - like a photojournalist or wedding photographer.

Photo of the actual device is about 1/2 way down the page

http://www.saundersphoto.com/html/body_strb_chrt.htm

It is easy to get lost in accessories!

Regards,

Matt

[oddgirl]

Ahhh -- now I understand. Duh!!! I can see the benefit to having one of these, although I think I'll initially use the cord if I want to position the light away from the camera. It looks like Stroboframe makes quite a few different flash brackets. The RL 2000, the Quick Flip and the Strobo Flip seem to be the most appropriate. The Quick Flip 350 is only about $45. Which one do you recommend using with the S2? Thanks!

[jeffinkansas]

something to think about concerning the cord. I truly believe that if you want to make pictures that look professional TAKE THE FLASH OFF THE CAMERA!!! If your camera is a S2 then you can focus and shoot with one hand while positioning your flash with your other hand. Try it. I think you will be surprised.

hope this helps

Jeff

[oddgirl]

Thank you, Jeff. Most helpful! That was my initial rationale for wanting the cord -- to get the flash away from me by holding it or putting it on a tripod. I figured that if I do want it near the camera, I'll just use the hot shoe and bounce the light up at the ceiling if I'm indoors. I also got a light bouncer/diffuser to help make the light more natural (decided on the "Lumiquest Ultrasoft," only about $25). It seems that, unless you're into taking hundreds of pix at a time indoors, maybe the bracket isn't a top priority.

I'm still curious to find out if anyone uses the Stroboframe Quick Flip 350. Since it doesn't cost that much (about $50), it might be a good thing to have around, just in case. But then again, you usually get the quality that you pay for. Does someone have this particular flip bracket? Are you happy with it or is it a piece of $#!+?

[bill garofalo]

Yes the SC17 will give you TTL flash with any of the Nikon Flash units,SB26 is what I use. You cannot hand hold the flash and the camera, so you need a Strobo Bar. This will keep your flash above the camera even when turned for a vertical shot. Now if you bounce your flash you will get really great photos. No harsh shadows, a nice even soft lighting, my preferance.

[Tom V]

Originally posted by oddgirl
...I'm still curious to find out if anyone uses the Stroboframe Quick Flip 350. ...f $#!+?

I have the Stroboframe 350, the Nikon SC-17 TTL Cord, Speedlights SB-25 & SB-28, a TTL 3m straight cord, and a small 12" Chimera Light Box. It ALL works great no matter how I mix and match it all.

Typically, I mount the SC-17 directly to the Stroboframe and just use one speedlight. When I use the softbox, I have to mount its hardware to the Stroboframe, the SC-17 on top of the softbox hardware, and the Speedlight on the SC-17. I carry a variety of 1/4-20 nuts and bolts to fit it together in different arrangements.

When I need to use 2 flashes off camera, I put the SC-17 on a tripod with one flash, and connect the second flash with the 3m straight TTL cord. Click * Check the Histogram * Done. It works like a charm.

Attached is a TTL fill flash shot using the stroboframe, the SC-17, SB-28 and Chimera softbox.