Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

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Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:57 pm

Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:37 pm
Posts: 3

Please help! I've had my Alien Bee 400 for 2 months. I use radio poppers to trigger. Last night I took a few shots of my son and they were great. Woke up today and there was a BIG problem! In the same spot, background, camera and with the same settings the shots are completely over exposed. I'm shooting with a Nikon D600 / 50mm 1.8 lens / settings are ISO 125 - shutter 1/160 - f2 I've played around with the settings are can get a properly lit shot at f10. I am shooting in M mode. I took a series of three shots ... 1. Full power from the flash & full power from the radiopopper 2) full power from the flash & lowest power on the poppers 3)lowest power on the flash (1/32nd) and lowest setting on the popper. ALL threes images came out the same. When I have the modeling light on it shows the light adjustment when I adjust using the poppers and when I adjust from the flash unit. Also, I'm not sure if it's suppose to but the "dump" is never red. PLEASE HELP!!! I have a 1 year birthday session, head shots for a politician, and a newborn session this weekend and as you all know paulbuff isn't open on weekends. Thanks in advance!!




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Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:37 am

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Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:43 am
Posts: 5266

First, unplug the radio poppers and use the slider to see if the power adjusts. Set the light to full, and fire it using the test button. Set the unit to minimum, look to see if the red dump light comes on, then fire it using the test button. This will probably be close to the same power as the full power flash. This is due to the light needing to dump excess power. Leaving the flash at minimum, fire again from the test button. This and subsequent flashes should have a visually lower power than the other two flashes.

Remember, the nothing should be plugged into the telephone jack, as this can override slider settings, and lead to red herring symptoms.

If the light will not adjust from the slider, then the unit will need to come in.

If the problem only exists when the radio poppers are present, then there could be an issue in the light, or it could be in the remotes or cable.




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Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:43 am

Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:37 pm
Posts: 3

I tested it at full power, then low power, then again a few times and they all look the same. Looks like I'll need to send it in. :/




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