Flash Choice for a newbie

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AnnG

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I am a total newbie when it comes to studio lighting. So far I have used natural light and reflectors for my photography. Results have been OK, a nice big bay window for backlighting, translucent plastic curved sheeting and reflector (polystyrene tile).

I photograph flowers and still life - close up and personal - no portraits or large scale work so distance is not an issue.

I was looking at continuous as it's close to what I'm already doing - cool lights so the flowers don't wilt.

But I see from this forum that flash is the preferred route.

I can't afford Bowens etc and I don't like that I can't change the flash tubes on Lastolite so am veering towards Lencarta.

I'm hoping some experts can help me with a few questions :)

I use a Canon 60D - can I use one of the wireless triggers in the hotshoe to trigger the flash heads?

As most of my work is close up, will the smartflash kits be good enough for my purposes?

Would the elitepro's be too powerful - or ok with the power turned down?

If you have any useful tips - I'd love to hear them - I think ;)

Cheers
 
I use a Canon 60D - can I use one of the wireless triggers in the hotshoe to trigger the flash heads?
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Yes, any radio trigger will work as long as the receiver has the standard 3.5mm jack plug
As most of my work is close up, will the smartflash kits be good enough for my purposes?
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Yes
Would the elitepro's be too powerful - or ok with the power turned down?
Click to expand...
At minimum power the ElitePro produces LESS power than the SmartFlash - at full power it has a 50% higher output but it also has twice as much adjustment, so the power goes down to 8ws compared to 12ws on the SmartFlash
 
I too ma a bigginer at lighting and I was looking at these, they get great reviews and will do the job you want them too, pluss you can add as much as you like to them.

lencarta lights

I also looked at a few other strter kits but these always came out on top for the price.

spike
 
Thank you for those answers Garry, appreciate your time.

One are that still has me a bit mystified is how to meter for flash. Can you point me to a basic how-to by any chance?

I might go for the elitepros then - they might be a better bet for the dark moody type of shot perhaps?

What a lot of stuff to learn lol
 
Well, although some people believe that meters aren't needed, the best way of getting the exposure right is to use a flash meter. The meter is used in incident mode (reading light that is incident upon rather than reflected from) the subject, and the measurement is taken from immediately in front of the subject, indicating the correct aperture.
 
Forgive my ignorance but I have never used a light meter before - I have absolutely no idea how they work.

With flash - how exactly is the light from the flash heads taken into account - is there a setting on the meter to match the power setting of the flash - or is the modelling light used as a guide.

I know these questions will sound absurd for those that know - but I am totally mystified by this bit :)
 
It's just a meter that records a pulse of light (the flash) and translates that into the aperture required for correct exposure. The better ones also measure whatever ambient light there is and the effect that that will have at the chosen shutter speed, but under normal conditions/shutter speeds the amount of ambient light is usually neither here nor there.

So basically, you set the ISO setting and the shutter speed you're using to the meter, put the meter immediately in front of the subject and pointing towards either the light or the camera, press a button that tells it to expect a flash, then fire the flash. It doesn't matter what power the flashes are set to, the meter will measure it correctly.
 
Ahh, thanks Garry. Simples lol

Nowhere have I found that there is a button to expect a flash on the flash meter :)

It all makes sense now :)

Cheers.
 
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