Lighting for an overseas shoot, what to take???!!!

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steveW

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Steve
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I'm going to Japan for three weeks this coming march to generate material for my portfolio. I'm planning on shooting several portrait series while I'm out there, and like/am used to using a number of lights with various modifiers when shooting. I hoped that I would have the budget to rent some nice profoto stuff for at least a day or two while out there, but am now thinking this is financially unrealistic, and would also be a massive hassle to lug around.

Does this mean that my only remaining option is using speedlights? And if so, can anybody suggest some good kit for speedlights such as softboxes, wireless transmitters, or any essential grip that wont break the bank? So far I just have my 5D mkII, and a canon 430 ex, and am slightly worried I have a lot of kit that needs purchasing :bang:
Any suggestions/alternatives would be much appreciated!

Kind regards,

steveW
 
It'll be better ideally to have whatever kit you need for the whole time, allow you to help find and keep your body of work in the same style, and not 'feel the need' for more kit.

You can do a hell of a lot with a few speedlights, maybe an umbrella (I dig the westcott doublefold, bit annoying at times though) and a popup softbox... a few manfrotto nano stands could be chucked in the hold too.

All depends what you want and need really. Could do worse than a lencarta safari and an octobox.... what lighting have you / are you used to working with, what sort of constraints will you have, etcetcetc.

I like using reflectors a lot at the moment, and a reflector arm means you're not dancing around trying to hold it as well. Something light to chuck in the bag, another nano stand and arm is about 1.5kg.

Stylistic and story will be a bigger factor if you're looking to put together a coherent piece of work than the particular source of light used.
 
Hi Steve

If your trip includes Tokyo then be warned, as the mains electricity supply voltage is not consistent across all areas of the city. From personal experience I can say that a bit of kit that works in one building may not necessarily be suitable for use in a building across the street. This plus the language issue can makes hiring and using stuff like mains powered lighting a bit of a problem. I’d stay with Speedlites and other equipment you can practise with before you go.

Good luck
Sam-D
 
Go the speedlight route; you're only ever reliant on AAs for power (instead of searching for mains power) and TBH, for general portraiture and situation shooting, they provide more than enough flexibility and power.

Light modifiers are really common. You can get a decent small/medium softbox off fleabay for as little as 335 and combined with a decent stand and a Yongnuo manual flash, you can have a full light for £100. reflectors (the fold-up gold/silver ones) don't cost much and you can buy (or make) snoots and grids.

Of course, you can go down the TTL flash route using 550/580 flashes but these are much more expensive and for your 5D you need to figure in a master controller, either an extra 580 or a E2-ST commander.

I would deffo have a look at the Strobist blog and look at the archive of shoot that David Hobby has undertaken just using a couple of flashgun; he proves without a doubt that small flashes can pack a big punch, especially when it comes to being portable.
 
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jingphotography said:
I would imagine a few speed lights (580ex) will be good? and buy them there, maybe cheaper than here. And of course triggers. agree itsdavedotnet on light modifiers.
Click to expand...

If it was me I'd buy a few old Nikon SBs (24/25/26 etc) and some triggers rather than one 580EX - for the new price of one of those you could nearly have a full Strobist kit....
 
You guys rock. I love this forum already. Good advice, I think the speedlights are the way to go.

I've been doing lighting/digital operation for commercial photographers in London for the past 3 years, so I've been spoiled rotten using the best kit there is... so probably felt a bit snobbish towards speedlights.

I love using grids, so might purchase a speed grid or two. As wells as the 430ex I also have an old 580 EZ, which I notice I can trigger using a sync cord from my 5D to hot shoe onto the light. Wondering if I can hot shoe the EZ to some kind of receiver?

These Yongnuo lights, are they ok then? Do they have built in slave? Or do they need receiver? And if I'm potentially mixing them with my canon speedlight... what's the best triggering route?

THANK YOU!
 
yeah put the EZ on a reciever and run it as whichever light needs more power then run the 430 on another reciever which gives you a 2 light set up thats pretty flexible

google strobist and search the blog for 2 light and he lists a few very useful 2 light setups that are more speedlight friendly than most of the lighting you've come to learn

the yonguo lights are a bit crap but can be a handy rim, they have slaves built in but will work on a hotshoe based trigger. I'd buy 2 RF602 transmitters and 3 (or more if you get more yonguous) recievers with at least one camera cable. That gives you a lot of options and a backup plan if any component fails
 
Buy well, buy once. get Canon speedlights, or if you're on a budget, some old Nikon sb26's.
 
The yongnuo flashes do a job for a budget - £40 or so will get you one - although personally I'd go and buy some old SB24/25/26/28s (between £50-£80ea) that are built like tanks, have plenty of power and will take receivers via the PC socket (SB24/25/26 have optical slave built in). Plus the nikon's can utilise an external battery pack also.

Triggers; yongnuo do some good ones these days. Altitude are very reliable. Pocket Wizards are supposed to be great but don't think the older flashes can be controlled wirelessly for TTL by any kind of commander unit - think that's left to more modern guns like SB700/800/900 & 550/580EX
 
specialman said:
The yongnuo flashes do a job for a budget - £40 or so will get you one - although personally I'd go and buy some old SB24/25/26/28s (between £50-£80ea) that are built like tanks, have plenty of power and will take receivers via the PC socket (SB24/25/26 have optical slave built in). Plus the nikon's can utilise an external battery pack also.

Triggers; yongnuo do some good ones these days. Altitude are very reliable. Pocket Wizards are supposed to be great but don't think the older flashes can be controlled wirelessly for TTL by any kind of commander unit - think that's left to more modern guns like SB700/800/900 & 550/580EX
Click to expand...

Yup, CLS is really nice for quick working, but has limitations. My sb24's rarely come out of my bag, 800's having cls is so useful.

I thought I was in the clear with radio triggers with my yonguno 602s... til they failed on me several times today. Bit worried that even pws will do the same.
 
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