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JumboBeef

JumboBeef

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Hello all,

Haven't been here for ages......

My wife shots mainly outdoors, working on field sports (and she writes too).

She uses a MkIV and different L lenses.

As such she has very little use for lighting. She does however have one canon flash (an old Canon 550 EX), a few stands, brollies and a (cheap) kit for remotely firing the flash (can't remember what it is called).

She is now looking for a better kit. She is looking use a total of three flashes and a decent flash firing kit (what is that type of kit called!?) to fire all three flashes together.

She is looking to take indoor moody people and gun shots.

Sorry for the slightly vague post and thanks in advance for the help!

Richard.
 
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It's a common question in the lighting section. Have read there at threads like this one http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=455817

Basic questions include speedlites or studio heads, auto-TTL or manual exposure control, and budget. Studio heads are much better if mains power is available (fast recycle, modelling light) but can't do auto-TTL. Lighting is more about knowledge than kit though, and needn't be expensive.
 
Thanks for the reply.

I should have said, we want to not use main power (as some locations will not have mains).
 
JumboBeef said:
Thanks for the reply.

I should have said, we want to not use main power (as some locations will not have mains).
Click to expand...

Okay, though there are few other answers you missed ;)

You can get battery power packs for studio heads, but they're heavy and expensive, or go with a battery powered location system like Lencarta Li-on or Elinchrom Quadra. They don't do auto-TTL but have more power that you may need outdoors when working in bright sun. You may also need faster durations with active subjects.

Good solution using speedlites is Yongnuo 568EX http://www.lightingrumours.com/yongnuo-yn-568ex-is-first-speedlight-in-china-with-hss-2718 with Yongnuo 622 triggers. Full auto-TTL control via radio, including high speed sync, both very well priced.
 
is this supposed to be ultra portable? Lasolite do those softboxes that can take speedlights and are supper portable - worth a look maybe.
 
The lights in those links are junk.

I've met your wife, she's good at what she does and she's worth much better than this. If she wants to go into this she will be expected to produce the same standard of work that she is producing on her shoot shots, and she won't do it with that type of lighting. Plus of course, those lights don't meet her requirements because they require mains power.

It's probably best if she rings me.
 
Garry Edwards said:
The lights in those links are junk.

I've met your wife, she's good at what she does and she's worth much better than this. If she wants to go into this she will be expected to produce the same standard of work that she is producing on her shoot shots, and she won't do it with that type of lighting. Plus of course, those lights don't meet her requirements because they require mains power.

It's probably best if she rings me.
Click to expand...

Yes. And about as far from the original brief as it's possible to get :eek:
 
Thanks.

I know, the brief has changed totally. This is because to be honest we know very little about lighting. My wife currently works 99% outdoors without additional lights.

Garry, thank you. Could you send me your number please?

Thanks.

Richard.
 
HoppyUK said:
Okay, though there are few other answers you missed ;)

You can get battery power packs for studio heads, but they're heavy and expensive, or go with a battery powered location system like Lencarta Li-on or Elinchrom Quadra. They don't do auto-TTL but have more power that you may need outdoors when working in bright sun. You may also need faster durations with active subjects.

Good solution using speedlites is Yongnuo 568EX http://www.lightingrumours.com/yongnuo-yn-568ex-is-first-speedlight-in-china-with-hss-2718 with Yongnuo 622 triggers. Full auto-TTL control via radio, including high speed sync, both very well priced.
Click to expand...
Wow! Those Yongnuo 568EX are cheap. I could have bought three of them each with a Yongnuo YN-622C trigger for the price of one of my Canon 580EX IIs. For outdoor use I use a couple of Calumet Genesis 300B studio flash units (£179.99) each with a battery pack (£149.99) which are nicely made & great value. I don't know the relative power outputs & don't really trust the manufacturers figures but the 300B seems a lot brighter than a couple of 580EX IIs. However would thee 568EXs in one of those Lastolite Tri-flash brackets be a viable alternative? They would have the advantage of HSS & E-TTL if necessary versus a studio flash with battery pack.
 
The OP's boss (AKA Photographerlinda) writes about field sports and illustrates her articles with photos. This involves a LOT of walking, sometimes over rough terrain and although she's an expert at getting people to help her, I doubt whether your solution would be manageable in terms of bulk and weight. And she could struggle with lighting power too.
 
nigelbb said:
Wow! Those Yongnuo 568EX are cheap. I could have bought three of them each with a Yongnuo YN-622C trigger for the price of one of my Canon 580EX IIs. For outdoor use I use a couple of Calumet Genesis 300B studio flash units (£179.99) each with a battery pack (£149.99) which are nicely made & great value. I don't know the relative power outputs & don't really trust the manufacturers figures but the 300B seems a lot brighter than a couple of 580EX IIs. However would thee 568EXs in one of those Lastolite Tri-flash brackets be a viable alternative? They would have the advantage of HSS & E-TTL if necessary versus a studio flash with battery pack.
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Yes, it's a popular solution. The biggest hot-shoe guns put out around 100Ws equivalent and are used ganged in twos, threes, fours and even eights.

Can be cumbersome and heavy, expensive too with multiple triggers and sometimes battery packs too, but it can provide a lot more power, fast recycle, and as you say the option of HSS and E-TTL is unique to this method.

The right option for location shooting varies a lot depending on the situation.
 
It will help if you show us what she shoots?

Does she need the lights shooting at high noon to darken the sky?

What's your budget?

How much treking is needed to location?

Have you try using reflectors?
 
Thanks for the replies.

She has, at this time, decided to hang fire on it.

(She does outdoor sport photography. There was a link in the first post but I have removed that now).

Thanks again.
 
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