Nikon flashes for portraits?

Tulipone

Tulipone

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Chris
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Hoping for a bit of advice about a flash for a Nikon D5300. Just to explain, I have had on camera flashes and various external lights and never really used them. Maybe the odd time but very possibly never properly.

I now have a reason that I think probably warrants another go. Family is expanding so thinking of getting a better portrait lens and flash to give myself a chance at better people pictures.

Thinking rather than just rushing out with credit card, thinking of getting a basic Nikon SB300. I think that the big advantage over the onboard is that it'll be easier to bounce the flash. I think that is probably reason enough for a modest initial outlay and simple enough to start off with.

Thinking that something like an 85mm prime would also be a great idea in time. I only have the 18-55 and 18-140 at this time.

It's not that I cannot buy everything, more that I want to learn how to use everything before expanding. So is the flash a smart purchase? Is it better to buy a smal nikon 300 rather than a cheaper but bigger generic? Better to get a light than a prime first?

Grateful for your advice.
 
Thanks Mike. Not sure if I used the right terms. Rather than using the built in flash, I am talking of buying a Nikon flash that fits on the hotshoe. I'm not interested in buying studio lights. Is that what you meant?
 
I think Mike meant getting some triggers to fit to a speedlight to enable off camera use.

On camera flash is very limited, although with practice you can do decent stuff. But once your light is off camera, the world is your oyster, and it needn't cost a fortune. You can probably get set up with Yongnuo gear for off camera tgan the cheapest and most limiting Nikon flash.
 
I'm wondering if triggers are making things more complex than I was thinking of to start. Small steps!

@Phil V - any thoughts on a Yongnuo model in particular? Maybe I should make the effort for a better result.
 
Tulipone said:
I'm wondering if triggers are making things more complex than I was thinking of to start. Small steps!

@Phil V - any thoughts on a Yongnuo model in particular? Maybe I should make the effort for a better result.
Click to expand...
My usual line here is to start with a TTL flash that does everything you might want, so the YN568 for Nikon?
 
Thanks both. I'll have a look for the YN568, stand, soft box and triggers. By a pair, you mean send/receive to remotely trigger? Soft boxes seem to come in a whole range of sizes. Anything in particular?
 
I have a yongnuo yn568ex, which arrived to-day first OCF for me,
if you don't want to get triggers yet, check your camera to see if it will fire OCF,
i have Nikon 7200 and it fires flash of the camera.
 
wallyboy said:
I have a yongnuo yn568ex, which arrived to-day first OCF for me,
if you don't want to get triggers yet, check your camera to see if it will fire OCF,
i have Nikon 7200 and it fires flash of the camera.
Click to expand...

Yes you can but it is not as good as the one Phil mentioned for many crcumstances and for others it is fine.

Tulipone said:
Thanks both. I'll have a look for the YN568, stand, soft box and triggers. By a pair, you mean send/receive to remotely trigger? Soft boxes seem to come in a whole range of sizes. Anything in particular?
Click to expand...

Softbox size really depends on subject but a 60x60 or 80x80 will be fine

Mike
 
For flashes also have a look at the shanny flashes in addition to the yn568, if you do but try and get from amazon as opposed to ebay.
 
Or look at the neewer NW985 from Amazon £42,
then add:
1 x yongnuo 622tx,
1 x yongnuo 622

This will enable you for the absolute cheapest cost the ability to remote flash and also remote power adjustment.

If still feeling ambitious then add:

1 x Godox pop up soft-box - £25
1 x standard light stand - £15


All these prices are from Amazon...
 
@wallyboy - there are more differences than I had realised between the 5300 and the 7200. It looks like the ability to remote flash is another. I think I have two choices, TTL and Manual.

Many thanks for all your recommendations. I am a little concerned that I started out looking for a better flash than the built in and have ended up with triggers, soft box, light stand and a flash. I have a history of not using stuff and now somewhat cautious!

Assuming I go for the lot, how easy is it to use?
 
Tulipone said:
@wallyboy - there are more differences than I had realised between the 5300 and the 7200. It looks like the ability to remote flash is another. I think I have two choices, TTL and Manual.

Many thanks for all your recommendations. I am a little concerned that I started out looking for a better flash than the built in and have ended up with triggers, soft box, light stand and a flash. I have a history of not using stuff and now somewhat cautious!

Assuming I go for the lot, how easy is it to use?
Click to expand...

Chris, I can't believe no one has asked you yet what kind of pictures you're actually taking?

It's impossible to recommend a setup that's going to suit your requirements without knowing a bit more information.

You say your family is expanding, does that mean that you're looking to take pictures of larger groups or just more pictures in general? Are you going to be taking the pictures indoors or will you be taking them outside? Do you see yourself being quite mobile with your camera or are you going to be limiting yourself to a certain spot?
 
Tulipone said:
@wallyboy - there are more differences than I had realised between the 5300 and the 7200. It looks like the ability to remote flash is another. I think I have two choices, TTL and Manual.

Many thanks for all your recommendations. I am a little concerned that I started out looking for a better flash than the built in and have ended up with triggers, soft box, light stand and a flash. I have a history of not using stuff and now somewhat cautious!

Assuming I go for the lot, how easy is it to use?
Click to expand...

Okay, take it one step at a time. I think the third-party flash gun route is the best one, you can do a lot for not much money. Phil's Yongnuo suggestions are tried and tested, and very affordable, so that would be favourite though probably others would also be fine. The Godox foldaway softbox is also good, and amazing value.

But you don't have to go there yet - just get the YN568. The real point about off-camera flash is that the light is coming from off-camera, even if the gun in in the hot-shoe. The basic technique here is bouncing off the ceiling and walls, but there are few ways of enhancing that to great effect.

My favourite accessories are these, starting with a zero-cost bounce card. It's just a bigger version of the pull-out highlight panel built in to most flash guns - small piece of white card, rubber band or BlueTack. It works very well, by sending most light to the ceiling for nice soft light over a wider area, plus a dash of direct light from the card. This lifts shadows under eyes/nose/chin and puts a sparkle in the eyes. The Rogue FlashBender is a more versatile version of this with a lot of creative options http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rogue-Flash...=1455104596&sr=1-1&keywords=rogue+flashbender

Or, one of my favourite devices is the Lumiquest QuikBounce http://store.lumiquest.com/lumiquest-quik-bounce/ Works in the same way, but a bit better, more reliable, easier. Then there is the Black Foamie Thing - a simple/cheap DIY device from Neil van Niekerk http://neilvn.com/tangents/about/black-foamie-thing/ Check it out, he works magic with that thing and in the right situation, in the right hands, it's capable of totally natural looking light.
 
The family expanding is no1 grandchild on the way and a desire to document at least part of their progress. I guess most of the family portrait stuff will be inside supplemented, if ever the weather is nice, in the garden.

I think the previous help was fantastic and has widened my thinking. I tend to either buy cheap and regret and not use the kit else over buy and cannot be bothered to learn how to use it.

In this instance I have some motivation and want to get it right.

With that in mind, all still good?
 
Almost any flash you buy will be better than the built in - BUT there is a learning curve... I'm of the opinion that manual would be the way to go rather than Ttl but they both will require you to practice. Having a cheap (£15) 5-1 reflector may also be a good idea...
 
Tulipone said:
The family expanding is no1 grandchild on the way and a desire to document at least part of their progress. I guess most of the family portrait stuff will be inside supplemented, if ever the weather is nice, in the garden.

I think the previous help was fantastic and has widened my thinking. I tend to either buy cheap and regret and not use the kit else over buy and cannot be bothered to learn how to use it.

In this instance I have some motivation and want to get it right.

With that in mind, all still good?
Click to expand...
If you have the additional budget then the kit that's been recommended will work well but don't be put off by using the flash on camera if you wish to get out and about, just make sure it's setup properly. I don't think much of the cheap flashes, I've used them and don't find them that reliable but then again you're not going to be charging for your images anyway.
 
Diving Pete said:
Almost any flash you buy will be better than the built in - BUT there is a learning curve... I'm of the opinion that manual would be the way to go rather than Ttl but they both will require you to practice. Having a cheap (£15) 5-1 reflector may also be a good idea...
Click to expand...

Reflector, yes, 100%. Cheap, and very effective - white/silver for preference.

The point about getting a top spec gun, at least one of them, is it leaves all options open, including auto-TTL, high-speed sync, master control etc, and full manual too, of course. Auto-TTL is almost essential for moving subjects, as flash exposure is very sensitive to distance. Auto-TTL can respond to that instantly, as it's actually happening, far faster than even the most expert photographer can.
 
So again, very grateful for all the advice so far. Shopping list built and ready to go. Will update with early snaps over the weekend it it all arrives.
 
My stuff not arrived yet, but noticed a guy at work thinking about selling his triggers and flash. Thought id borrow to have a play.

So I have a loan of 2x Yongnuo RF-603N triggers and a Yongnuo YN468-II flash. All good. Ish.

If I put the flash on my hotshoe it fires. If I adjust the focus the flash adjusts automatically. All good.

When I use the triggers the camera will still fire the flash remotely but the shutter stays open longer as though it doesn't recognise the flash has gone off, missing the flash. Not good.

I have tried to understand what the difference the triggers make - obviously not TTL - but what am I missing? Surely this set up should work?

Edit: Okay, I'm stupid. I just realised that the flash needs to be synchronised with the shutter and aperture manually. I think that the will take the TTL camera settings without any other adjustment. I think that the YN622 triggers will automatically carry the camera settings to the remote flash. Right? Well worth the extra!
 
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Hi

The yn622n and tx will work well with a TTL flash. I have yn603 and have also bought the yn622n, if you are going to be doing portraits you may be better off with manual triggers as opposed to the TTL ones.

Choice is your.
 
Have you got the camera in manual? Daft question but the first time I used studio lights I'd left the camera in apeture priority....doh!! Have a read of the strobist website, run by a chap called David Hobby, absolute gold mine of off camera flash information.
I tend to use my flash in manual and with both the fash and the camera in manual you can get your head round how the different settings, TTL is pixie dust and most certainly has a use but doesnt really teach you as much about how best to control your flash.
 
I've read as much as I can and garnered a lot of information from the guys on this forum and bought on their advice. As Phil and others has pointed out, a softbox and flash off camera is the way to go. I have a couple of softboxes and the latest one came with a grid http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RGQU8BW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00 and I used it for the first time this week. First impressions are promising and I'll continue to practice with it.
Phil advised in other threads that this flash bracket is good http://www.amazon.co.uk/Godox-Multi..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0XH88WGVTFEKT1BMSGH8 I bought two! I tried coldshoe type holders but I didn't like the physical weight of the flash on it's small foot plate. This holder holds the head of the flash without any strain and it's a very robust bracket despite being made of plastic. I bought a Lencarta 70cm steel beauty dish from the classifieds last week and the bracket holds it confidently.


Christine
by
Brian Lewicki,
on Flickr​
 
Hi,

I have been following this thread with interest as I'm looking to invest in some off-camera flash equipment for shooting portraits From the recommendations from Phil and others, Yongnuo off-camera flash/triggers and a Godox soft box are on my shopping list. Obviously I will need a light stand and my question is what is the best height stand to get? I will be shooting mostly indoors so ceiling height is an obvious limiter but having looked on Amazon there is quite a range of heights available and I don't want to make a mistake through ignorance when purchasing.

Thanks in advance, all advice appreciated.
 
Hi

I have the Konig one which is okay for indoor use and a good price. I recently bought some calumet ones used from a forum member and they are very good and strong. So depends on your budget, if you want cheap the Konig ones will do. As per hight it goes high enough for adult portraits.

Thanks
 
Carol S said:
Hi,

I have been following this thread with interest as I'm looking to invest in some off-camera flash equipment for shooting portraits From the recommendations from Phil and others, Yongnuo off-camera flash/triggers and a Godox soft box are on my shopping list. Obviously I will need a light stand and my question is what is the best height stand to get? I will be shooting mostly indoors so ceiling height is an obvious limiter but having looked on Amazon there is quite a range of heights available and I don't want to make a mistake through ignorance when purchasing.

Thanks in advance, all advice appreciated.
Click to expand...

If you are only photographing indoors then any of the stands available will be tall enough, it will be what you put on the stand that will restrict your height.
 
metroman said:
If you are only photographing indoors then any of the stands available will be tall enough,
Click to expand...
Not necessarily because some of the stand especially the cheaper 180cm - 200 cm light stands, they are tall enough but crucially they lack the strength and rigidity to hold anything other than the smallest lights.
 
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