Off Camera Flash Help Req'd! EDIT: Guide Number?!

Rob.Marsh

Rob.Marsh

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Hi all,

I want to take a crack at portrait photgraphy and using off camera flash. I am on a limited budget and yet to find out if its a style of photography I want to continue.

I have been reading the basics on this site, http://www.sublime-light.com/index.php/2007/06/22/portrait-lighting-for-beginners-introduction/ and have drawn a conclusion that I could do with a couple of flashguns, stands and wireless triggers.

I can't afford pocket wizards to I am looking at the cheap flea bay ones as a start. Any experience?

I am after some cheapish flashguns as I don't have hundreds to spend, but don't really know what would be suitable or where to look. I am happy to go second hand. Any ideas/suggestions peeps? Or am I kidding myself trying not to spend too much?

Rob
 
Any old flashguns are suitable as long as you can adjust the power output manually, plenty of suitable stuff on Ebay for pennies :) Just don't be tempted to stick an older flash on your camera hotshoe as you may fry the camera.

If you want to buy new then a couple of Vivitar 285HV guns at about £60 each delivered, from HK would be your best cheap option.

The Cactus V2s Fleabay triggers can be temperamental, although the newer type (which uses AA batteries instead of CR2) seems to be a better bet.

For lightstands try www.cameras2u.com , they do them from under a tenner each


HTH
 
Bought some of the cheap PT-04 devices of ebay (£18 inc. P&P for 2x receivers and a transmitter) and used them last night for the first time - impressed for the money.

Reliable although they won't win any awards for design, but for setting up a little home studio they're ideal.

I used an SB800 and a Canon 550EX but if you're looking at 2nd hand flashes, a few peeps on here recomend the Vivitars or the SB24/25/26/28/80 from nikon because they have full manual control. I'm thinking SB28 or SB80s.

As for light stands I have two cheapo (£7) tripods. I did buy an AS-19 Nikon flash stand for table top work though. These are a fiver from warehouse express.

Some folk will tell you you have to spend a fortune, others will say the oppisite. Just spend what you can afford I say
 
Where are the lighstands on that site? That is a really good price...

If you want more info about off camera flash google strobist and have a read of their guides, extremely useful...
 
Thanks peeps,

FITP - I have a flash that fits my hotshoe on my camera, so those I buy will be going nowhere near my camera's hotshoe. Thanks for the pointers for flashguns.

Specialman, I have a set of the PT-04, a set of three and transmitter for £30. Wasn't sure if they were any good, encouraging to hear your opinion.
 
Thanks Criakeybaby, I have found strobist. Was also wondering peoples thoughts and ideas for kit from here too.
 
Are the PT-04s simillar to the Cactus triggers? I want to get a set at some point soon...
 
Craikey, think they're the same, aside from the Cactus' have a PC socket for wiring flashes up. I think that's why the cactus ones are a tad more expensive.

Rob, if they last a year then they've cost you next to b****r all, that's how i look at it. As long as the flashes keep going then that's the key.
Make sure you get a flash with full manual control. The 'digial' ones like the later Canon EXs and Nikon SBs are great because the button interface on the LCD is dead easy to use. Plus, if you're working in the dark they usually have a LCD lamp so you can see what you're doing.
 
specialman said:
Rob, if they last a year then they've cost you next to b****r all, that's how i look at it. As long as the flashes keep going then that's the key.
Make sure you get a flash with full manual control. The 'digial' ones like the later Canon EXs and Nikon SBs are great because the button interface on the LCD is dead easy to use. Plus, if you're working in the dark they usually have a LCD lamp so you can see what you're doing.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate, Ill get google/ebaying!!

Exactly my view on the cost vs lifespan too.

specialman said:
That's the kiddy

Oooh, free gift!!! I love surprises.... :)
Click to expand...

Its a bag for them to go in..... :lol:
 
Yep, I've got the Vivitars with a set of three PT-04s, not had any problem at all with them. I also means I can mix and match the Vivitars with my Canon flash. I also bought a couple of little wein peanuts (optical slaves) so at short range I can also fire the Canon remotely using an St-E2 and the optial slaves pick up on that flash and fire the vivitars.

Good fun :)
 
Craikeybaby said:
Where are the lighstands on that site? That is a really good price...

.
Click to expand...
Interesting...you can only find stuff on the site now by searching for it, not via the menu :thinking:

This is the lightstand that I bought (I've just checked the model number with mine) a few months back, which was the slightly more expensive one at (iirc) £10.49 plus p+p, it looks as if the price has gone up a wee bit :shake:, looks like the site is getting brought in line pricewise with the parent company's (Jessops) one :(
 
ok, the Vivitars have been referenced a couple of times, any particular models?

EDIT, Ill read more carfully next time, FITP mentioned a model! :thumbs:
 
Good thread Rob, thanks. I've been thinking about this too. I have a couple of old Flashes, they won't be going near the camera hot shoe. I tried using one in slave mode last night, but it's not fast enough like that, or I'm doing something wrong (which is a lot more likely :D)
 
Based on the preview of the image on the camera, with the flash setup to the side at about 45degrees to the test subject, the only visible flash in the scene was from the onboard camera flash. I adjusted the external flash to bright as poss, and the onboard to minimum. I know it went off, as I couldn't see through the green glow in my vision for about 15 second, but there was no evidence of it on screen. The view was very dark, and the subject only showed a dim reflection from the onboard flash. Shutter speed was 1/100.
 
NP John, its something that once mastered is likely to be great fun!


FITP/anyone - with regard to the Vivitar 285's, i have found an HV version too, any ideas? Is the power adjustable on the standard ones as well, I'm struggling to find a description anywhere.
 
The HV tag actually only identifies the flash as being able to be used with an external powerpack, but it is also a good way to discern if it is the current version, which is also safe to use on the hotshoe of a dslr. The older, non HV version puts out over 200 volts so would be a :nono: for camera mounting, but fine for off-camera. Personally I d rather spend the extra £10-20 and get a new one rather than something that could be 20-30 years old ;)
 
Hi all,
Thanks for your help the other day. I now need to ressurect this to ask another Q.

I can't find any affordable vivitars or speedlights. I am now looking at almost any off cam flashes, what kinda guide number should I be looking at as a minimum? I don't really understand what the guide number represents.

TIA

Rob
 
You can buy an SB24 for about £50 from somewhere like mifsuds or ffordes. Have been recommended these by Cherryrig, who's pretty hot at this game.

Maybe consider something like a Canon 540EZ. I've seen hem going on ebay for less than £50 and they have a digital display and full manual control. I thik people are ignoring them because they're designed for 35m,m cameras, but if you're triggering them without the use of TTL metering, then they'll be cracking - basically, they're a 550Ex without the DSLR compatibility.

I've put a thread on here somewhere asking about what other full-manual, digital readout flashes are worth considering. Sigmas? Cobras?

I wouldn't worry about GN. If your doing indoor portraiture then chances are. you'll be using a lot less power than you'd be when shootig outdoors. My 550EX has a guide number of 40-odd I think and It's like a nuclear blaast going off indoors if I have it on anything above about 1/16th.
 
Cheers special man! :thumbs:

oddly as I was waitong for replies I started to find the Canon's you mentioned. I have a few on my watch list. I'll take I look again for some SB 24's. From what I can gather, after strobist recommended them, the prices hiked right up!

As you recommend, I am not too worrried or hung up on the GN, I just don't really understand it :lol:

Cheers again!

EDIT, incase others are after specialmans thread he mention, find it here. Hope you don't mind me linking it specialman!
 
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