Powerful portable flash?

I think terrywoodenpick has it correct. You need to underexpose by closing the aperture and increasing (as much as possible) the shutter speed and then use the flashes to bring the exposure back to what you actually want so low low isos helps here. So testing the flashes to see should give you some idea of what settings you need on the day and if they get close.
 
as a budget option any studio had can be hooked up to a server UPS (battery and VERY clean inverter) so as far as it knows its hooked up to the mains. Basically an AB setup but without the niceties and the import aggro
 
indolent said:
I think terrywoodenpick has it correct. You need to underexpose by closing the aperture and increasing (as much as possible) the shutter speed and then use the flashes to bring the exposure back to what you actually want so low low isos helps here. So testing the flashes to see should give you some idea of what settings you need on the day and if they get close.
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You have just got to get the flash exposure greater than the ambient light, and depending on the light level you might move the ISO up or down in order to get max x-sync speed and range.

Basically the exposure for the shot is set by the ambient level and you have to juggle around that and the x-sync restriction. The problem is that you will probably need an enormous flash to over power the ambient.

The simplest way to increase flash output is to move closer. If you can halve the distance, you have gained two stops which is an enormous difference. If that's not possible or not enough, a Better Beamer might be approriate, or just shoot when the light is lower, giving the flash a chance. It doesn't have to be dusk or anything - just an overcast day might be enough. I don't know the exact circumstances.

If all that fails, no choice but to wheel out the heavy artillery.
 
Hoppy and thats where perhaps I am at a disadvantage to say some kind of studio shoot - my efforts are still around events that I have no control over, so it has to be off the cuff kinda stuff. So its never a case of the day is too bright or the sun is in the wrong place so lets wait or shoot another day.... I've got to be able to overcome all of that or just give up :D

We are trying to get some staged shoots together, but even that will be fairly time constrained and perhaps more critical that we get results. Guess its time to hire some kit for that and hope it doesn't rain (hmmm how waterproof is this stuff?)
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Looks the dog's danglies - they had me hooked...right up until the price :bang::lol:
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Yes, looks like a very good product, regardless of the price - but what are you actually going to DO with just 150 flashes from a battery charge? They surely would have been better making it bigger/heavier and including a decent size battery.
 
desantnik said:
Hoppy and thats where perhaps I am at a disadvantage to say some kind of studio shoot - my efforts are still around events that I have no control over, so it has to be off the cuff kinda stuff. So its never a case of the day is too bright or the sun is in the wrong place so lets wait or shoot another day.... I've got to be able to overcome all of that or just give up :D

We are trying to get some staged shoots together, but even that will be fairly time constrained and perhaps more critical that we get results. Guess its time to hire some kit for that and hope it doesn't rain (hmmm how waterproof is this stuff?)
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If you want to try the Kirk Flash Xtender, I could pop it in a jiffy bag easily enough. You're welcome to borrow it. Universal fit. Drop me a PM.

In trying to imagine your shoot, I'm thinking that you're maybe not that far off with the Nikon flash and with two stops extra from the Xtender you might be there?? So long as it would give you enough coverage at your focal length of course. Worth a try with 200mm, maybe shorter.

If you hire a studio flash, despite the power you will need quite a directional reflector to make the most of it.
 
just had an idea

what about using a ttl cord to get the flash closer which would make it in effect more powerful?
 
Hoppy - thanks for the kind offer, will drop you a PM later :D

David - thats also a possibility that is cheap.... i like it! I have to be careful with minimum focus distances as recently I've discovered them for the first time too! Particularly annoying with the 70-200VR..... *grrrrr*
 
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