Press photographers can 'burst flash', how do they do it?

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Tim
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I've run up against some Press photographers at events lately, and their Nikon flashes seem to 'strobe' when they're taking shots of people close up/groups of 4-5. Anyway, they are able to take many more photos than I can in a burst, seemingly with the shutter release held down, they take maybe 3/4 shots with flash firing in each in quick succession. It's amazing to see.

My Canon 550EX Speedlite will probably do the same, but I can't!! :thinking:

What settings are they using? When I step up to take the same shot as Johnny press photographer, my Canon's 550EX's go pop once, and they hum back up to speed as they recharge. This is with them wither set to 1/4 power on full manual, or when I set them to auto with me in Program mode on the Canon 5D.

What's their secret??
 
andrewc said:
They've either turned the flash power down which reduces recycling time, but probably they have an additional battery pack (eg Quantum) tucked away
Click to expand...

And upped the ISO too (another means of reducing the flash power needed, hence it recycles faster)

DD
 
And maybe they're not using rechargeable 2800mah batteries - I tried some Lithium non-rechargeable AA's the other day, and on my battery tester they went right off the scale in terms of power! My rechargeables never show better than 'Good' as opposed to 'Full' for the Lithiums.
 
Multi - hmmm, interesting @Oakey22. I'll have to explore more. I suspect it's a settings / knowledge thing, rather than anything, as it's such an amazing burst of pictures with flash.
 
I had the same question... Now I have a quantum battery pack... flash flash flash easy peasy :)
 
Quantum battery packs? Can these be used for all flashes? I currently use energiser rechargeable 2800mah batteries but with my new a700 its not long before the batteries die and need recharge due to continuous shooting... I got caught on the weekend as I forgot to pack some spare doubles as a back up.
 
Was covering an event the other night and I did burst of flash shots with my 580EX II with 7dayshop rechargeable all worked ok just had a look to see what the settings was and I see I was at f5.6 1/60 ISO 400 hear is one from a mid of the burst
3983353977_94a2613d9b_o.jpg
 
I needed the same for fight gigs
bought a 580exII and then a battery pack.
I can get 3-4 burst shots from the flash if I catch it right in about a second or so

4x 3800mAh batteries in the flash (these babies tend to heat up to shoot in short bursts!)
and 8x 2000mAh in the battery pack...el cheapo 35 quid from ebay

If I did need pro kit I'd get a nice lithium quantum jobbie..Mmmmmm
 
Look for the big curly wire coming out the side of their flashguns and down to their hips where the battery pack is.


DiddyDave said:
And upped the ISO too (another means of reducing the flash power needed, hence it recycles faster)

DD
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that. One local press guy working for a big statewide paper was wondering why his 70-200 was 'broken' last week.

"Bloody thing keeps over exposing, it's been playing up all day."

Let's have a look.. hmm, Aperture priority, f2.8 at 1000 ISO 1/8000 (blinking in the viewfinder).

Probably don't need 1000 ISO under the midday sun mate.

"Hmm, ok, maybe I'll knock it down to 640..."
 
At close distance (say 3m) and f/5.6 I can get half a dozen frames off in a second on my 40D with 580EX firing direct :shrug: I don't see why a 550EX should be much different. Regular AA batteries, but fresh.

Press photographers tend to work like that on 'photo opportunities'. Expressions change in a flash (haha) especially blinking and you can't afford to miss.
 
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