Simple Light Set Up

[Stephen Ramsay]

Basically i want 2-3 flashguns on a stand which can talk to my external Metz 36AF 40 flashthrough infrared.

I understand i need an IR trigger if im correct?

These will basically be dotted around a car for a few car shots.

Can anyone expand on my knowledge for this set up and if possible the link to any of the items that will be compatible with the olympus e-300 and the 36af 40 flashgun.

Cheers Stevo

 

[specialman]

If you want to retain TTL control then you're talking big bucks; Pocketwizards I believe are the kiddies at the moment but don't come cheap. Don't know if Metz has a lighting system like Nikon's where the flashes can control each other - this would be the first thing to check out, but again buying a series of flashes that interact digitally will be expensive.

The other way that most people go is to get optical or infrared wireless triggers that can be connected to each flash unit and triggered by either a master flash on the came or by a wireless trigger placed on the camera's hotshoe. Flashinthepan sells these and they're good by all accounts - click here to have a butchers. These cheaper trigger are usually limited in their range though so you can't spread flashes far and wide. A car shot shouldn't be too bad because you'll be working close(ish) to the subject but I don't know if these are dependant on line-of-sight to trigger each other. Ask FITP

The other slightly more expensive way is to get some wireless triggers like Elinchrom Skyports (I use these). These are radio triggers that can work without line-of-sight and have a range of several hundred metres. They're £120 for a trigger/receiver kit and £70 for additional receivers. They don't have a hotshoe connector though so you have to either buy flashes with PC ports (like older Nikon Speedlights - SB24/25/26/28 and so on) or you get PC adaptors that fit on the hotshoe fo the flash. The main thing about this style of flash triggering is that it's all manual; the flash output is set manually, which is why the SB range is so popular. Vivitars are cool too.

Not entirely sure if you're Metz has a manual mode - the Metz website hints that it does - and if so, you're cooking on gas; this can be used off-camera as one of your flashes. Personally I'd get some of the cheaper triggers that FITP is selling and then get a couple of cheaper flashguns like these that have manual control. A full set-up is going to cost you £100 or so and that'll give you enough lighting options to really get creative.

Think that basically covers it. Go to strobist: lighting 101 to lean more about off-camera flash - it's a good site

 

[Stephen Ramsay]

Thanks very much 'specialman'

Covered absolutely everything i asked and more

I was expecting the light set up to be quite expensive anyway.

So for these wireless triggers, how do they work exactly for the flashes to fire the same time as the shot?

I will be buying stands for these too and those flashes FLASH IN THE PAN is selling look decent enough to use. Does the hotshoe from the flash fit on these stands?

 

[specialman]

No problems, glad I've been of some assistance...

RE: triggers - Because they all work on a wireless channel, when the receiver that's attached to the camera sends out a signal (when the shutter is pressed) it just activates all the receivers on that same channel wavelength, so to speak. I'm not sure how many you can have in total, but three receivers controlled by one on-camera trigger is no sweat.

Click here to read a good thread about lightstands - should tell you everything you need to know.

Generally, the lightstands carry a thread onto which a head can be attached, like the ones found on tripods. In turn, the flash is attached to this. The wireless triggers should have a thread built into the casing so you can attach them directly onto the lightstands without the use of an additional head.

I actually use cheap tripods if that's any help; picked them up on ebay because I just feel they're a bit more solid.

Lighting can be very expensive - if you go down the Nikon Creative Lighting System route you need its top-end flashes which are £200+. Doing it all manually like most of do it then the cost comes way down; I've spent about £130 on reliable flashguns (Nikon SB26/28/28DX) plus £120 on Skyport triggers and that's enough to do me for my magazine shoots without a doubt.

Something like this is soooo simple; one flash putting a teeny-weeny bit of light in from the camera with one light on big power coming in from the left to create the drama. Underexpose the background a little and you have a shot that's got impact - this was for a magazine cover.

This photography lark is as expensive as you want to make it much of the time...

 

[Stephen Ramsay]

Your a decent guy lol

Photography is an expensive game...end of!! But there is ways around the price welding glass for instance lol

Perfect picture too..Il have to look into this and il post up my results in the future.

Cheers for all the help, its really appreciated.