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JohnN

JohnN

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Hi,

I'll start off with that I suck at "flash" - even on camera eludes me and tends to look like I've I've shone a WWII airplane light at them!

So with that in mind (and that I'm now Nikon) can anyone advise a simple beginners resource - and perhaps flash - although I do have a couple of Canon Nissin 866II's that will work in manual if thats best (I know, I got the bits, tried and sucked so gave up!!)

I have nothing specific in mind at all, just a knowledge that I'm rubbish at it, so any advice, particularly some stuff I can do without ambushing joggers would be great.

Cheers,

John
 
Those are really nice David, I think the YNs are manual aren't they? If so I should be able to do roughly the same with my Canon Nissins.

No idea yet Shaheed (I know not very helpful) - I'm just playing with no end goal other than being able learn.
 
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Thats great - thank you - I'm just printing out the PDF now, very handy.
 
Yep, completely manual. The TX unit is a very nice addition and allows you to control 6 flashes at once if you needed to with instant access to power settings rather than altering each flash individually. As you say though, you could just use the flashes you have with a cheap set of triggers from Amazon for about £12. Job done.

Remember though that it's usually about how you modify the light that makes the difference. Light is light. An umbrella will give you a completely different look to that of a gridded softbox.
 
Thanks David, I've got the strobist book printed (and ring bound - gotta love work perks) so will be faffing about with that at some point soon :)
 
minnnt said:
Yep, completely manual. The TX unit is a very nice addition and allows you to control 6 flashes at once if you needed to with instant access to power settings rather than altering each flash individually. As you say though, you could just use the flashes you have with a cheap set of triggers from Amazon for about £12. Job done.

Remember though that it's usually about how you modify the light that makes the difference. Light is light. An umbrella will give you a completely different look to that of a gridded softbox.
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This^

But I feel the need to add, with knowledge and practice you can do amazing things with flashguns, but proper studio lights make it easier, if you do feel the need to replace the Nissin's, that's worth thinking about.

Meanwhile, one of those Neewer / Godox softbox and flash bracket combo's should be on your list.
 
Yep, i bought the one you recommended and although i now use a 24" Lastolite softbox, i still use the bracket as it is far better than the Lastolite offering. For £30 It's a good starter kit. I also use a manfrotto air cushioned light stand which is superb.
 
Some great advice on this little thread. Dave loving that father n son image :-) Any chance of a link to this amazing bracket you pro's are talking about :-) Please ?

Gaz
 
cargo said:
Some great advice on this little thread. Dave loving that father n son image :) Any chance of a link to this amazing bracket you pro's are talking about :) Please ?

Gaz
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Thanks Gaz. That was flagged using a black bath towel on half of the softbox to kill any spill. Kinda like this:


Sometimes... (edit) by David Raynham, on Flickr

Here's the link to the kit that Phil recommended and quite a few of us bought.

CLICKY
 
minnnt said:
That was flagged using a black bath towel on half of the softbox to kill any spill. Kinda like this:
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Cheers Dave. You flagging to reduce light getting onto the background ? Or did you just want to make the softbox into more of a strip box ?

Gaz

Fab photo too :)

Thanks for the link too. Just realised Phil had sent me that link a while back :-((
 
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minnnt said:
A bit of both mate but mainly to kill the background spill. It looked very 'pro' indeed Gaz, especially with all the clothes pegs holding the towels on. :D
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Yes it sounds just like my faffing :-) I have lots of clothes pegs in my "Morrisons" Plastic bag lighting pack :-) They don't look out of place next to my empty paint tin filled with plaster complete with a length of 2x1 which I clip my reflector to, not with a clothes peg though had to get a larger grip for that :-(

Gaz
 
Thanks for the heads up re strobist book, downloaded, printed and bound at work... result!!
 
@minnnt What have you got hidden away in that large softbox to the right? Just a normal flash on manual?
 
Cool, a nice budget flash too - I should be able to do that with mine in theory - I really must get to playing, but between work and other social stuff I don't seem to get time - or at least don't perceive I have time!
 
JohnN said:
t hidden away in that large softbox to the right
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Is that the Godox 80cmx80cm. I have a 60x60 box and 2 other smaller boxes and was wondering if the 80 is worth getting as one of the boxes is not tiltable with the bracket supplied. I really like the box though as it's small and as a grid would be good if there were some way to mount the bracket onto a swivel head if they exist.

Gaz
 
Thank you - they're a really good price too (link)

Edit: Sorry that links to the Neewer - looks exactly the same but cheaper and with better pictures on Amazon ;)
 
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Hey, random question... Were I to get a TTL enable trigger such as the YongNuo YN-622N, do you think it would work with my existing YongNuo YN-622C's and as such enable TTL\HSS etc on the Nissin?
 
JohnN said:
Hey, random question... Were I to get a TTL enable trigger such as the YongNuo YN-622N, do you think it would work with my existing YongNuo YN-622C's and as such enable TTL\HSS etc on the Nissin?
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No

The communication system is brand dependant. You're better off selling the Nissin's, they'll probably fund a couple of YN ETTL lights (according to Ebay results).
 
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Phil V said:
No

The communication system is brand dependant. You're better off selling the Nissin's, they'll probably fund a couple of YN ETTL lights (according to Ebay results).
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lol, I thought that was going to be the sortest answer ever for a mo!!

I'm trying to sell them at the mo, but the dealer price is really low (£80) and there seems little interest, but if they do wander I'll take a look.

Cheers both.
 
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JohnN said:
lol, I thought that was going to be the sortest answer ever for a mo!!

I'm trying to sell them at th emo, but the dealer price is really low (£80) and there seems little interest, but if they do wander I'll take a look.

Cheers both.
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Is that what a dealer will buy them for?
 
Thanks Dave.
@ £25 me thinking would be worth paying the extra for the box also ;-)

Gza
 
JohnN said:
Aye, not a lot really and that was the better of the ones I asked!
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But it's enough to replace them with something that'll do the job - I'd snatch his hand off.

It's also more than the ebay value.
 
Will see, have ordered one now. Don't really know why. Thank god I got a few days work next week keep me of the pc durying the day :-)


Gaz
 
Phil V said:
But it's enough to replace them with something that'll do the job - I'd snatch his hand off.

It's also more than the ebay value.
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Perhaps you're right, just gutting when they're hardly used and I got one new for a bit under £300.

Oh well...

Anyway, what do you guys make of this? www.scantips.com/lights/vk750.html

Edit: Thanks @Phil V I've added them to the collection list for Monday.

Now, something with TTL (maybe HSS?) or the nice manuals, probably one of the Yonguos
 
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Well on the recomenations (if I read it right) I've ordred these two:

Yongnuo YN560-TX Wireless Manual Flash Controller for Nikon Camera / 560III (link)

and

Yongnuo YN-560 IV Flash Speedlite for Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus DSLR Cameras (link)

Let me know if I messed that up so I can cancel if needed.
 
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