Studio Set Up Camera & Flash Settings

[govicinity]

I have just invested in a mobile portrait set up (backdrop stands, and white background).

I have two flash units, both 580 EX mkii, a stand for one of them, which has a flash clamp and umbrella, and the flash on my camera is probably going to be used primarily to wirelessly set of the flash on the stand. I'm Using a 5d mkii to shoot with, I have the 24-105 Canon lens with this camera too, I want to invest in the cheepo 50mm 1.8 lens too at some point for this work.

I was wondering if anybody has had experience with a set up similar to this, and may have some suggestions for aperture, shutter speeds and iso (I'm assuming iso may be 400?).

I'm obviously going to have a play with all of it and find out some of this on my own, but wanted to see if I could draw on someones expertise who may have already mastered it. Thanks very much guys.

 

[Dave Pickett]

Got a similar Nikon set up with an sb600 and Nissin flash, both to be triggered wirelessly. For me I think I just need to set it up and try it, adjusting exposure as I go. Once you have a set up, draw diagrams with measurements so you can easily repeat and adapt the exercise.

Shutter speed will be 1/200th (max sync) so only adjustment will be on aperture (on manual of course) beyond that as you say, its ISO setting. I also have a reflector which I am sure will be handy, just need to get the family to pose!!!

 

[CanonSax]

At one time I used a similar setup with 550EX flash units. My first suggestion, if you are intending to use for portraits, is to set both flash units on tripods, and use a wireless trigger. Having one flash on the camera hotshoe is very limiting, compared to two which can be placed in a wide range of positons (height, angle, distance from subject etc).

You also may wish to consider some cheap flash diffusers which can provide an extra range of effects to the umbrella.

Re iso, I would only go to 400 if you are struggling with light levels. Even though noise is minimal, it is there, so reducing to 200 or 100 would bring an improvement in quality, however small.

The largest effect on the quality of your work, will be the placement of the flash units in relation to the subject. Don't limit yourself, try every different combination of light positioning that you can think of and see what results you get. I have been shooting portraits for many years, and am still trying new combinations.

 

[will69]

With on 580ex on your camera and the other on a light stand the flashes and camera will work in ETTL mode.

As said above it is not ideal to have one of the flash units on the hot shoe, but to take it off you will need to invest in a canon remote trigger (ST-E2) to trigger the flashes.

If you go manual, you need a speed below the cameras fastest sync speed (probably 1/200). I usually choose 1/125 on my 40D. Without a flashmeter all you can do is experiment, select about f9, shoot and chimp then adjust flashes and / or aperture.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Shutter speed will be 1/200th (max sync) so only adjustment will be on aperture (on manual of course) beyond that as you say, its ISO setting. I also have a reflector which I am sure will be handy, just need to get the family to pose!!!

It's not the law that you have to use max sync speed

Try starting at around 1/25 and going up or down from there, depending on the effect you are after, same goes for aperture, start around f/5.6 or f/8 and the same again for flash power, 1/4 is as good a place to start as any if you're shooting manual and keep chimping until you get something you're happy with.

Or buy a light meter