What off Nikon flash equipment to get?

Hoodledoodle · 12 Apr 2012

I have x2 Elinchrom Bxri 500's and I love them, along with stands, sekonic light meter, Manfrotto backdrop stand, portaboxes and snoot and reflector attachment. They're great in the studio, but I don't have a car, and I need to do location shots. I'd really like 3 or 4 speedlights to have the most flexibility, but to have the option of just one really good one if I'm really pushed for space. I definitely want the option to use all the speedlights off the camera, and planning to photograph solo and groups of dancers, posed and also dancing, both indoors and outdoors, all times of day/night options.

I've got a Nikon D700, was thinking to get one SB910 flash as it sound like that could be my master flash and then to add on SB600's or SB700's as I can afford them. But then I see there is a SU-800 commander and am wondering if I need this to operate them all off camera.

Been reading/researching but now feeling really confused as to what I need. Does the 910 mean I'll never need a SU-800. If I want to use the 910 as a commander does it always have to be on the camera.

Hope you can help?

Ta

Heather

HoppyUK · 12 Apr 2012

You need a commander unit to control remote flash guns in iTTL modes.

D700's pop-up acts as a commander and flash, SB-910 is both a commander and flash, SU-800 is a commander only.

But none of them will work with your Elinchroms, so if you want to operate them all together, you might be better off with a set of basic radio triggers, though they'll be manual only, or perhaps Pocket Wizards Mini/Flex that will also do iTTL via radio, though much more expensive.

Hoodledoodle · 12 Apr 2012

Hmm... I already have an Elinchrom radio trigger, but unfortunately I don't think this will work with the speedlights.

I can't lug the Elinchroms around the county on the train, so I've decided to invest in speedlights.

I don't like the pop up flash on the D700, prefer the flashes from the sides, does that mean I'll need a radio trigger or an SU-800 on the camera, and then off camera speedlights?

If I get a basic radio trigger that's manual, then I'm better off investing in cheap speedlights? (becaue iTTL impossible?)

Ditto with the pocket wizards or would I buy iTTL flashes to use (so even more expensive?)

or am I getting this completely wrong?

Best

Heather

boyfalldown · 12 Apr 2012

you don't need the su-800 for to do this, but it can make life much easier, the control through the menus is much faster and that way it can help.

Buying a sb-910 and keeping ti on camera as commander would mean there was no need of the su-800. Your d700's pop up can also do this but I'd be wary of relying on it.

If you were going down the all manual route I'd be inclined to buy cheap flashes such as Nissan rather then all singing and dancing Nikon ones

Hoodledoodle · 12 Apr 2012

I'd like a sb910 but want to use it off camera - presumably not possible? Presumably if I use the pop up as a commander I also have to use it as a flash? I absolutely hate the flash effect from the pop up.
Yeah, been thinking about the Nissin/Nissan ones as well, it just feels like a hugely expensive choice to have to make between the two options without really knowing what's going to be best. Was hoping to hear what others were using and found most useful for location shots...

Hope you can help,

Ta

H
H

HoppyUK · 12 Apr 2012

Hoodledoodle said:
Hmm... I already have an Elinchrom radio trigger, but unfortunately I don't think this will work with the speedlights.

I can't lug the Elinchroms around the county on the train, so I've decided to invest in speedlights.

I don't like the pop up flash on the D700, prefer the flashes from the sides, does that mean I'll need a radio trigger or an SU-800 on the camera, and then off camera speedlights?

If I get a basic radio trigger that's manual, then I'm better off investing in cheap speedlights? (becaue iTTL impossible?)

Ditto with the pocket wizards or would I buy iTTL flashes to use (so even more expensive?)

or am I getting this completely wrong?

Best

Heather

No, you've not get it wrong, but a bit mixed up.

Yes, I forgot that BXRi heads have Skyport Speed triggers built in. The obvious thing to do then is get universal receivers for those to operate your other flashes (they'll work with anything).

Personally, I would get a really good, powerful hot-shoe gun as they're so useful for all sorts of work, eg SB-910. I'd also look to get another Nikon gun to go with it, so you have a fully iTTL two-gun set that will find a lot of uses. You can fire them both off the D700's pop-up in commander mode. It will probably work well in most situations, but when you hit its limitations (mainly limited commander range outdoors in sunlight) you have the Skyports to fall back on.

And you can link them in with the Elinchrom heads using Skyports. Manual only, but in most off-camera flash set ups, iTTL is much less useful and often even undesirable.

If you want more lights, and mobility, I'd question the benefits of hot-shoe guns over studio heads. The heavy stuff to lug around is the stands and modifiers and the lights themselves all go in one small and quite light case. If weight is an issue, think about Elinchrom D-Lites that are excellent heads, much smaller and lighter, and I see The Flash Centre is selling D-Lit 2 heads for only £125 each.

Edit: benefits of hot-shoe guns - small, battery powered, auto-TTL possible. Benefits of studio heads - modelling lights, fast recycle, power.

Hoodledoodle · 13 Apr 2012

Thank you thank you thank you. I have bought an SB-910 - to be honest I've been longing for one for about a year but only just been able to afford it

Thanks for the reminder about the receivers for the Skyport, it had totally slipped my mind that I could get the universal receivers when I need them. Thanks for the note about the pop-up in commander mode, just managed to see I can use it without exposing (that was what I was worrried about).

Totally get what you mean about them probably not being as portable as I'd think. I was planning to get some Justin clamps to be able to clamp the flashes to places and hopefully avoid having a stand sometimes. I'm going 200 miles away, need to pack for an event in the summer which I'm also performing in, so space really is a premium. Last year I took a huge halogen torch and it nearly killed me taking it on top of the regular luggage and it wasn't particularly effective either, so planning in advance this year!

Cool about the D-Lites 2 - I've been wanting that 3rd hair light for ages

Looking forward to playing with my lights!

HoppyUK · 13 Apr 2012

Hoodledoodle said:
Thank you thank you thank you. I have bought an SB-910 - to be honest I've been longing for one for about a year but only just been able to afford it

Thanks for the reminder about the receivers for the Skyport, it had totally slipped my mind that I could get the universal receivers when I need them. Thanks for the note about the pop-up in commander mode, just managed to see I can use it without exposing (that was what I was worrried about).

Totally get what you mean about them probably not being as portable as I'd think. I was planning to get some Justin clamps to be able to clamp the flashes to places and hopefully avoid having a stand sometimes. I'm going 200 miles away, need to pack for an event in the summer which I'm also performing in, so space really is a premium. Last year I took a huge halogen torch and it nearly killed me taking it on top of the regular luggage and it wasn't particularly effective either, so planning in advance this year!

Cool about the D-Lites 2 - I've been wanting that 3rd hair light for ages

Looking forward to playing with my lights!

If you want light weight, have a look at these Konig stands http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professiona...8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1334355341&sr=1-8 Much lighter than your Elinchrom ones, perfectly adequate for most things, and you'll need a couple more anyway. Bargain £11 each.