Which Flashguns?

redmonkee

redmonkee

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PHILIP
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Hi guys I wonder if tou could help me. I'd like to start experimenting with off camera flash maybe two flashes with a couple of umbrellas or soft boxes.

Now which flashes would you recommend to go with my 1D3? I'd like to learn to shoot in full manual so i'm not sure whether I need to pay the premium price for Canon's ETTL speedlites?

Any advice would be great :thumbs:
 
It will of course be cheaper to use some other brand flashgun, even seriously old stuff should be fine as it's fired remotely. I'd still consider a canon version though as there may well be times when you want to use ETTL or high speed flash for example. I suppose if I could get some secondhand flashes cheap enough I'd use them but otherwise I'd probably buy canon.
 
If it's portraits and home studio type stuff, you'll be better off with studio lights. Probably cheaper than top end hot shoe guns too. Think £300-400 upwards for a two head outfit.

If it's a bit of strobisty work, then practically any gun/s with manual power settings (Yongnuo?), a radio trigger like the Yongnuo RF-602, and a cheap stand/brolly will get you going. Say £100 per light all in.

Having said that, I would make at least one of the guns a decent E-TTL jobbie as they're so useful for other stuff.

Need more info/budget really.
 
Hi guys and thanks for your replies.

I want to try my hand at a bit of strobist work, and i've been checking the gear the guys use on lightenupandshoot

http://lightenupandshoot.net/the-gear-we-use

They recommend Nikon SB28 as their preferred flashgun as they are cheap and powerful. As I intend to get some cheap radio triggers and only shoot manual these would work with my Canon 1D3.

I really don't want to spend a lot, and was thinking a couple of light stands and a softbox to compliment 2 of these flashes.

What do you think?
 
redmonkee said:
Hi guys and thanks for your replies.

I want to try my hand at a bit of strobist work, and i've been checking the gear the guys use on lightenupandshoot

http://lightenupandshoot.net/the-gear-we-use

They recommend Nikon SB28 as their preferred flashgun as they are cheap and powerful. As I intend to get some cheap radio triggers and only shoot manual these would work with my Canon 1D3.

I really don't want to spend a lot, and was thinking a couple of light stands and a softbox to compliment 2 of these flashes.

What do you think?
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The Nikon flashes will work off camera in manual. The SB28s and SB24s aren't as cheap as they used to be as everyone started buying them when the strobist fad kicked in. I've heard good things about the Yongnuos - may be worth looking at the 460, it's full manual. Get some cheap light stands from Amazon (£10 each) and get a couple of brollies and a softbox and you are sorted.
 
I gave some links to (imho) some good quality stuff in another post will copy them here.

For manual flashes I would recommend YN460 II or YN560, triggers RF-602. All can be found on Ebay or Amazon.

LightStands

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-5001b-nano-stand/p1031134

but I have the copies from Cotswoldphoto on Ebay only 25 quid.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-mn026-lite-tite-swivel-and-umbrella-adaptor/p1005217

substitute for the Calumet branded equivalent and save 6 pound...

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-westcott-white-satin-collapsible-umbrella-with-removable-black-cover-109cm/p1522343

Rog
 
i have a couple of nissins in a very similar set up and they work well.
 
rogermbyrne said:
I gave some links to (imho) some good quality stuff in another post will copy them here.

For manual flashes I would recommend YN460 II or YN560, triggers RF-602. All can be found on Ebay or Amazon.

LightStands

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-5001b-nano-stand/p1031134

but I have the copies from Cotswoldphoto on Ebay only 25 quid.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-mn026-lite-tite-swivel-and-umbrella-adaptor/p1005217

substitute for the Calumet branded equivalent and save 6 pound...

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-westcott-white-satin-collapsible-umbrella-with-removable-black-cover-109cm/p1522343

Rog
Click to expand...

I second this. Phil, just drop me a line if you wanna borrow DVDs or shoot something. Be good fun. :)
 
rogermbyrne said:
I gave some links to (imho) some good quality stuff in another post will copy them here.

For manual flashes I would recommend YN460 II or YN560, triggers RF-602. All can be found on Ebay or Amazon.

LightStands

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-5001b-nano-stand/p1031134

but I have the copies from Cotswoldphoto on Ebay only 25 quid.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-manfrotto-mn026-lite-tite-swivel-and-umbrella-adaptor/p1005217

substitute for the Calumet branded equivalent and save 6 pound...

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-westcott-white-satin-collapsible-umbrella-with-removable-black-cover-109cm/p1522343

Rog
Click to expand...

Thanks for the useful links Roger, much appreciated :thumbs:
 
no worries I bought a lot of crap to start with because it was cheap and I didn't ask, hopefully this will save some trouble and expense I went through ;)
 
rogermbyrne said:
no worries I bought a lot of crap to start with because it was cheap and I didn't ask, hopefully this will save some trouble and expense I went through ;)
Click to expand...

Well it's good of you to go to the trouble to post the links :thumbs:

Can I ask if you use a portable softbox which fastens using an umbrella mount?
 
Hey Philip I have a Westcott Apollo 28" softbox which does this, I had one of those ebay collapsible softboxes that mounts to a ring on a bracket but I didn't get on with it so plumped for the Apollo, not cheap but worth it for weight, portability and ease of putting up.
 
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rogermbyrne said:
Hey Philip I have a Westcott Apollo 28" softbox which does this, I had one of those ebay collapsible softboxes that mounts to a ring on a bracket but I didn't get on with it so plumped for the Apollo, not cheap but worth it for weight, portability and ease of putting up.
Click to expand...

Roger can I ask where you got the Westcott Apollo from, I've read so many good things about these I feel I may as well opt for this rather than getting a cheaper version :)
 
rogermbyrne said:
I bought mine from B&H in the U.S as I know a guy there so got a discount which made it cheap enough to import, I think two UK suppliers are Creativevideo and Premierink. Here's a link to a deal going on with PremierInk http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=302929
Click to expand...

Is the deal at PremierInk the same as this one on Warehouseexpress
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-westcott-70cm-apollo-flash-kit/p1522440

Do you think the included stand will be decent quality?
 
Not sure mate I can't see the page, not sure it will be 'quality' but I'm sure it will work ;)
 
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