Dual 580ex, ST-E2, Umbrella Mount Kit

[StealthLude]

Hey guys, I wanted your input on this stuff...

I was planning on getting this dual 580 + ST-E2 Kit
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=358464&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

And long with this kit, I was thinking of getting this
Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit - includes: 2 Umbrellas, Brackets, Light Stands

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=395645&is=REG&addedTroughValue=358464_USA&addedTroughType=accessory_detail

Do you guys think this is good stuff? Should I get something else? Anything else out there that would work or another configuration peiced together to make a better setup? Im always lookin for new options.



Thanks Guys

[PacAce]

Those are all good stuff and will do what you want to do with them.

Maybe you've already mentioned it and I just missed it but is there a particular reason you are going with the flashes for studio type lighting instead of getting "real" studio strobes? The flashes are great for make-shift studio setups and for on-the-go type lighting but they're not as powerful as studio strobes are. And strobes are cheaper, too. I was just curious and wasn't trying to sway you one way or the other. I have both setups myself (strobes and flashes) so, like I said, I was just curious.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

If you're staying at home, get a pair of alien bees and accessories. Same price, but a ton more power.

[StealthLude]

I am not shooting as a profesional... and i LOVE the portability of the small speedlites...

It allows for very little storage room, easy to resell should i ever want to sell them, quick setup using ETTL, and im assuming will get the job done. I do like to take portraist shots along with creative flash photography and product photography... I just wanted portable should i decide to go somewhere, setup is quick and accuracy using ETTL should keep me out of trouble...

I wanted alien bees for so long, then just decided to keep it simple and check out canons wireless ETTL systems. I also rarly shoot in a manual flash mode so i dont really want a light meter either...

Unless u guys can educate me into WHY i should NOT get these, please let me know. Im always open for comments.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

wireless ettl works great. I use it all the time with my two 580's and ST-E2, which I have to add the latter to my sig, by the way. Anyway, it works great even for groups as I've found out. It's quite a handy feature, but have plenty of batteries handy!

[StealthLude]

Well, it looks like we are going with the speedlights setup. I took a lot at the alien bees again and I really think wireless speedlights are for me.

And yes, I have ordered a set of 24 NiMH batts with charger off ebay. Enought for my flashes and emergency power for the AA magazine for the battery grip.

[StealthLude]

Do you think its worth getting that kit off b&h, or just buy eveything seperate as you need it? I would be buying the above to add to my single 420ex which i am still keeping since it would make a great cheap ETTL slave.

[PacAce]

Do you think its worth getting that kit off b&h, or just buy eveything seperate as you need it? I would be buying the above to add to my single 420ex which i am still keeping since it would make a great cheap ETTL slave.
Do you save much by buying the kit? I noticed that with most of the B&H stuff, you really don't get much of a discount when buying their kits.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

If you were going to use the 580's strictly as slaves, I would probably go with a lower model only because you won't need the "bells and whistles" that the 580 has for use on-camera. You could save literally hundreds. Maybe enough to get a third light! ;-)

[brivett]

You must really like changing batteries and waiting 5 seconds between shots to get a kit like this... Been there, done that, bought studio lights

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Oh come on..you can get tons of shots out of a 580 with NiMH's in them before you're waiting even a couple seconds.

[StealthLude]

You must really like changing batteries and waiting 5 seconds between shots to get a kit like this... Been there, done that, bought studio lights

Your nuts man... I get fantastic recycle time and plency of juice out of a set of 2500 NihM batts. I dont need/want strobes... Takes me cousin 5 min to setup 6 speed lights and the results are AMAZING...


I could never go with strobes for what im trying to do... I dont even shoot for a living... + resale on speedlights are WAYY better.

[StealthLude]

If you were going to use the 580's strictly as slaves, I would probably go with a lower model only because you won't need the "bells and whistles" that the 580 has for use on-camera. You could save literally hundreds. Maybe enough to get a third light! ;-)

Ya i could go with 550s or 420s.... But i really like the use of a Manual Modes SOMETIMES... (i know i cant use teh ST-E2 then) but i have 2 masters tat that point...

+ Im very big on creative shoots, i like using the strobocopic function or wahtever its called... I get into all that stuff so i like a very capable speedlite.

But i have thought of getting a bunch of 420s, one 580ex and skip out on the ST-E2...

Do you know if using the 580ex as a master, i can make the 420s shoot in manual mode along with a strobocopic freq feature?

[cking2]

If you were going to use the 580's strictly as slaves, I would probably go with a lower model only because you won't need the "bells and whistles" that the 580 has for use on-camera. You could save literally hundreds. Maybe enough to get a third light! ;-)

He might want to look at this also

http://www.denisreggie.net/bracket_instr.html

rick

[mbze430]

I use this setup, it's good for small to medium size stuff. It all depends on what you plan to do. I also own 8 monolights as well...so the need of what you plan to do is pretty much what you'll need to get.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

He might want to look at this also

http://www.denisreggie.net/bracket_instr.html

rick

Yep...that's the ridiculously priced setup I mentioned earlier that somehow costs more than twice as much as an awesome studio light. :-D

[mbze430]

I have the Dennis Reggies dual bracket. I love it :)

[StealthLude]

studio lights are fine, but im lookin for small, portable and ETTL compatible.

Im not here to paly with light meters all day, nor do i shoot for a living.

[beardo]

Ya i could go with 550s or 420s.... But i really like the use of a Manual Modes SOMETIMES... (i know i cant use teh ST-E2 then) but i have 2 masters tat that point...



You can use the St-e2 to fire 580s or 550s in manual mode. Set the flash to slave then hold down the mode button for about 2 seconds and it will switch to manual mode. The flash will override any information sent via the ste2 (or master flash) and fire at the output you tell it too. From what I've gathered at this forum and others not too many people know about this feature.