no handy natural light - 2 flash the solution?

[mrklaw]

Hi

I have a 430EX which I use quite a lot for simple bounce illumination for portraits indoors.

I'd like to experiment with more 'posed' portraits with better lighting. Unfortunately we don't have big northerly facing windows for good directionless light (we have nice big southerly windows which I used to think were better :P )

So would I benefit from getting a 580ex as an onboard fill, and moving the 430EX as a mainlight to one side?

I'm assuming this is a big step to take from a learning curve point of view, so any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

[tim]

Simple answer: yes.

Longer answer: get a light stand or one of these (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=42160&is=REG&addedTroughType=search) to mount the flash on a tripod with an umbrella. Get a 45 or so inch silver umbrella, or 60 inch if you like, it doesn't make a lot of difference. Make sure the red cover on the front of the flash is pointing towards the 580EX master. A CP-E3 battery pack helps recharge time a lot if you find it too slow, but be careful not to burn out the flash head. Use ratios, I use 1:3 or 1:4 usually. This is one of the few times I actually use the full power of my 550EX, though I don't mind dropping to ISO 200 so it's not firing full power too often.

It's actually cheaper to get an AlienBee B400 or B800 than to get a 580EX and this stuff, the only advantage the Canon system has is portability. The bee will have more power, more flexability, and costs less. A strobe will also shoot all day as fast as it can recharge (2 seconds or so for a B800), the 430EX will eventually burn out if you don't give it enough time to cool.

[mrklaw]

cheers. I'm assuming the 580 will be on camera, so wouldn't that be the lower powered one and the 430 the main light?

As for alien bees etc, I don't need portability, but I need compactness - this would be only for at home, and it would need to pack away small afterwards. How big are bees or similar?

[tim]

Yep 580EX is the 1 in the ratio, the 430EX is the 3 or 4.

If you don't need portability get the bee... it packs down to a bag the size of a large persons head (give or take), the light stand and umbrella can go into a closet somewhere. Definitely better value.

[MDJAK]

Tim's answer(s) as always are complete, correct and quite helpful.

Only thing I would add is that I don't really care for the "bags" that the Bees come in. I much prefer a monolight kit that comes all in one bag and holds the stands too. I have a two light kit that comes with a rolling-type bag. Both stands fit neatly in the bottom of the bag with the lights, reflectors, umbrellas, etc. Why store two bags, or more, when you can get them all in one?

mark

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/368141.jpg

[tim]

A decent bag would be very handy, carrying two little AB bags along with a light stand bag is a pain.

[George Chew]

Greetings,
I recently begin to shot candid portrait with 2 speedlites, 580ex and 420ex. After shooting for 1 month, i don't think I will go back to single flash. Enjoy...

Ef85mm f1.8, 1/160, f1.8. Flash ratio (580ex) 1: (420ex) 2
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f367/gckw8833/_MG_7194.jpg

[Titus213]

Tim's answer(s) as always are complete, correct and quite helpful.

Only thing I would add is that I don't really care for the "bags" that the Bees come in. I much prefer a monolight kit that comes all in one bag and holds the stands too. I have a two light kit that comes with a rolling-type bag. Both stands fit neatly in the bottom of the bag with the lights, reflectors, umbrellas, etc. Why store two bags, or more, when you can get them all in one?

mark


Mark,
Isn't that setup at a minimum $1200?

I really like the results you can get with two or more EX units but Tim is right on when he says it's not cost effective UNLESS portability is the main issue. 420EX flashes are tough to find these days and the Canon replacement (430EX) is a substantial jump in price. It makes the 550EX much more reasonable but still spendy.

[StealthLude]

I use wireless speedlights... And i would love to have my own legit studio setup with strobes, even if it was using Alien Bee... But i think im going to stick with my wireless lights. I love using them, very easy, quick and clean...

1x580ex and 2x420ex units.

Im planning on buying that photoflex mount thing so i can attached the brollys that came with my Alien Bee units.

[mrklaw]

Well I already have one 430EX, so I was thinking a 580EX was a lot cheaper than a complete new 2 light mini studio setup.

Anyway, I've bought a 24-105 lens now, so I don't have any money left :) Time to start saving up again