Flashes, Strobes and Power... please help...

[xepherys]

So I have a few questions about lighting that I'm hoping someone can help with:

1) Sigma EF-500 DG Super vs Canon 580EX - I've seen them compared favorably to one another. Are they really that similar? The Sigma costs ~$180 less.

2) Alien Bees - Are they a good starting place for studio lighting? One or two small 400 units should probably do the trick for me for now. Are the package deals pretty good?

3) Portable power for strobes - How exactly does this work? Is it a large battery that supplies power over time and is rechargable? I've also seen units that plug into car power, but then you need to elave the vehicle running or risk the battery dying? What do you use, why and how does it work?


Thanks a ton!

[Curtis N]

1) Sigma EF-500 DG Super vs Canon 580EX - I've seen them compared favorably to one another. Are they really that similar? The Sigma costs ~$180 less.Their specifications and capabilities are indeed very similar. The differences are in the user interface and ease of use. This forum has many happy owners of both. If you're a pro who will use the flash for paid work often, the additional cost of the 580EX might be justified. Most of us would be better off saving that $180 so we can spend it on something else.

[foto202]

The package deals are decent. I think you get a 5% discount on the accessories when you buy the package, although they do give you the discount when you order a light and accessories at the same time. I have 2 AB800's and they work great.
I just got my Vagabond 300-the AB power pack. It seems like it will work just fine. It is a battery pack and power inverter to convert the battery power into power for your strobes. It take 5 hours to be fully charged. It should last a long time.

[Ken Fong]

I can only answer for #2. Alien Bees are great, but if you can afford a little more, a pair of AB800s might serve you better. I sometimes use an AB400 for backlighting.

[xepherys]

Hmmm, thanks for the info all. I hope to get the ABs soon (well, by Christmas soon) and a flash much sooner (a month or so?). I just want to make sure I'm as close to the "right" equipment for me as I can be the first time.

[Henry Low]

If you plan to use them outdoors, i would get the AB1600. Outdoor fill light requires very powerful strobes (which sesems counterintuitive at first considering you have more ambient light). Indoors you could be fine with Ab400 if you are not using large softboxes.

Henry

[xepherys]

Nah, not counterintuitive at all Henry... the brighter the light, the deeper the shadows. I don't think I'll be doing TOO much outside, but I'm not really sure yet. Maybe I'll look into 1 400 and 1 800 for now. Get a 1600 later if I need one. Thanks! :-)

[MagicallyDelicious]

I have the sigma flash n it does a good job for me :)
I only have the 300d so was told that it would do everything for me that i needed. if id had a better camera body then it would have been worth going for the canon :)

[nitekatt2006]

One thing I heard about regarding Sigma flash and Canon, is no way to my knowledge to connect an off camera cable like you can to Canon flash. I imagine via PC slot, but then noTTL hookup. Something to check out. One guy I know has the Sigma Super for Canon 20D and he is getting really good shots. katt

[StealthLude]

Love my 580ex (also have 2 x 420ex as slaves)

Love my Alien Bee 800 (need to buy more)

[xepherys]

wow, a 580, 2x420 and AB800... I know that's not "a lot" for this forum, but I'm jealous!!! :-)

[MrKickalot]

I think you would regret AB400's... they fit your budget now but in a few when you need more you will regret spending all the money on the 400's.... I know my first one was a 400, wasn't enough light alone for much more than head shots (in my opinion)...bought a 800 to help it out...ended up ditching the 400 and got a a 1600. just my 2 cents!

[Curtis N]

One thing I heard about regarding Sigma flash and Canon, is no way to my knowledge to connect an off camera cable like you can to Canon flash.You heard wrong.

The Sigma flash units will connect to a Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2 (or aftermarket equivalent) just like the Canon Speedlites. I use mine on a flash bracket quite a bit.

The Off Camera Shoe Cord is nothing more than an extension cord. Anything that will work on the hotshoe will work the same way with the cord.

You could also connect it with a PC cord and PC-hotshoe adapter (manual only), but if there are other lights in the system it's often easier to just use the optical slave mode.

[nitekatt2006]

Curtis, I realize you can use a standard PC cable as an off shoe connection to any flash, I do this with a Nikon flash in manual mode on a bracket and of course to my AB800 strobes, but that still puts the camera and flash in a non TTL or non E-TTL mode doesn't it? Whereas the Canon off shoe cable hooked into a Canon flash would allow E-TTL, right? Then if I understand it, Sigma has an offshoe cable that will allow the E-TTL connection? That is what I meant and in fact when I heard you couldn't hook up an off shoe cable on Sigma flash for E-TTL from Canon, that is why I didn't consider that flash for 10 or 30D.

[Curtis N]

Curtis, I realize you can use a standard PC cable as an off shoe connection to any flash... but that still puts the camera and flash in a non TTL or non E-TTL mode doesn't it?Correct. Whereas the Canon off shoe cable hooked into a Canon flash would allow E-TTL, right?Correct.Then if I understand it, Sigma has an offshoe cable that will allow the E-TTL connection?No, Canon has an offshoe cable called the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2, which you can use to connect any E-TTL flash unit, including Canon EX Speedlites, Sigma EF-500 DG, Promaster 7500DX, or any other flash designed to work with Canon's E-TTL system.

There are also aftermarket brands of offshoe cables. I use one made by Promaster. The cable is just a 6-conductor extension cord with contacts designed to fit the Canon system. It has one end that looks like the flash foot and connects to the camera's hotshoe. The other end looks like a hotshoe and connects to the flash. If it's designed for Canon's E-TTL system and has all 6 electrical contacts in the right place, it will work. Its only job is to connect to the hotshoe and replicate those contacts at the other end.

I have a Sigma EF-500 DG Super and a Promaster sync cord designed to be used on Canons. I use these on my flash bracket with my 20D in E-TTL mode quite frequently, and the system works fine.

[sboerup]

I bought a Innavotronix Explorer battery for my AB800, as I do all of my work on location. I didn't want to gamble if there was a "power outlet" nearby, and especially today when I did a company photo out in the hills on the streets. Never would I have found ANY power nearby, and not even within 15 feet of my setup.

Battery has operated FLAWLESSLY. I bought it because it can power 2, thats right, 2 AB800s simaltaneously, whereas the Vagabond unit costs 2 times as much for the 2 outlet battery. Rob Gailbraith gave it a good review, so I went for it. So glad I got it!

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7883-7908

[xepherys]

Hmm, good info on the Innavotronix... I'll look into that. Thanks!

[nitekatt2006]

Curtis that pretty much explains what I needed to know. Now I will seriously consider a Sigma Super for my Canons. Just wanted to make sure the E-TTL function would work when attached to an off shoe cable. The cable is about $50 I think. katt