2 x 550EX Versus 2 x Photogenic Strobes???

[shafiq]

I am looking at investing in a good lighting setup. The following are the options I am considering:

1. Buy 1 x 550EX + 1 x ST2 + 1 x Photogenic Strobe
2. Buy 2 x 550EX + 1 x ST2
3. 2 x Photogenic Strobes

The thinking for 1. is that I can use the Flash as the fill flash and the strobe as the main light.

The thinking for 2. is that I can use one flash as a fill and the other as main.

The thinking for 3. is that I can make do without flash and use both strobes.

What are your comments/thoughts on an ideal setup for a amateur/hobbyist. Seems both options cost roughly the same.

Thx

[DaveG]

shafiq wrote:
I am looking at investing in a good lighting setup. The following are the options I am considering:

1. Buy 1 x 550EX + 1 x ST2 + 1 x Photogenic Strobe
2. Buy 2 x 550EX + 1 x ST2
3. 2 x Photogenic Strobes

The thinking for 1. is that I can use the Flash as the fill flash and the strobe as the main light.

The thinking for 2. is that I can use one flash as a fill and the other as main.

The thinking for 3. is that I can make do without flash and use both strobes.

What are your comments/thoughts on an ideal setup for a amateur/hobbyist. Seems both options cost roughly the same.

Thx


There's no way to trigger the Photogenic without using some type of a radio or "regular light" slave. And a regular slave will be triggered premateurly by the E-TTL flash pulse that is needed for the Canon wireless system.

What happens when you use the Wireless TTL, is that the 550 or a ST2 will emit a short informational light burst directed towards another 550EX or 420EX flash, and which tells the 420/550 how to behave. That first pulse from the 550 will premateurly trigger the strobe. The 550 would have to be used on manual to avoid this (and the ST2 wouldn't work at all). If you want to do that, you'd be better off buying a $50 Vivitar 283/285.

How about this though: One 550EX and two 420EX's. That way you can use the E-TTL and do wireless ratio work.

I don't see much point of getting the ST2. It's merely a slave projector and my understanding is that it's not as effective as the 550 would be when it's acting as a Master. At least with the 550 and a 420 you could use the 420 on the camera as a flash if you needed to, and you can't do that with the ST2.

[chris.bailey]

shafiq wrote:
I am looking at investing in a good lighting setup. The following are the options I am considering:

1. Buy 1 x 550EX + 1 x ST2 + 1 x Photogenic Strobe
2. Buy 2 x 550EX + 1 x ST2
3. 2 x Photogenic Strobes

The thinking for 1. is that I can use the Flash as the fill flash and the strobe as the main light.

The thinking for 2. is that I can use one flash as a fill and the other as main.

The thinking for 3. is that I can make do without flash and use both strobes.

What are your comments/thoughts on an ideal setup for a amateur/hobbyist. Seems both options cost roughly the same.

Thx


If you want to do studio work you would be better off with the strobes any time as you can easily add reflectors etc.

If you go the 550EX route, the ST2 can be made to act as a master on manual camera settings by putting a Wein Safe Sync between the ST2 and the camera. I use this setup to fire my studio flash and it works a treat.

[mickeyjuice]

DaveG wrote:

I don't see much point of getting the ST2.

It's a LOT lighter than a 550EX, and that's a good thing if you've already got a heavy lens loaded up. Ratios are also dead easy to set on it.

[scottbergerphoto]

I agree with the post above that says if you are going to do studio work, buy stobes. I have tried speedlites on stands as well as strobes. The strobes are much easier to use, meter, are more flexible, etc. There are many light modifiers for strobes. The SP Excalibur 6400's are reasonably priced and sold in sets with with stands and umbrellas. I upgraded the stands to Bogen's, added a softbox attachment,a Pocket Wizard Plus set up and a couple of Photoflex reflectors.
Scott

[DaveG]

miccullen wrote:
DaveG wrote:

I don't see much point of getting the ST2.

It's a LOT lighter than a 550EX, and that's a good thing if you've already got a heavy lens loaded up. Ratios are also dead easy to set on it.

- The two photographers who I know and use(d) the ST2 were very disapointed in it's sensitivity range.

- It may well be lighter than a 550 but it's still not a flash.

- If the 550 is on Master and you've set up the flash for ratios, then changing ratios is done by pushing the + or - minus button, and isn't very complicated.