Set up question

[Jmurman]

I am planning on taking some portraits at my familys gathering over Easter. Hopefully we can do this outside.

I am ordering the Speedlight 420 to go with the 300D.

How would you set this up? Flash on camera or separately on a tripod? If on the tripod, what cable will I need to connect?

This will be my first time taking some photos that aren't just "learning curve" pics.

Thanks!

[G3]

I would get a Stroboframe Flash Bracket and get the flash off the camera and away from the lens axis, but I would not mount it on a tripod unless I was using it as a slave to a 550EX for sidelighting, etc. You will need the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2.

If you are taking the photos outdoors in the sunlight, you will only be using the 420EX as fill-flash. Just use E-TTL, but be careful about harsh mid-day sunlight. It can create shadows that will exceed the dynamic range of the image sensor and E-TTL will not be able to calculate the correct amount of fill to balance it, so you will end up with either completely washed out highlights and correctly exposed shadow areas on the subject or you will end up with harsh shadows anyway. I would suggest that you do the portraits during the last hour or so of good sunlight, or in open shade.

[CoolToolGuy]

Off-camera will give you a different effect, and red-eye will probably not be a problem. There are several off-camera brackets that let you keep it all in your hands. Canon makes an off-camera cord for the hotshoe that retains the E-TTL functions. :)

My experience with a 550EX and the Drebel has been that it frequently under-exposes. You may want to bracket your shots. :?

You can get all of the above locally as well (including the 420EX), and look at the differences in the brackets. 8)

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[scottbergerphoto]

I would get a Stroboframe Flash Bracket and get the flash off the camera and away from the lens axis, but I would not mount it on a tripod unless I was using it as a slave to a 550EX for sidelighting, etc. You will need the Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2.

If you are taking the photos outdoors in the sunlight, you will only be using the 420EX as fill-flash. Just use E-TTL, but be careful about harsh mid-day sunlight. It can create shadows that will exceed the dynamic range of the image sensor and E-TTL will not be able to calculate the correct amount of fill to balance it, so you will end up with either completely washed out highlights and correctly exposed shadow areas on the subject or you will end up with harsh shadows anyway. I would suggest that you do the portraits during the last hour or so of good sunlight, or in open shade.
Once again G3 has provided some accurate helpful advice. I would just add to this, that when using a flash ouside as fill where the sun is the primary light source, you will get a more natural look by using -1 to -1and 2/3 FEC(flash exposure compensation). You just want to add some light to the shadows and some catchlights to the eyes. Unfortunately, the 300D doesn't have FEC. If you are going to do this kind of flash photography alot, you should invest in a 550EX, which does allow for FEC directly set on the flash, or a third party flash with similiar capabilities.
Regards,
Scott

[Jmurman]

thank you for your responses. I am confused right now. I went to the B and H site and this is what they show for stroboframe.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=121702&is=REG

Is this correct?

[robertwgross]

No, a flash bracket is what was referred to.

Stroboframe is just one brand. There are other brands. I have a Stratos.

A flash bracket is normally held in your left hand. The camera body screws onto the right side of the bracket. The upper left part of the bracket holds a flash unit.

Then normally you have to purchase the correct cable to attach to the top of the camera body's hot shoe, and this runs over to the bottom of the flash unit.

---Bob Gross---

[G3]

Nope...

look at this page:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=52&a=348_2941&shs=&ci=653&ac=&S ubmit.x=25&Submit.y=11

[Jmurman]

Nope...

look at this page:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=52&a=348_2941&shs=&ci=653&ac=&S ubmit.x=25&Submit.y=11

thats what I was thinking. Thanks!

[DaveG]

I am planning on taking some portraits at my familys gathering over Easter. Hopefully we can do this outside.

I am ordering the Speedlight 420 to go with the 300D.

How would you set this up? Flash on camera or separately on a tripod? If on the tripod, what cable will I need to connect?

This will be my first time taking some photos that aren't just "learning curve" pics.

Thanks!

I use a Stroboframe Pro-T with my 10D and 550EX flash for professional work. But if you are doing outside flash work where you are merely fill flashing, then using the flash - any flash - in the hotshoe will work fine. When you fill flash you just want to open up their eyes so that you don't get the racoon eyes effect.

Now inside is a different matter and you really want to keep the flash directly over the lens, and as high up as possible so that you don't get the horrible side shadow. Side shadow is almost always caused by having the flash in the hotshoe and you turn the whole thing into a vertical position. In that case a bracket that allows you to keep the flash over the lens - vertically or horizontally is very important.

The other thing you have to do is to make sure that the subject's are a good distance from the background. If they are too close to the background, even with the flash directly over the lens, then there will be a shadow hitting the wall behind them. Generally this shadow falls right behind their head and it'll look like they have long hair, It's not as bad as side shadow but should be avoided if possible. Just have them a couple of meters away from the backgound and all should be well.

For individual shots ambient light with a little fill flash should make nice candid shots that are still technically good.