ABR800 portable set up with 5D?

[kcp1377]

I just picked up the ABR800 to use with my %D. I'm new to studio lighting and do architecture work and portraiture. I figured I could use it as a ringflash for architecture and as a traditional strobe for portrait work with a softbox or moon unit.

Anyway, I'd like to be able to take this outside and use it as a fill flash. What can I use to do this? I see they offer the Vagabond battery system - is that a good system to use?

Should I get a wireless transmitter too? I know I'll need one in the future - I just don't know if I can use my speedlite to trigger the flash or not. (It's the 430 but I'd like to upgrade to the 580 sometime because I can use that as a master...)

Thanks!

[sfaust]

The Vegabond works well for portable outside use. You can make one yourself if you wish to increase capacity, or make it lighter, etc. Its nothing more than a gel cell battery, a pure sine wave inverter, and wiring, fuses, and a charger.

I built my own Vegabond because I wanted a larger capacity battery. I found that for slightly less, I could buy the same inverter they use, supply my own battery, fuses, charger, and carrying case, and end up with a portable battery system that would give me twice the number of flashes, or the same number but with two strobes. Its worked great.

Wireless transmitters really are nice because it eliminates the wires between the photographer and the strobes. With some work, you could get the 580 to trigger the ring flash, but its not problem free and requires some setup on the 580 to turn off the pre-flashes and such.

It seems interesting to me that you would use the ring flash as a ring flash for architecture work, and as a traditional flash with a soft box for portraits. Usually, the ring flash is used as such for portraits because of its unique look. I've never really thought about its use in architecture. Is it widely used in that market segment? I don't watch that market segment much, so perhaps its very common.

[redbutt]

Don't use your speedlite to trigger the flash. If the speedlite preflashes, the flash will go off at the wrong time. If you are going to need a wireless transmitter setup anyway in the future, then get one.

[kcp1377]

Thanks for the replies! I'll get the wireless transmitter. I'll go search some, but does anyone have good recommendations? I've heard good things about the pocket wizards...

I've been told that the ringflash is very popular in architectural work. I usually only use natural light, but some homes are so dark that they need some flash. And I do like the unique look the ringflash gives portraits, so I will probably end up using it with the right clients too. And I figured I can use it as fill light as well as a strobe, so it was a bit more versitile than the AB800. I'm looking forward to getting it!

I'll have my husband look into the wiring - it seems pretty simple and he's good with things like that! :) Thanks again for the suggestions!

[MSPhoto]

You won't go wrong with Pocket Wizards; the extra cost over some of the other systems (in my experience) is worth it.

[thunder7]

The most common lights used for architectural shooting are the Lowell Tota-lights.

http://www.lowel.com/tota/tota_d.html

[kcp1377]

Thanks! I was looking for something that could do both portrait work and architectural and I loved how these could act as strobes as well. If they don't work for interior work I'll look into those. I've had a lot of success with natural lighting, so I'm hoping the ringflash will just give me a little edge with some of the really dark rooms. I have a speedlite, but that's obviously too weak.