Indoor action sports & speedlites

[4130]

I shoot BMX at skateparks, mountain biking in the woods, and at parties where light is scarce and shots are very tight. I am just getting going with my 450D/XSi and the 18-55 kit lens and am hurting for better light in these situations.

I've decided I need a 430exii or 580exii. The 580 is about $80 more than the 430. I am also considering a nifty-50, but I'd probably do better with something 16-22mm f/1.X-2.X.

My question is about speed and power. The indoor park is very dim, and I want to be able to capture tight panning sequences with the flash (about 3.5 fps as I understand), but I am unsure if either of the new speedlites fire that fast.

Could someone provide me with some advice on where to proceed?

[bmxfro]

how's it going! I would suggest that you buy one or two vivitar 285hv's and a set of wireless triggers. i would say the skyports ae awesome, but lots of people like the ebay cactus triggers. This will enable you to get awesome shots like in RideBMX and other pro mags! There are plenty of bmx/skate photogs on this forum that can help out! In the mean time, i am typing on my motorola Q and my thumbs are tired! Hpe I helped!
-FRO

[4130]

I think that's a little over my head at this point.

Does the 580 have a noticeable speed/power difference or strobe capability that would make it better for indoor sports?

[Familiaphoto]

The 580 is more powerful and recharges faster. However, using a speedlight you will run into a couple challenges. The speedlight won't recycle fast enought to illuminate 3.5 fps. You just need to prepare yourself for that. Also, if you are shooting a subject close to you there is a chance of illuminating your subject well while ending up with a dark background. Shoot in manual mode to control for this effect better.

[4130]

so with a 285 i will be able to shoot sequences, yet it will be more difficult to adjust than the ETTL/canon flashes?

$90 for that vivitar seems attractive, but I wonder how hard it will be to get good results starting off.

I read that the 285 has very slow recycle time though. Could someone explain how its different from a speedlite other than being mostly manual?

[bmxfro]

Hi again!
All I can say is, if you are wanting to get sequence shots, either flash will work. You have to lower the power on the flash so it can recycle faster. What this means is that you will use the flash in Manual Mode. ETTL is not for the type of shot you want! It is for spur of the moment shots, like weddings etc....
Here is a shot I did with a 300D and a off camera vivitar flash!

http://www.lonerstudios.com/Color/woodard.jpg

Oh I forgot to add! Watch Craigslist all the time! I found both of my 285hv's on there for $60!!! They are great old flashes!

[KarlosDaJackal]

I'd say the Sigma 530 because it has a multi-flash mode, so while your camera takes 1 shot the flash fire off multiple times and you get multiple flashed exposures layered on top of each other. AND its fully ETTL compatible including master capability so you can grow into it.

Something like this could work great I think (not mine so i'll link it)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreversouls/299720124/

[bobbyz]

None will let you do 3.5 fps. Even if flash let you do it you don't want to do it as you will burn the flash.

Now 285HV look very nice but they have much slower recycling times when compared to 580ex. You can get used 550ex/580ex and couple it with cp-e4.

[H8Monday]

I would suggest the 580. It has serious power, and yes, it CAN fire over 3.5 fps at certain power settings. Depending on the condition of your batts, you should get a burst of 3-4 fps at 1/4 power and lower.

[jbergdoll]

The 580 is more powerful and recharges faster. However, using a speedlight you will run into a couple challenges. The speedlight won't recycle fast enought to illuminate 3.5 fps. You just need to prepare yourself for that. Also, if you are shooting a subject close to you there is a chance of illuminating your subject well while ending up with a dark background. Shoot in manual mode to control for this effect better.
I shot last night with a 430EX and it shot a whole 20 frames at 8 FPS... think again.

But for the thread starter, get some off-camera flashes.

[roaming oregon]

If you stay on camera get a 580. Run it in either multi-shot or second shutter play with your setting until you get what you like.

At minimum get an off-shoe cord so you have some ability to not just blast the flash.

If you go off camera get whatever you can (550ex, vivitar 285, sigma, or whatever.) The 285 frustrates me cause you go from1/4 power to 1/16 and miss 1/8 (I use it on my 550ex all the time. I bailed on every other option and went with Pocket Wizards. Don't skimp- do it right.

Look around the sports section om my site or go to Liquid-dirt.com you'll see examples of on camera, off camera, 1 flash, 2 flash whatever. Night party shots all on camera (550ex) bounced off my hand- some have a gold tint cause I forgot to take off my wedding ring and didn't bother color correcting) are here:
http://blog.moshparts.com/?p=247#more-247

[bobbyz]

I shot last night with a 430EX and it shot a whole 20 frames at 8 FPS... think again.

But for the thread starter, get some off-camera flashes.

Well at what power?

[Albert Street]

I never use ttl for shooting BMX. I highly recommend you go fully manual and learn how to use flashes the hard way. For my setup I use 2 Vivitar 285's and 1 Sunpak 544, all on manual. ttl is virtually useless for action sports, especially if you're using your flashes off camera (which you should.)

http://forums.skateperception.com/index.php?showtopic=52674

That's a thread that has some very useful information. That thread is pretty much what taught me how to use my flashes.

Have a look at my website (in the sig) to see some of my photos, all of which were shot with Sunpak and Vivitar flashes.

EDIT: Also, my Vivitars have no problem shooting at 5fps at 1/16th power.

[4130]

Thanks guys, I have decided on one of the new 580s because it can do full manual mode and use ETTL when I need to shoot snapshots. The vivitar may have a larger total charge, but won't let me be as lazy when I just want some pictures of friends.

If I am going to be using a 580exii on camera, is there much point getting a flash bracket to go with the cord?