Please tell me if this basic set-up will work well

[traviswalken]

After reading a lot of posts here (including the sticky's) and reading a lot of the strobist site, I've come to the conclusion that starting simple with off camera flash makes a lot of sense. Keeping it simple includes sticking with ETTL.

I currently use a 430 on camera with a diffuser. I'd like to get the flash off camera. Here is what I plan to get:

*hot shoe to household synch adapter ($20)
*stand for umbrella ($40-$80)
*umbrella adapter ($20)
*15' pc chord (not sure about cost yet, but I would guess cheap)
*umbrella ($50)
*Foam board for reflecting ($20)

Total cost should be about $160 - $220

A couple questions:
1. If I wanted to stay really cheap, could I use my tripod instead of purchasing an umbrella stand?
2. Should I purchase this stuff via a kit? The strobist recommends this: http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=STROBIST2XKITS One of these kits provide 2 of almost everything on my list for $200 (might be missing
3. Does it make sense to stick with ETTL for the time being. It is quite simple and has worked well so far.
4. Should I get an umbrella I can shoot through?
5. Am I missing anything critical?

I think it makes sense to figure out wireless triggers, light meters, and multiple flashes after I get comfortable with the gear described above.

As always, your advice is greatly appreciated.

[jeromego]

After reading a lot of posts here (including the sticky's) and reading a lot of the strobist site, I've come to the conclusion that starting simple with off camera flash makes a lot of sense. Keeping it simple includes sticking with ETTL.

I currently use a 430 on camera with a diffuser. I'd like to get the flash off camera. Here is what I plan to get:

*hot shoe to household synch adapter ($20)
*stand for umbrella ($40-$80)
*umbrella adapter ($20)
*15' pc chord (not sure about cost yet, but I would guess cheap)
*umbrella ($50)
*Foam board for reflecting ($20)

Total cost should be about $160 - $220

A couple questions:
1. If I wanted to stay really cheap, could I use my tripod instead of purchasing an umbrella stand?
2. Should I purchase this stuff via a kit? The strobist recommends this: http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=STROBIST2XKITS One of these kits provide 2 of almost everything on my list for $200 (might be missing
3. Does it make sense to stick with ETTL for the time being. It is quite simple and has worked well so far.
4. Should I get an umbrella I can shoot through?
5. Am I missing anything critical?

I think it makes sense to figure out wireless triggers, light meters, and multiple flashes after I get comfortable with the gear described above.

As always, your advice is greatly appreciated.

1.) You can use a tripod but you'll only be limited to a certain height.
2.) You can also check out Impact 2 umbrella kit from B&H for $99
3.) You don't have to stick with ETTL a lot of people including myself use manual when going off cam.
4.) get an umbrella with a removable black backing. this way you can use both reflective and shoot through.
5.)since you have a 430 which doesn't have sync port then you need one of THESE (http://flashzebra.com/products/0115/index.shtml) (not sure if that's what you meant by hot shoe to household sync)

[thaking]

lemme answer this based on what i did...i got the 2 flash kit from mpex...could you get everything cheaper by piecing together? maybe...but my time is worth a lot (IMO) and by purchasing the kit i no longer need to spend hours searching for that sb-28 flash on the cheap...

does it make sense to stick with ETTL? i'd say no...going manual gives you a lot of control...this is coming from someone just starting out with manual flash...

shoot through umbrellas? they're better than you think...

[swalter]

I just did the same thing in the last week. Your choices for hotshoe adapters doesn't seem right. If you want to stick to corded ETTL, then you'll need one of these:

http://www.flashzebra.com/ttlcords/ettlcords/index.shtml

but honestly, doing it in manual is very easy. I was able to get things dialed-in in just one or two shots.

I think the kits from MPEX are a good deal, but I went with other stuff from B&H.

Manfrotto 366B 6' BASIC LIGHT STAND - MA366B $39.95
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=MA366B&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

Photogenic ECP45 45" ECLIPSE+ UMBR SLVR w/BLK CVR - PHUEP45S $38.50
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=PHUEP45S&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

Manfrotto 026 SWIVEL UMBRELLA ADAPTR (LITE-TITE) - MA026 $29.50
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=MA026&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

Stroboframe ACCESSORY SHOE - STAS $7.95
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=STAS&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

I also got Elinchrom Skyports, because I wanted wireless, so I got this:

http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0138/index.shtml

which connects to the skyport receiver and then the flash mounts in that. I then put the flash + cable above into the stroboframe bracket, which is mounted to the swivel bracked on the umbrella adapter. total cost for this setup (w/o the skyports) was about $130.

I'd suggest an umbrella with a removable cover, so you can do reflected or shoot through.

-Scott

[Big G]

If you want to keep e-TTL, you will need to connect with something other than a PC cord. With a PC cord you will onyl have manual control of the flash.

A lot seem to use the flashzebra cords, as recommended by Swalter.

[Jim M]

I'm not sure what the PC to household adapter is all about. I don't see anything in your list that you can plug the household end into. Not very many flash units use household connectors any more. There is one advantage of household sockets, though. You can use cheap and readily available two wire extension cords as sync cord extensions.