Studio set up with 550EX and 420EX

[ShutteringFocus]

I've been looking into studio lighting but I don’t have the funds and the moment.

Someone suggested pairing a 550 with a 420.

I was just wondering what kind of a set up you can get with this. 420's will go for around $130 used...that’s definitely in my price range.

I was wondering if anyone had any sample shots or on-line articles using this type of equipment to light studio shots, or outdoor shots.

I can imagine these two flashes would be a fairly popular pair, I am not new to photography, but am very new to the possibilities of two flashes paired together. Before I went out and purchased a 420 I just wanted to know what I might be able to expect from this set up.

[PacAce]

Have you checked out the stickies in the Flash and Lighting section? If not, here's the link:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46599

There are some informative stuff out there and hopefully, one of them is what you are looking for.

[TomPierce]

If you can afford it, I'd suggest getting another 550 instead. There is a guide number difference between the 420 and the 550, so doing something like butterfly lighting is more difficult with a mismatched pair of flashes.

And if you are thinking of getting the ST-E2 flash controller (which I did), keep in mind that a 550 can control other (Canon) flashes just like a ST-E2. So another 550 would give you main light / fill light / background light. And then you're all set :)

[ShutteringFocus]

Oh, I didnt notice we had a whole other forum for lighting...thanks PacAce.

Tom - could you explain a little more about what you are talking about?

You mean if I put a 550 on my camera (or connect with a cable) it will fire another 550? Wont the 420 do that too though? like as a slave?

[robertwgross]

If you want a Canon wireless master, then you can get the 580EX, or 550EX, or STE2.

If you want a Canon wireless slave, then you can get the 580EX, or 550EX, or 420EX.

For any given multi-light setup, you need at least one master and then any number of slaves.

The master must be either directly on the hotshoe, or with the off camera shoe cord from the hotshoe.

---Bob Gross---

[rich_yau]

If your on a budget, try the sigma flashes. The ST super is very similar to the 550ex, but about 100 dollars less. I'm not sure, ive never tried it, but i believe you can miz the sigmas with canon flashes.

[DaveG]

I've been looking into studio lighting but I don’t have the funds and the moment.

Someone suggested pairing a 550 with a 420.

I was just wondering what kind of a set up you can get with this. 420's will go for around $130 used...that’s definitely in my price range.

I was wondering if anyone had any sample shots or on-line articles using this type of equipment to light studio shots, or outdoor shots.

I can imagine these two flashes would be a fairly popular pair, I am not new to photography, but am very new to the possibilities of two flashes paired together. Before I went out and purchased a 420 I just wanted to know what I might be able to expect from this set up.


I love the wireless TTL flash system and use it a lot but it's not going to be all that great in a studio set up, at least with TTL flash automation.

The problem is that the E-TTL or E-TTL2 thinks about and evaluates EVERY shot. If the subject is wearing something black it will give one exposure, if they are wearing white something else. Even if they turn a little bit on their stool, or you change your zoom composition, the sensor could see a bit more background and that can affect the exposure. Subsequently you could shoot forty H&S shots ALL with a bit of variation.

Now in a location feature shot, where you are looking to get one shot out of forty, then this variation doesn't matter. But if you are looking to make a series of matched portrait shots, then you and Photoshop are going to become good friends over the next five hours as you try to match the background colours and densities, while maintaining the same flesh tones and densities. Good luck by the way.

Now you can use a pair of 550's or 580's on manual settings. The 420 has no manual setting so it's out of that game. But even if you choose the 550/580 setup, it's a pretty expensive solution. For the cost of a 550/580 you could buy an inexpensive strobe like an Alien Bee that's designed to do this work, and that's what I'd suggest. You'll get consistency from shot to shot and you can go all day.

[smudge]

I took these recently using a 580 and a 550 both manually controlled from the master, using a light meter for exposure.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL581/2631269/5244917/98705142.jpg

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL581/2631269/5244917/98706304.jpg

[Eric DeCastro]

for the price of a 550ex and 420ex you can get an alien bee or you can get one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30087&item=3868908645&tc=photo
I only chose to go with an alien be because I love the customer service there at alien bee. but one monolight, one 42" reflector will do better then you will ever imagine. unless you need to go on location and don't want to buy a vagabond (which i will be getting as well) then i guess your only choise is to get a couple of speed lites. but why not do it right from the git go.

[ShutteringFocus]

I do a lot of sports and location outdoor portraits...so I decided to go with the speedlights over the studio equipment for now. The studio lighting is in the near future...

I just was wondering if it would be worth it to pick up a 420.