2 light setup-should they be the same flash?

I've got a 580exii and love it but need another flash for a two light basketball setup. Can't really see myself spending another $500 on a 2nd 580exii so I'll probably go for a 430exii.

If I have them at the same power setting(say...1/4), will one side of the player be significantly underexposed or will it just be a small difference?

Should I sell the 580exii and just get two 430's so that it takes less time to adjust things?

the 580exii will give you one stop of more power than the 430exII, if the flash was the same distance to the subject and choice of modifier is the same.. then that would be a 2:1 flash ratio... so 1/4 on the 580 would be 1/8 on the 430

k.CHU wrote in post #12240488
the 580exii will give you one stop of more power than the 430exII, if the flash was the same distance to the subject and choice of modifier is the same.. then that would be a 2:1 flash ratio... so 1/4 on the 580 would be 1/8 on the 430

Oh ok thanks that's easier to figure out then I thought.

So I'd just have to bump up the power of the 430, possibly draining the batteries quicker but oh well.

+1 with K. Chu. Keep the 580 EX II.

I think in MOST situations you will want one of the two lights to be 1 stop different from the other...as said above that will give you a 2:1 ratio which is a pretty good general lighting for portrait work.

Ebay some SB-28s. I put those with my 580exII and they work great. Great build quality, great power, PC port (if that's an issue), and you can get them all day long for about $120.

I almost went with the Lumopro or the YongNuo, but I took a gamble on the first SB - it was great - picked up a second and now my strobist kit is complete. Throw them on an umbrella stand with a shoot through, and they provide fantastic light.

I'm not a graph calculator numbers guy, so I don't know what the sheets say, but visually the look as powerful as the 580exII - I can't tell a difference anyway.

I spent less for the (2) SB's than I would have for (1) 430 - and keep in mind, these were the Nikon Flagship products back in the day. Since you already have the 580exII, you have all you need for on-camera stuff.

That's just my $.02

punisher660 wrote in post #12247885
Ebay some SB-28s. I put those with my 580exII and they work great. Great build quality, great power, PC port (if that's an issue), and you can get them all day long for about $120.

I almost went with the Lumopro or the YongNuo, but I took a gamble on the first SB - it was great - picked up a second and now my strobist kit is complete. Throw them on an umbrella stand with a shoot through, and they provide fantastic light.

I'm not a graph calculator numbers guy, so I don't know what the sheets say, but visually the look as powerful as the 580exII - I can't tell a difference anyway.

I spent less for the (2) SB's than I would have for (1) 430 - and keep in mind, these were the Nikon Flagship products back in the day. Since you already have the 580exII, you have all you need for on-camera stuff.

That's just my $.02

At that price point I'd rather try out the lumopro Lp-160 mpex is selling. Guide number 140 while sb28 is GN 34. It's $150, as powerful as 580exii, metal hotshoe and the settings on the back look really easy to adjust(no fiddling with screens and dials like the 580exii).

That saves a bunch so that I can buy more triggers, super clamps, umbrella adapters and stands.

I really like the lp160. It doesn't feel it, but it is a really sturdy little unit. Took two trips to the ground and still going strong. I'll admit that the locking screw became unthreaded a little, but that was easy to fix. The only problem I have is that I wish it would remember your settings from power down, but that's just laziness.
I also have a Nikon sb25 that I like almost as much, but wish I would have waited to find an sb26. I think that's when Nikon started adding optical slaves.

From what I have read, only the SB 26 has an optical slave (I could be wrong though), but is it an issue if you use wireless triggers? (not being an @$$, just asking a question).

As for the lp160 - I was really leaning that way, but I had read a few too many negative reviews and decided to chance the Nikons - for the difference in price, that paid for my umbrellas and stands. I'm sure the LP is a great unit, just throwing some options out there.

subscribed,
I am in the market for a second flash, what about the young nuo

Nikon SB flash are great stuff.. there's a reason why they still go for over $100 on a used one. just few years ago, you were able to get them for less then $100.. today is another story. supply & demand. haha

get watever your budget can afford. 1 stop aint gonna stop you from not creating awesome light. with DSLR today that let you shoot as high 1600 ISO w/o much noise is already amazing.

I use two 430EX II for OCF.... and never complaint about needing that one stop i am missing from 580EXII