A New Bare Bulb Flash Arrives

sigma pi wrote in post #16165126
I just dont get remote power control. Once it is set do you honestly keep adjusting the light? I do not bother with it and think it it super over rated.

If you're outdoors where the light is constantly changing, or moving around indoors, then yes, frequent adjustments are fairly common. I use a light meter, and the ability to meter and adjust the lights from the area where the subject will be standing is very handy.

bobbyz wrote in post #16165164
Nice comparison. But twice the power on Einsteins.

Of course. Next step in size better be accompanied with power increase too. Only question is where one draws the line and says "I don't need more than this".

Csae wrote in post #16165055
On the flip side, all the equipment in the world won't help if you don't know what you're doing, so don't get too stuck on it.

Knowing what you're doing does help when it comes to equipment selection. And experience leads to knowing that a variety of equipment beats most other options.

sigma pi wrote in post #16165126
I just dont get remote power control. Once it is set do you honestly keep adjusting the light? I do not bother with it and think it it super over rated.

I could easily give you multiple instances where I am adjusting power levels during a shoot, especially a wedding. But if you can't think of one, then you don't need these lights.

sigma pi wrote in post #16165126
I just dont get remote power control. Once it is set do you honestly keep adjusting the light? I do not bother with it and think it it super over rated.

Sig, two examples come immediately to mind;
A) I have the lighting scheme setup with two lights on the background to make it white, one light for main and another for fill. I set the main and fill for 1:2 ratio.
Next outfit is white, I take the first shot and its too flat, take out cyber commander and click the fill down 5 clicks (1/2 stop) decide the background needs to be a bit brighter for separation so I select group C (two background lights) click them up 3 clicks (1/3 stop) take a test shot. Just what I want.

Total time, about 30 seconds without leaving the camera position, without having to lower the fill light or without having to go to both the background lights.

B) Lighting is set with main/fill ratio, background lights are just where I want them. Everything is set for F11 to make sure the model and clothes are in focus.

Art Director says, lets get some head and shoulder shots with the jewelry and really shallow DoF would be great. Take Cyber Commander out and select group All. Click down three stops to get from F11 to F4.0 take a test shot, AD would like even less DoF. CC in hand click down another stop. Right on the money. Total time about 30 seconds including the first test shot.

Should I go on?

ZoranC wrote in post #16165243
Of course. Next step in size better be accompanied with power increase too. Only question is where one draws the line and says "I don't need more than this".

Agree and I say Einsteins though sometimes I wished I had 1 stop more power..

bobbyz wrote in post #16165338
Agree and I say Einsteins though sometimes I wished I had 1 stop more power..

Einsteins for _you_. For _me_ CL360 is right now hitting sweet spot. That can always change but right now that's how it is for me.

sigma pi wrote in post #16165126
I just dont get remote power control. Once it is set do you honestly keep adjusting the light? I do not bother with it and think it it super over rated.

Unless I'm too lazy when I'm setting things up. But to be honest for what I do, it's not a big deal. same thing when they are talking about weight, as in transporting the lights. It could be another 10 lbs and I would get used to it and just deal with it.

Gaarryy wrote in post #16165399
Unless I'm too lazy when I'm setting things up. But to be honest for what I do, it's not a big deal. same thing when they are talking about weight, as in transporting the lights. It could be another 10 lbs and I would get used to it and just deal with it.

And that's all fine and dandy for you. But I make my living creating photos and doing so in a very timely fashion.

Lets say I'm shooting corporate head shots. I have several top executives coming in, one after another. One guy has dark hair. The next person is bald. The one after him is a blond lady. These guys (and ladies) don't want to wait while I walk behind them to lower my hair light, adjust the power, put it back up, shoot a test shot, and maybe do it all over again if I don't nail it the first time. And if you think you can set your hair light one time and have it work for everyone, you don't know lighting.

With the Cheetah lights I can adjust the light from the camera and shoot a couple of test frames, all in a matter of seconds.

Or maybe I have a light or two on a balcony at a reception. During the evening I want to bring the power up and down a bit, depending on what is happening on the floor. I could have an assistant, stationed on the lights, or I could do it myself from anywhere in the room.

I can go on with more examples, including photos, but I think you get the point.

Some of us work in an environment that favors speedy setups and quick results, otherwise we don't get a second chance,

dmward wrote in post #16165266
Knowing what you're doing does help when it comes to equipment selection. And experience leads to knowing that a variety of equipment beats most other options.

I don't know David, most experienced photographers will be able to compensate for equipment, and understand how they can use what they have in ways they didn't think of earlier in their careers. Most equipment is far more versatile than the photographers wielding them think, in fact this has been such a revelation to the masses that its pretty much what the Strobist is founded on.

The more experience you have, the less you'll be bogged down with equipment.

Csae wrote in post #16165453
I don't know David, most experienced photographers will be able to compensate for equipment, and understand how they can use what they have in ways they didn't think of earlier in their careers. Most equipment is far more versatile than the photographers wielding them think, in fact this has been such a revelation to the masses that its pretty much what the Strobist is founded on.

The more experience you have, the less you'll be bogged down with equipment.

I would counter that the more experienced you are. The more equipment you have that will allow you to shoot anything, anywhere, at anytime.

I've yet to see a studio say "we don't need all this lighting and grip gear".

^ I have, photographers sell equipment they don't need all the time.

I'm not gonna refuse a job because i don't have a particular piece of equip, and i won't buy a piece of gear for only one job. I'll use my experience to find ways to make what i have work, and generally these "compromises" lead to some of my best work. Its just a question of having the groundwork to stand on and yet being open enough to adapt.

You could also rent something.

Oh yeah, i forgot about renting!

Thats awesome, easy to book-keep too, but a bit time consuming over here, and not all clients want to foot the bill. So i'll personally only rent a lens here and there to try it out in case i'm thinking of switching something around.

Like say, i could rent a 35L to see if it could replace my 24-70L, but i'd only do it once. If a specialty lens is truly needed for a job, it has to be charged to the client... so technically, hes renting it

^^^ Let's get off this worthless side track, and get back to the threads intended objectives.