600EX-RT System for On Location Fashion Shoots

I have been googling and don't see anyone using the 600EX-RT system for fashion...

Is it viable?

It is one of the most advanced flash systems on the market - you will be ok...

I suggest a quick search in these forums...

Sure you can use for fashion. Lots of Speedlite modifiers on the market too. You may find you want more 600 EX-RT's as they want to keep multiplying.

Brea,
Like most things in photography, the answer depends on the circumstances.
Providing your definition of location fashion shoot includes requirement for strobe light within the output capabilities available from the 600EX-RT, then yes.

If you need more output from the light source there are more powerful options, each with its own set of capabilities.

In my experience, its best to design the shoot and desired outcome, then list the equipment required to accomplish the desired outcome.

I have 2 - used off camera.
Assuming your "fashion" shoots are like my Full length Portraits - I would test first where and what effect you get.
My experience is you might want 4 !
Their power seems to peter out quite quickly! Very different to a 500watt studio strobe!

For outside fill 2 are fine, and 3 would give perfect control.

Hence I cheated and got 2 yn 560IIs to add light.
But I miss the remote control element and of course no Ettl2! On the YNs

In my opinion, speedlights are ludicrously expensive for what they offer. They have their place in every photographer's kit; I myself own a couple. But you have to know their limits:

- Hardly any power, especially when used with real modifiers (expensive & ghetto little speedlight softboxes notwithstanding)
- Incompatible with real modifiers without expensive & ghetto jury rigs like this
- Expensive: a single 600ex costs about the same as an Alien Bee AB800 + vagabond mini
- Horrid recycle times

By the time you factor in the size, weight, and expense of a 600ex + battery pack + ghetto modifier jury rig, you might as well just get a Ranger Quadra and call it a day.

Not sure about this one.

- Incompatible with real modifiers without expensive & ghetto jury rigs like this

I purchased a 24" by 24" softbox that came with the hardware for about $130. You have to look for it when searching for one.

Westcott apollo and similar modifiers work well with speedlites.
Sure there is light absorbed by the modifier. Regardless of the light source.

Its why there are three classes of lights. Get the power range required and shoot the job.

dmward wrote in post #16471668
Brea,
Like most things in photography, the answer depends on the circumstances.
Providing your definition of location fashion shoot includes requirement for strobe light within the output capabilities available from the 600EX-RT, then yes.

If you need more output from the light source there are more powerful options, each with its own set of capabilities.

In my experience, its best to design the shoot and desired outcome, then list the equipment required to accomplish the desired outcome.

Why are you so cool?

LostArk wrote in post #16474057
In my opinion, speedlights are ludicrously expensive for what they offer. They have their place in every photographer's kit; I myself own a couple. But you have to know their limits:

- Hardly any power, especially when used with real modifiers (expensive & ghetto little speedlight softboxes notwithstanding)
- Incompatible with real modifiers without expensive & ghetto jury rigs like this
- Expensive: a single 600ex costs about the same as an Alien Bee AB800 + vagabond mini
- Horrid recycle times

By the time you factor in the size, weight, and expense of a 600ex + battery pack + ghetto modifier jury rig, you might as well just get a Ranger Quadra and call it a day.

So for typical fashion shoots, with budgets over 10k for photography(I have the awesome privilege of getting to tag along and just watch some of these occur), you typically a gas generator, a very long extension cable and then usually a Profoto 8a Air, and one large(AND STURDY) modifier ( the indirect octa from elinchrom is widely used...)


So that is one end of the spectrum. I can definitely see people using 600ex rt's. The radio thingey is awfully slick with canon. Its all integrated to the 5D3, and that gives you a lot of control... But if you are shooting during the day, its not like you really need all that much control, once you set the light(which never takes very long...on the order of minutes) you have MUCH bigger issues to worry about. i.e. your model, your wardrobe, heck your concept...


But, the 600ex rts work, and if you are already invested in them its a great solution. But they are extremely expensive. I ended up with two chimera soft boxes(one small, one 3x4 foot), a speedotron 2403cx pack, two light stands, a 103 head, a 202 head and triggers for less than the cost of a 600ex rt and speedlite transmitter... And that is CONSIDERABLY more power, but thats what I need.


I think some where, youngnuo has released their competitor to the 600 from canon.


So, to refresh ourselves again, its not entirely important to be able to adjust power when shooting outside, you will have time to do that - this isn't a wedding where you don't always have time. Perhaps the cheetah light 180 or 360 is a good option? Its about the same cost as a 600exrt with transmitter, you can put it on a pole and have an assistant hold it all day, its a LOT more power than the speedlite, and it can power useful modifiers outside(a beauty dish is what id use because it fills enough of the model and can still give you some punch....lets face it, your friends are not gonna wanna hold a 3x4foot soft box in the wind )

LostArk wrote in post #16474057
In my opinion, speedlights are ludicrously expensive for what they offer. They have their place in every photographer's kit; I myself own a couple. But you have to know their limits:

- Hardly any power, especially when used with real modifiers (expensive & ghetto little speedlight softboxes notwithstanding)
- Incompatible with real modifiers without expensive & ghetto jury rigs like this
- Expensive: a single 600ex costs about the same as an Alien Bee AB800 + vagabond mini
- Horrid recycle times

By the time you factor in the size, weight, and expense of a 600ex + battery pack + ghetto modifier jury rig, you might as well just get a Ranger Quadra and call it a day.

Pretty much my sentiments - just you put it a little more realistically!
However as you said they have their uses when portability or space is mandatory.