Confused on how to start out

Hey all,

I recently bought myself a t5i, came with the 18-135 stm and I picked up a 50 1.8 to go with it, but I am somewhat stumped on how to proceed with my foray into lighting.

I had originally thought to simply pick up a single YN-568 II with a set of 622c triggers. Then came the announcement of the YN-600 ex and I thought I'd take a look at that when out, but seems to be delayed.

So far my primary use has been indoor portraits, which I sometimes get frustrated with the amount of light I have available so figure a decent flash for either bouncing or off camera would be great.

Also, when doing portraits having to push the camera button and run and pose with my wife and newborn is a bit frustrating so was hoping to be able to remote fire.

So I guess my question is, do I stick with the original plan of the 568 and 622c, and will that allow me to fire my camera remotely with AND without the flash firing? Or do I get a 600 from canon, and if so, what trigger will give me the same basic functionality, at least until Yongnuo comes out with their transmitter, since the Canon one for $350 seems like a rediculous price for my needs.

I just want to have something that will work for my needs, but also be somewhat futureproof if my needs evolve. I'm pretty clueless and have been reading through strobists articles but still have no experience.

I'd wait for Yongnuo's flash and transmitter, but who knows how long it will be delayed, and then I'm guessing it will be backordered initially, meanwhile christmas will have passed, and my son will have grown significantly...in a poorly lit environment!

Only other option I can think of, is buy the absolute cheapest setup I can that will be a stopgap for the next 3-6 months. I just prefer not to spend $300-400 on something that will not work with future tech.

Any tips/advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter

Many people (including me) prefer to manually set flash power when working with off-camera flash. With that in mind, you can buy inexpensive non-ETTL-capable gear now (such as a couple of YN-560 IIIs) and they'll practically never be obsolete.

Having one ETTL-capable flash is a good idea, when you want an on-camera hotshoe flash for walkabout snapshots. But in a posed/studio setting, manual power is generally the way to go. Also, if you go that way, the less expensive non-ETTL triggers will be sufficient. (RF-602 or RF-603)

You could do one YN-600 or one YN-568 as your main light (with ETTL capabilities for walkabout on-camera flash), and one or more YN-560s for your second and third lights (for a more robust studio setup).

Don't forget the other gear too: Light stands, umbrellas/softboxes, umbrella adapters, backdrop kit, boom arm. That stuff can eat into your budget pretty fast.

and don't forget about natural light and cheap (or self made) reflectors too!

If you want to go with flashes I'd get a softbox and stand for them, also not very expensive.

Or course you can also work with daylight balanced lamps instead of flash.

Another vote for yongnuo 603c triggers and yongnuo yn560iii flash. I also own the canon 430ex and much prefer the yn560. The good thing about the yn560iii is it has the trigger built in so all you need is one 603c on the camera then you can have the flash sitting itself on its stand and fire away. I got the flash from amazon for £60. Compare that to my 430ex which was £125 second hand. Using the flash manually is easy once you get going. It takes seconds to increase or decrease the flash output after you take your initial test shot to check exposure. I'm actually planning on selling my 430ex and getting another two yn560iii's

If it's just for family photos, hobby use etc then you don't need an expensive canon model IMO

Thanks so far for the replies! I think I found one issue with my original setup anyway, and that's that the 622c can't be used as a simple shutter release. If I'm not using a flash I would still want to be able to just push a button and have the camera go off.

Hmm the one local shop that sells Yongnuo is out of stock of the 560 III. Does the 565 or 568 have that same compatibility with the 603 trigger? Or are these optimally paired with the 560? I only ask because I'm not overly concerned about an extra $40 if it means less wait time lol.

Thanks again!

Sorry I don't have any experience with the 565 or the 568. However I can confirm that the 603c can be used as a remote shutter release too. So you can have one 603c on your camera, one 603c in your hand and your flash sitting off camera on its little stand. Then when you push the button in your hand the camera will fire and so will the flash. You can put the 2 second timer on your camera to give yourself time to hide your hand holding the trigger(if you wanted to). The trigger is supplied with a little cable that goes between the 603c on your hotshoe and your remote cable release port on the side of your camera.

Edit - you can also use the two triggers as a remote cable release in the same way as above without the flash

I recommend first sticking to a ETTL capable flash and getting use to bounce flash. Master this and everything else is a cinch.

I started out with a YN460ii. All manual, about $42 brand new. Used it on camera to start. Then on camera bouncing. Then got triggers and an umbrella and started playing with off camera and a modifier. Still use the 460ii and got more all manual YN flashes. I'll get a TTL flash eventually, just to have one, but all manual helped me learn because I had to control the flash and power output to get the exposure right.

Talley wrote in post #16479262
I recommend first sticking to a ETTL capable flash and getting use to bounce flash. Master this and everything else is a cinch.

I would say the reverse is true; learn how to use your flash in manual and master that. Then you will better understand what ETTL is trying to accomplish and if you should be using it or not.

Rocky Rhode wrote in post #16479632
I would say the reverse is true; learn how to use your flash in manual and master that. Then you will better understand what ETTL is trying to accomplish and if you should be using it or not.

Couldn't agree more.

Rocky Rhode wrote in post #16479632
I would say the reverse is true; learn how to use your flash in manual and master that. Then you will better understand what ETTL is trying to accomplish and if you should be using it or not.

But you'll have a lot of crummy pictures in the meantime

It's a matter of how much effort you want to put in and how much you want to get out. If you want to learn everything about flashes, then buy a manual flash (or three for the price of an ETTL model) and go to town. If you just want something to be able to bounce off a ceiling to shoot in low light and be done with it, just buy a ETTL.

vengence wrote in post #16481429
It's a matter of how much effort you want to put in and how much you want to get out. If you want to learn everything about flashes, then buy a manual flash (or three for the price of an ETTL model) and go to town. If you just want something to be able to bounce off a ceiling to shoot in low light and be done with it, just buy a ETTL.

Ideally I would like to do both. I would like to learn using full manual, but if I am for example at an event or friends wedding etc, I can see how the ETTL functionality will definitely help me out.

I guess my two primary needs other than of course the flash itself, is the ability to trigger the flash and shutter remotely, AND be able to trigger the camera without flash remotely.

From what I've read I can do this with the 560 III and 603s. Or at least I'm assuming I can use the 603 as a shutter release without a flash firing.

The other alternatives for a flash would be the YN-568 or I can go big, with a canon 600 EX, but I don't really want to spend on the nearly $400 transmitter that is missing some decent features that seemingly the Yongnuo version will address in the near future.

My main concern is I'd prefer not to put money into something that won't be compatible with other future tech, or if I do, spending the least amount of cash is preferable.

So to me, lowest investment is the 560 and 603 which will set me back a total of $120, at the cost of having ETTL. Or I could buy the 568 or 600 which is obviously costlier, but still am unsure what I would be buying for remote flash AND shutter triggering.

elpietro wrote in post #16481468
Ideally I would like to do both. I would like to learn using full manual, but if I am for example at an event or friends wedding etc, I can see how the ETTL functionality will definitely help me out.

I guess my two primary needs other than of course the flash itself, is the ability to trigger the flash and shutter remotely, AND be able to trigger the camera without flash remotely.

From what I've read I can do this with the 560 III and 603s. Or at least I'm assuming I can use the 603 as a shutter release without a flash firing.

The other alternatives for a flash would be the YN-568 or I can go big, with a canon 600 EX, but I don't really want to spend on the nearly $400 transmitter that is missing some decent features that seemingly the Yongnuo version will address in the near future.

My main concern is I'd prefer not to put money into something that won't be compatible with other future tech, or if I do, spending the least amount of cash is preferable.

So to me, lowest investment is the 560 and 603 which will set me back a total of $120, at the cost of having ETTL. Or I could buy the 568 or 600 which is obviously costlier, but still am unsure what I would be buying for remote flash AND shutter triggering.

560 & 603s are the current go-to inexpensive entry, manual offering.

When you only have 1 shot to get things right, you'll miss ETTL. When you can fire as many flashes as you want, you'll never even notice ETTL.

elpietro wrote in post #16481468
From what I've read I can do this with the 560 III and 603s. Or at least I'm assuming I can use the 603 as a shutter release without a flash firing.
.

Have a re-read at my previous post on this above. That's exactly what you can do. (I even tested it on mine to make sure before I typed it)

Agreed that if you are at an event then ETTL is handy if you are just learning but to be honest if you have more then one opportunity to take the photo then manual is fine as all you do is take a shot and if the settings are not right on the flash you adjust and re-take. It would be different if you were trying to capture moments that you couldn't get a second shot at though.