flash versus strobes

I want to take indoor portraits. Is it necessary to have all the strobes or can I just use my 580Ex. From what I have read, bouncing flash works real well indoors. My celings 9ft. Any suggestion would be great

It would be rather difficult to get the same results with a single Speedlite that would be easy to get with multiple studio lights. Even one studio light might be far better than a single Speedlite, because it could be located in places where the Speedlite could never go (without a master Speedlite or ST-E2 transmitter). Studio lights typicalIy have a lot more output capability than Speedlites.

It's control of the light that is important in portraiture to manage the position and quality of the shadows.

If you wanted to spend the money that it would take for a second 580EX and an ST-E2, that money could easily get you into low-end studio lighting that would greatly enhance your options.

Would you recommend getting another 580? How much would a set of bees be? Which would be better and more cost effective?

The Canon 580EX is a very nice flash unit, but a very expensive an anemic substitute for a studio light.

As Skip D indicates, to get the 580EX off camera will require the additional purchase of a Canon ST-2E. The 580 ST-2E combo will cost a bit less than $600.00.

For the same cash you can get a couple of Alien Bee B400 units with light stands and umbrellas. And this would be a far better underpinning for studio work than one off camera 580EX.

Building a studio on Canon speedlights is an exercise in spending piles of cash for flash units not really designed for studio work.

Enjoy! Lon

Here are some bees package prices http://www.alienbees.c​om/packages.html
If you got another 580 you still would have to keep one attached to camera without an ST-E2. Get the bees. I just got a package that cost just under $1000 and I love it.

I am thinking on getting some of these... The only thing is I like to take pictures outdoors. Carrying these things around might be challenging for me....


Anyone have these?? Could you tell me if these lights are hard to travel with or is it easy to carry aound.

www.strobist.com, start with the lighting 101 section (found on the right). thank me later

really, you don't have to spend a lot to get great results. For around $200, you can have a pretty sweet setup for off-camera lighting, including an umbrella, lightstand, flash adapter, and a manual flash (like a nikon sb28). Best part is this stuff is way more portable than ABs and cheaper than getting all of Canon's expensive proprietary technology.

Ive owned and used a speedlight studio. I had a 580ex, and two 420ex flash units which I later sold for a set of alien bee studio strobes.

I kept my 580ex for ovious reasons, and now I am on my 3rd phase of expanding my alien bee lighting system. So far I love the lights, they have never let me down, and really work great! I plan on adding a AB1600 and an ABR800 to my existing 3 lights. + an entire array of light modifiers.

I sold the speedlight studio due to lack of power, and lack of light modifier acessories like softboxes, grids and things like that. The fact it was portable was awsome, but wasn't a criteria that i really needed. Not to mention it really was very expencive to have a system like that.

If I could have it my way, and over time I do plan on builing my kit like this, I will have my entire 5 AB lights + studio gear. I also plan on having two 580ex units and an ST-E2 transmitter. Both system have their advantages and disadvantages, so I would really love to have both. Only reason I would do my speedlight studio sooner than later is because I would end up buying a 580ex Ver II as a backup speedlight. The ST-E2 im sure would follow in its path, and I already have stands, brollys, and hot shoe flash + brolly holders, so I would have two complete lights setups.

Only thing I need now are 3 Q-Flash units =)

Dont forget, if you get into Studio strobes, you need to be prepared to start researching and understand exposure, lighting, and usually sooner than later most see the need for a light meter and usually most like the convenience of radio slaves like the ones found on ebay, or Pocket Wizards which is the choice of pros.

I may be getting ahead of myself, PWs are expencive, but great if you really want a nice , realiable, seamless setup since some lightmeters like the L-358 + Module, L-558, and L-758 have pocket wizards built in. It just depends on your needs and what you want, if you shoot for a living your choice is pretty clear, but if you are doing it for hobby, or just learning, you can do it with A LOT LESS, and if you dont mine cables, your AB lights will come with Sync Cords, but you really still need a meter.

Great tips and suggestions. Thanks
As usual, I will keep reading

You could pick up a used 420EX, a light stand, umbrella bracket and umbrella prety cheap to get your feet wet. If you want to get something more powerfull later sell the 420 for what you bought it for and use the stand and umbrella for your new lights.

You could modify the off shoe cord (in diy section) to make it longer. Mount it with a stand and umbrella and add a couple 420exs (used $150 each) as fill and hair light. Then you won't need the st-e2.

Speedlights are fine for quick on-location portraiture where setup time is minimal. Studio flashes are much better for portraiture, when you have the time for setup (which is seldom available for on-location executive portraits in their offices), simply because they have modelling lights, to aid in the optimal setup of the lights and balancing the output without taking a photo and adjusting after chimping.

You really don't need to buy the expensive ST-E2 transmitter. I would rather spend a bit more (maybe not) and get a used 550EX if you are looking for another master. The setup I use works for me. I shoot pictures of my great nieces and nephews and great grandchildern often. I use a flash bracket to put the flash (550EX) up above the camera and mount that to a tripod. Then I use a LumaQuest 80/20 for the general lighting. I place another flash (420EX) on a light stand and attach a Westcott Micro Apollo Softbox. I place this second flash about 30-40 degrees to the left of my camera. I adjust the ratio by changing the second flash's distance to the subject. Easy to tote around too.

Will the 550EX be a master to a 430EX? Are there any features I'd be losing?