Speedlite instead of strobe?

Hi all,

I would like to buy a flash in conjunction with a reflector and maybe a backdrop for home use for portraits 3/4 etc. To start with I am thinking about a large umbrealla or a softbox and a strobe maybe 180WS. Do you think it would give me a similar result by using a speedlite (say 430ex) inside a softbox or used with an umbrella? Pricewise I think speedlite is more expensive than a beginner's strobe, maybe even more expensive than a beginner's well branded strobe?..What are your suggestions?

Cheers,
Emre

Speedlite will burn out, strobes are fan cooled and will last longer without failing, plus flash brighter.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=113639

tim wrote in post #6262340
Speedlite will burn out, strobes are fan cooled and will last longer without failing, plus flash brighter.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=113639

Even when you compare a 400$ flash to a 300$ strobe? So you are basicly saying that one cannot produce images with a speedlite without burning out.

emre2006 wrote in post #6264220
Even when you compare a 400$ flash to a 300$ strobe? So you are basicly saying that one cannot produce images with a speedlite without burning out.

Speedlights MUST have a rest period after consecutive firing (see owner manual...several POTN members have stated that they burned out their flashes!). Quality studio lights do not need a rest period, but can fire endlessly without rest, due to the fans in them, which help to cool them even when in the confines of a softbox, which makes the cooling issue worse.

Even a cheap studio strobe will outdo a hotshoe speedlight

Despite the hoop-la of Strobist propaganda; virtually any studio type strobe will beat out a ***EX series hotshoe type speedlight for the uses you mentioned because:

1. Studio strobes are equipped with modeling lights. You cannot use the ***EX series strobes in the pseudo modeling fashion for any length of time because they will burn out.

2. Studio strobes will work well with light modifiers and will accept many different types. A studio strobe with reflector removed is far-far more efficient when using a softbox. If you put a softbox on a ***EX series speedlight, you are trying to diffuse light that has already been concentrated by a reflector. The studio strobe will not need all sorts of extra accessories in order to work with the light modifiers.

3. Most studio strobes are a LOT MORE POWERFUL than the ***Ex series speedlights.

4. Studio strobes have built-in sockets for mounting on light stands.

5. Studio strobes are equipped with built-in slaves.

6. The studio strobe usually is powered by AC current rather than little AA batteries (However, there are battery powered studio strobes). The AC current maintains a steady fast recycle time rather than the recycle period getting longer and longer as the batteries lose their power.

7. Many excellent studio strobes are a LOT LESS EXPENSIVE than the ***EX series speedlights.

If I wanted to haul gravel for my garden, I guess that I COULD fold down the back seat of a Toyota Corolla, cover it with a tarp and shovel in the gravel. However, this certainly would not be the best way to haul gravel. I would be a LOT BETTER OFF buying a pickup truck which was built for hauling things.

The whole idea behind strobist vs studio strobes is mainly the portability issue. For the photographer who shoots mostly on location on a limited schedule speedlights are the way to go most of the time. For the photographer who shoots mosty in their own space studio strobes are king. If you do both, owning both is a good thing.

I agree 100% with the above posts. I have a compelete studio strobe setup, and a lightweight setup consisting of 6 speedlights. The speedlights suffer all the drawbacks mentioned, but are wonderful when you want to travel real compact and light and still want the basic functionality of a multi-light setup. But I would always recommend the studio strobe over the speed light because they are more cost efficient and offer greater functionality. I would only recommend the speedlight route if portability is the primary concern and cost isn't an issue. Here is what I carry for my 6 speedlight setup Speedlight lighting kit. I've added another speedlight and some other accessories, but it still fits in the small case shown. Very light, very portable, and pretty capable, but expensive in the end!

If I had a dedicated studio, I would use fan-cooled AC powered strobes. Since my work is 100% location, I use hot shoe flashes. I did not waste money on Speedlites though. They're a really poor value when you're setting your output manually, IMHO. I have five old Vivitars in my bag instead.

Thanks for all the comments! Excellent advices. What I understand is I should just get a decent softbox + a cheaper 300WS strobe with a good stand and a good reflector and that should give me a good starting point.

well... i've used the beginner A/C strobes and have gotten nice results... HOWEVER... I have recently switched over to using a couple 430ex's and and an ST-E2. I get very acceptable results. The E-TTL and the ability to set the ratio on the ST-E2 makes setting things up a breeze. And being wireless comes in handy when trying to snap pictures of my 2 and 4 year old...

Here's a sample for a recent sitting:

awww..... cute. Is that a real cell phone.

ugly_a wrote in post #6267084
awww..... cute. Is that a real cell phone.

Thanks! It's here toy "Princess" phone... While it's not real, she sure did carry on a very animated conversation! LOL!

Vivitars are great....

cdifoto wrote in post #6264996
If I had a dedicated studio, I would use fan-cooled AC powered strobes. Since my work is 100% location, I use hot shoe flashes. I did not waste money on Speedlites though. They're a really poor value when you're setting your output manually, IMHO. I have five old Vivitars in my bag instead.

The 285 (series) Vivitar flashes are great units and can usually be had so cheap on eBay that it is almost amusing. There are also all sorts of accessories available (also very cheaply) such as filters, accessory battery packs and AC adapters.

The 285 (series) also use plastic battery trays/clips for the four AA batteries. having a second battery tray loaded with fresh batteries makes switching very easy.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ugly_a
awww..... cute. Is that a real cell phone.

Thanks! It's here toy "Princess" phone... While it's not real, she sure did carry on a very animated conversation! LOL!


That is just TOO cute!