Equipment Decisions... what would you suggest

Toooo many decisions ! I too am in a quandry of what to do. I have a 580EXII and was considering purchase of additional units, ie. the Sigma or a 430EX. Is everyone saying the built in wireless IR doesn't work well at all

What about using the ST-E2 route, is this more powerful and will it work outdoors at close range ? I do want to be able to use my lights outdoors as fill and highlights for some wedding work, grads, etc. Yes I do have a reflector, but sometimes the overcast is bad around here !

Alot of talk about the PW, at 200 a pop, as I understand to have 2 lights off camera you need 3 of these units ? And with these you loose the TTL.

I have about 1500 bucks to work with right now and have been mulling over different options, my main concern is getting another 40D body for 2nd camera & BACKUP recovery. Face it, flash goes down, punt ! Camera goes down...... CRY ! So I actually think this is a smart choice. That will leave me about 700 to put towards lighting. I want somethiing that will be both portable to go outdoors with as well as to assist in the group shots for weddings.

I found a bracket I like while searching the web http://alzodigital.com …_bracket_umbrel​la_kit.htm, has a vertical extention for getting the on-camera flash up higher, also thought that the umbrella kit for this would be nice. Not too thrilled about having a 24" umbrella above my head, but I have been caught in sillier situations. Has anyone had any experience with an umbrella setup like this. Umbrella can always be taken off for direct bounce with bracket as well.

I will be getting a AB package down the road, but that doens't have the Move-A-Bill-At-Tea that I was wanting.

Suggestions ?

I think I am getting a stress headache !

Scott.

I haven't used the wireless ttl function other than to test it out here at home. I did get it to work and work well between a 550 as the master and the 580exII as the slave. I could see the benefits of it so much that I bought a 580ex flash to go with the 550 And 580exII. I am looking at the Radio Poppers for remote triggers. You get to keep the wireless ttl function and pickup the range and reliability of using radio transmitters and receivers. They are releasing the second generation currently. They listened to their clients and made some modifications and improvements over the 1st gen stuff. I may go for these instead of the PWs as they offer the TTL but they do not have the range of the PWs either. PW are the de facto standard for wireless triggers for photographic use. they have an outstanding rep but they are not cheap and they only work in manual mode no auto modes unless you use the Vivitar 285's in their auto mode. So that means trial an derror lighting or using a meter to set up your lights. That is great for studio work but can be a problem when shooting sports until you find your settings. If the RPs can fire consistently and reliably I feel they will assist photographers greatly in the field. It is what Canon and Nikon should be building into their flashes or at least offer as an option.

I've never had problems indoor's with Canon's Wireless system.

My room was ~10' x 22'.

The ST-E2 actually has less range as a master than a 580EX ii.

If you want to use it outside, Canon Wireless is hit or miss.

I've read here that the CyberSync's work well with the 580EX ii's.
You loose TTL obviously...

-Mario

I have been using the AB + PW combo for a while now and I love it. I do have to admit - if I was redoing my lighting I would probably go with vivitar small flashes and the new radio poppers. There is no 1/250th sync speed limitation and with vivitar 285s less than $90 a pop you have a bag full of them for almost any lighting setup.

One thing I forgot to mention.

If your main camera is a 40D, yes it would be nice to have a 40D as a backup.

However, a 20D or 30D is another option that would not only cost significantly less, but allow you to spend more money on glass or lighting you actually want...

-Mario

buy a used 20D/30d for backup camera. My 30d is backup to my 40D. Get the ABs and their Cybersync triggers and don't look back.
I Started out with 550s, then got D-lites 4, then added AB.
Looking back I would have never done the 550 route at all.

The d-lites are nice and portable. Adding the ABs gives me 4 lites to use when need be.
Next on the list the Vagabond battery pack.
You can see samples of my stuff on Model Mayhem link in my sig

You will save a lot of money by learning to use manual flash controls.

Do not depend on TTL to call the shots.

Get some Cybersyncs and some 285HVs and use the rest on lightstands/modifiers and/or better glass.

Chances you will not or will get tired of dragging a studio strobe setup (and portable power units) everywhere, when small strobes will do *almost* everything a studio strobe can do (with the correct number & application).

Knowledge and proper application of lighting is far more important than what you are using to prodcue the light.

I would buy a used 550 or 580 before getting a Sigma or 430. Especially the st-2e. The 430 doesn't have the same power as the 580 or 550. So that means that you are limiting the amount of total flash power you will have to use in Wireless ETTl mode since the 580 will have to be the master and on the camera as a fill. The ST-2E isn't much less than a used flash and the 550or 580 can be used as a master or as a slave to your existing flash. Whereas with the ST-2E you do not have the flash tube. I have read several problems with trying to use the Sigma as a master which also would limit it's usefulness because of its limited roles. So I would get a used 550 for 200-250 or a 580 for 250-300. That way you cna use them as a master to your 580 as a main light off camera with or without fill from the on camera master. I have a 550 and a 580EXII with a 580 EX on its way to me. I will eventually pick up some more 550 or 580 flashes until I have a total of 6 or 7 flashes which should be enough to do a full studio setup with hair lights, main, fill and background lights. If you would like to see it done visit KelbyTraining.com and Watch all the lighting videos by David Ziser and Joe McNalley.

"If you would like to see it done visit KelbyTraining.com and Watch all the lighting videos by David Ziser and Joe McNalley."

+1 for Kelby Training, there's hours of great stuff by David and Joe.

Thank you all for your experienced insight & comments. I appreciate and value your opinions ! I think I am going to lean towards getting one (1) of the Sigma TTL strobes...... (don't get mad) .... this will be cheaper than the additional 580EXII and will give me a 2nd TTL for my 2nd 40D I am getting. This will also be a backup for my 580 if something would happen or. In additon, this will allow me the TTL for fast setup for a second light for small group shots, etc.

I will also check into using the Cybersyncs with some addtional lights, I guess the 285hvs are pretty good kickers. I can run them off the port on the camera and use the 2-TTL's in manual mode I assume, controlling the exposure from the 580exII. I am rather supprised that the ST-E2 isn't more powerful, so I will put that out of my thought pattern.

I guess I will have to add a FLASH METER to the equation now, if I plan on getting full manual mode. I can't see how, other than trial and error, you can setup 2-3-4 lights without a meter. I am sure there are a few of you folks that can, but I can assure you that I would not be able too. I remember working with my Dad setting up lights, holding the ole' WEIN flash meter for him. Miss those days to tell you the truth.....

The Radio Poppers X would be the ticket, if you don't mind the price of admittion at 249 per unit, transmitter or reciever. I would love a set of these babies, full TTL control via radio ! They got a sweet thing there!

I will be getting a package of AB's with a background stand as I have turned down 2 jobs now in the last 4 month that I could have made use of this.

Hey..... no one made comment of my bracket with umbrella ! Has anyone used anthing like this or is this not a good idea.... I liked the bracket also to get the flash up high for shooting broad shots at receptions, etc.

Thank you all..... I am on night turn this week that is why no replies till now... bless you all !

Scott.