Canon flash accessories/OCF

ThatCanonGuy

I recently ended up with a 430EX (v1) and 270EXII. I love bouncing them off the ceiling :wink

I want a diffuser, but I'm relatively new to the world of flashes. There are a couple cheap ones on Amazon, and there are the Stofens. Any recommendations?

I also want to be able to do off camera stuff, maybe with one on camera and one off. The ST-E2 is way out of my price range. The Canon OC-E3 cord is pretty steep too ($70 for a cord?). I've found knock-offs on Amazon and fleabay... again, any suggestions?

And if there are any other accesories I should get, I'm listening :wink

ziggy53

I strongly recommend building your own (DIY) "scoop modifier" and bounce card:

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

http://abetterbouncecard.com/

Joe Demb also makes an interesting device for sale (reasonable):

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/

I own a FlipIt product and it works well and is very well made. The FlipIt is just a more controllable bounce card, you can vary the ratio between bounce and fill, but it still requires a ceiling or wall to be effective and efficient.

The scoop modifier works well indoors and outdoors, with and without bounce capabilities. The scoop has excellent "feathering" qualities. I made 4 - scoops for my purposes, 3 - white with black-backing and 1 - yellow with black-backing, and those are my primary instant/portable modifiers.

A site showing various modifiers in use:

http://www.the-meissners.org/2006-small-albums/2006-flashmod/index.html

Convertible white umbrellas, reflected and shoot-through, are also extremely useful, as is the Photek Softlighter II. (I love the 60" Softlighter II with removable stem.)

Umbrellas and the Softlighter require light stands and umbrella brackets for most applications. Both are pretty cheap.

ziggy53

For off-camera flash, since none of your cameras nor flashes supports a "wireless master" capability, that rather limits your options.

I gather that the 430EX does have a manual mode. You could use the 270EX on-camera, and then add a radio master/slave set to fire the 430EX off-camera. As long as you properly calibrate your system and understand the total light output of the remote flash plus modifier(s), manual flash control is extremely useful.

You could also use the 270EX to fire the 430EX optically using a "digital slave". (A digital slave ignores the pre-flash and fires on the "contributing" flash pulse.) This is less reliable outdoors, compared withe the radio master slaves.

Dan7312

Threre are quit a few places that make long cords so you can really move the flash away. Syl Arena sells some off his site http://OCFGear.com Here also has a lot of off camera flash info there too.

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

I recently ended up with a 430EX (v1) and 270EXII. I love bouncing them off the ceiling

I want a diffuser, but I'm relatively new to the world of flashes. There are a couple cheap ones on Amazon, and there are the Stofens. Any recommendations?

I also want to be able to do off camera stuff, maybe with one on camera and one off. The ST-E2 is way out of my price range. The Canon OC-E3 cord is pretty steep too ($70 for a cord?). I've found knock-offs on Amazon and fleabay... again, any suggestions?

And if there are any other accesories I should get, I'm listening

angevin1

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

I recently ended up with a 430EX (v1) and 270EXII. I love bouncing them off the ceiling

I want a diffuser, but I'm relatively new to the world of flashes. There are a couple cheap ones on Amazon, and there are the Stofens. Any recommendations?

I also want to be able to do off camera stuff, maybe with one on camera and one off. The ST-E2 is way out of my price range. The Canon OC-E3 cord is pretty steep too ($70 for a cord?). I've found knock-offs on Amazon and fleabay... again, any suggestions?

And if there are any other accesories I should get, I'm listening

Check here (Gadget Infinity) for wireless flash. I have their Nikon version and it works. They also have other solutions available AND they reply promptly to e-mails/questions about their devices!

x2 On Joe Demb products! He will also answer e-mails on his devices.

Stofen diffuser is fine if you need a simple diffuser. I have used mine in a bunch of different ways, but overall the Demb product is a real keeper. It has options for a diffuser panel that velcros around the flash bounce portion.

ThatCanonGuy

Thanks for the responses

I think I can get some velcro and some craft foam and experiment. Thanks for the links.

The off camera flash situation doesn't look like it's gonna be cheap. I think I'll try a 3rd party short flash cord first. Then maybe I can get a longer one or some other option.

Ziggy, you mentioned using the 270EX to fire the 430EX via digital slave... how would I do that?

ziggy53

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

... Ziggy, you mentioned using the 270EX to fire the 430EX via digital slave... how would I do that?

I use a Sunpak digital slave that is no longer available:

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=detailsdisc&sku=SUDCFA

It looks like this is the replacement item, but read the user comments, especially the part about non-standard batteries and flash compatibility:

http://www.adorama.com/SUDSUWP.html
http://www.amazon.com/Sunpak-DSU-01-Digital-Preflash-Cancellation/product-reviews/B000SJR7ZY/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

I have only tried my digital slave on older Sunpak 383 Super and Sigma Super DG flashes (the latter in manual mode) and they worked fine triggered from both in-camera flash and an external E-TTL II flash. (I also tried it with a FujiFilm F40FD and it worked.) I have not tested with a 580EX on the slave. (One Amazon user said his 580EX worked while another said his didn't work. )

Since both your 1D MKII and your 20D have a PC socket, you could use an RF master/slave and get reliable operation indoors and outdoors. I use units very similar to:

http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-16-channel-Wireless-Trigger-MonoLights/dp/B002OL4EE6/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324930746&sr=1-2

... with both studio strobes and with hot shoe flashes (via an adapter). For your application I believe I would recommend these instead:

http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-NPT-04-Channel-Wireless-Receiver/dp/B002W3IXZW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324930746&sr=1-1

... or these:

http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-Wireless-Trigger-Receiver-Shutter/dp/B0042TYNJ4/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324930746&sr=1-5

20DNoob

You may want to check out the Rogue FlashBenders also, bounce card, snoot, flag all in one. I first saw them while taking a Frank Doorhof workshop and he loves using them, he buys them so he puts his money where his mouth is.

divamum

http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-ST-E2-Wireless-Speedlite-Transmitter/dp/B0055QPKWW

Best thing about it I can see is that it uses normal batteries - the ones for the STE2 are kind of a pain (although they do last a VERY long time).

CookieS

I use my milkjug diffuser and a tupperware , square and round. ALL th Time. My other favorite one that isnt too expensive and works GREAT,I use it in weddings and sports portraits , is the phototek Inflatable softbox. around $10.00 on amazon. these few things wowuld be the best place for you to start. and for snoots, cut the end of a can cosy and slide it on you flash, easy peasy !

Moving Pictures

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

The off camera flash situation doesn't look like it's gonna be cheap. I think I'll try a 3rd party short flash cord first. Then maybe I can get a longer one or some other option.

I plucked a 10' cord off Amazon. Gave it try last night - it's not as long as it says it is, because it's coiled, but it has some potential. $16, I think?

ThatCanonGuy

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Would a standard PC cord like this work? http://www.amazon.com/12ft-3-5mm-Male-Flash-Cable/dp/B003WGR3PY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325345949&sr=8-2

Or would I need something like this as well? http://www.amazon.com/Seagull-SC-2-Flash-Adapter-Socket/dp/B00281Y6FO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1325345992&sr=8-5