580ex w/ PW's And softbox

Bodley

I know I need "Lighting for Dummies" but here's what I'm doing (if it's stupid feel free to relay that as well):

I'm investigating the options for a portable setup to improve my T&I's and some location portraits (although I don't see me doing much of this). Looking at using my current 580ex and 550ex with softboxes. Found this setup by Shay on another thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=8712290 . This is very similar to what I was thinking about just change the umbrella to a softbox.

I'm assuming the setup goes together like this: Lightstand (looking at a 13' also for indoor sports set up in the corners), lightstand to hot shoe flash adapter, PW to flash adapter and some way to mount the box

Questions:
1. What is a speedring and where do I find one and a softbox for a 580ex/550ex
2. Pocket Wizard to 580ex/550ex connection
3. Pocket wizard Multi or Plus
4. light meter - is it necessary what can I expect over 1dmkII w/ETTL (almost too ashamed to ask this one)
5. Anything else I'm forgetting

Thanks,
Greg

Bodley

Anyone?

Shay Stephens

Bodley wrote:

I know I need "Lighting for Dummies" but here's what I'm doing (if it's stupid feel free to relay that as well):

I'm investigating the options for a portable setup to improve my T&I's and some location portraits (although I don't see me doing much of this). Looking at using my current 580ex and 550ex with softboxes. Found this setup by Shay on another thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=8712290 . This is very similar to what I was thinking about just change the umbrella to a softbox.

I'm assuming the setup goes together like this: Lightstand (looking at a 13' also for indoor sports set up in the corners), lightstand to hot shoe flash adapter, PW to flash adapter and some way to mount the box

Questions:
1. What is a speedring and where do I find one and a softbox for a 580ex/550ex

A speed ring is the device used to hold the rods that keep the softbox "inflated" like a little camping tent. It also serves as a mounting point to the flash or bracket. Find the softbox you want to use, and then look to see if there is a speedring available from the same company for your flash. You may have to hack something together.

2. Pocket Wizard to 580ex/550ex connection

Do some searching around, I don't have any info for the Canon flash units.

3. Pocket wizard Multi or Plus

If you have the cash and a need for more than one light, go for the multimax. If you are on a budget and or only plan on using a single light, go plus.

4. light meter - is it necessary what can I expect over 1dmkII w/ETTL (almost too ashamed to ask this one)

This depends greatly. Some (such as myself) click with light meters. Others, not so much. If you plan on getting serious, then it's hard not to recommend a light/flash meter. But it is a tool that requires work to master and implement effectively. I would say in a multi-flash environment, it is essential. But you won't really know until you try it.

5. Anything else I'm forgetting

If you plan on using ettl, then I don't think the pocketwizards are going to be the answer. you might look into the optical canon transmitter. But if you plan on doing manual flash, the pocketwizards are gold. They will give you crazy range that the optical solutions can't touch.

Forgive the small size, but in this shot, the tent was lit inside by two flash units that I triggered from a hundred+ feet away (small potatoes, it can do over a thousand).



I have my softbox setup right now from a product shoot I just finished. I will take a picture of it and post it here some time tomorrow (Friday).

Blurmore

You might want to look at this....
http://denisreggie.net/gear.html

I have heard that you don't get a whole lot of distance with a 550 or 580 in a softbox, that is why Denis Reggie made this bracket that accomodates 2.
I would first see if the Canon wireless infrared slave system suits your needs, before purchasing a PW or radioslave. The manual says it has to be line of sight, but because of a light left in a church (don't ask) I had to use the wireless infrared slave at a wedding 2 weeks ago, and found out it is more forgiving than that. Flash head swiveled so the window was facing the master, I could get the slave to fire at almost 90 degrees to master flash position. It rarely misfired, and was not bugged out by stage lighting or other cameras firing. If you like the set-up you could invest in a ST-E2 infrared controller. I have heard but not confirmed that Sigma's high end flashes will also fire in slave mode from a Canon master. I just spent 370 dollars on Radio Slaves, but I use them for studio strobes if you can avoid going in for the big money on the PW's do it.

Bodley

Shay Stephens wrote:

If you plan on using ettl, then I don't think the pocketwizards are going to be the answer. you might look into the optical canon transmitter. But if you plan on doing manual flash, the pocketwizards are gold. They will give you crazy range that the optical solutions can't touch.

Hey - Thanks for the reply - thought I wore you out the other day

The canon transmitter, from what I read, doesn't have the range - I'm also planning on shooting youth basketball w/ speedlights on stands at the corners.

I'm using ettl because of my lack of knowledge about setting manually. Hopefully I'll learn.

Thanks again - Greg

Bodley

Blurmore wrote:

http://denisreggie.net/gear.html

I have heard that you don't get a whole lot of distance with a 550 or 580 in a softbox

This is also something I'm curious about. However, from my understanding, the softbox doesn't need to be very far from the subject - further distance harsher shadows.

I've played with the infared system but don't think I can get the distance for sports.

Thanks for the reply - Greg

TristanP

Here's a good page that shows how the softboxes go together. I have the X-small Photoflex Litedome for my Sunpak 383s and made my own bracket rather than spending the ~$30 for it. Here are some pics of it in use. I would guess the 580/550 flashes would fit the speedring that comes with the X-small softbox (AC-200sc) based on their size, but you can email Photoflex to be sure. They responded quickly to my questions when I was researching this stuff.

Shay Stephens

That link was perfect, thank you. And more comprehensive than what I was going to do :-)

TristanP wrote:

Here's a good page that shows how the softboxes go together. I have the X-small Photoflex Litedome for my Sunpak 383s and made my own bracket rather than spending the ~$30 for it. Here are some pics of it in use. I would guess the 580/550 flashes would fit the speedring that comes with the X-small softbox (AC-200sc) based on their size, but you can email Photoflex to be sure. They responded quickly to my questions when I was researching this stuff.

Bodley

TristanP wrote:

Here's a good page that shows how the softboxes go together. I have the X-small Photoflex Litedome for my Sunpak 383s and made my own bracket rather than spending the ~$30 for it. Here are some pics of it in use. I would guess the 580/550 flashes would fit the speedring that comes with the X-small softbox (AC-200sc) based on their size, but you can email Photoflex to be sure. They responded quickly to my questions when I was researching this stuff.

Great post - Thanks.

Ever try to use this setup for portraits or small group (10-12) shots. What if you had two?

Thanks - Greg

TristanP

Bodley wrote:

Great post - Thanks.

Ever try to use this setup for portraits or small group (10-12) shots. What if you had two?

Thanks - Greg

I haven't used it for more than a single person/small studio shot yet. I would think that for a larger group like you mention, a pair or three of the medium softboxes or large umbrellas (60") would be more appropriate. For small groups of 2-6 or so, 2 softboxes/umbrellas is my guess.

I did some snapshots at a family gathering in May of 14 adults and kids using a single Sunpak 383 bounced off of a ~9' drop ceiling.



It did much better than I thought it would. Too bad I missed I missed the huge spec in the middle of the lens. :pissed The motel conference room carpet and chair rail leave a bit to be desired, too, but this was put together in about 10 minutes. For more "professional" shots though, a couple softboxes should do the trick just fine.

Those links come from a lot of Internet research, because I had the same questions and without going to the stores (bleh), couldn't find any info either. I'm glad you found them useful.

Bodley

TristanP wrote:

I had the same questions and without going to the stores (bleh),

When you live in a small town Alabama - stores are not an option

Thanks Again
Greg

erich6

When using Pocket Wizards...do you only need two? One for the camera and one for one of the lights...assuming the light trigger off each other?

pathfinder

Bodley wrote:

Questions:
1. What is a speedring and where do I find one and a softbox for a 580ex/550ex

A speed ring is a metal ring that attaaches directly to the front of most studio strobe lights for soft boxes, diffusers etc. To attach small camera mount electronic flashes to a speedring usually require a kludge of some sort, as the camera electronic flashes are much smaller that the 10-14 rings on most studio strobes. - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=42441&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

2. Pocket Wizard to 580ex/550ex connection

I do not see a PC cord connection on my 580ex. You MIGHT be able to use a non-OEM hot shoe mount with an auxillary PC cord connection - I cannot find one on the Pocket Wizard site. If you do this you WILL give up ETTL, whereas if you use the Canon wireless transmitter ST-E2 you do not. But of course the PW has much greater range an reliabliity for sports venues. In a small room the ST-E2 works well for me.

3. Pocket wizard Multi or Plus

How many lights ya gonna use? What's yer budget?

4. light meter - is it necessary what can I expect over 1dmkII w/ETTL (almost too ashamed to ask this one)

The Sekonic -358 and the 508(?) can be equipped with a flash triiger for the PWs, so you can trigger the strobes and get a reading at the same time without having to grab your camera - this becomes rather addicting. PW now apparently has a module to install directly into a Nikon camera body -
http://www.pocketwizard.com/HTML/news.asp

5. Anything else I'm forgetting

The PWs work great with studio strobes and cameras shooting in manual mode. You will need the PW acccessory cords to connect them to the studio strobes. http://www.pocketwizard.com/HTML/cables.asp

I am not aware of an easy or elegant way to connect PWs to a 580ex - other than a non-OEM hot shoe with a pc cord connection which will negate the ETTL function.

pathfinder

erich6 wrote:

When using Pocket Wizards...do you only need two? One for the camera and one for one of the lights...assuming the light trigger off each other?

Erich you need a transmitter for the camera and a receiver/trigger for each strobe as the PWs are radio transmitters or receivers, that then trigger the flash.
If you depend on light sensing triggers in public venues, the strobes may be fired by someone else, and be discharged when you want to shoot.

erich6

pathfinder wrote:

Erich you need a transmitter for the camera and a receiver/trigger for each strobe as the PWs are radio transmitters or receivers, that then trigger the flash.
If you depend on light sensing triggers in public venues, the strobes may be fired by someone else, and be discharged when you want to shoot.

OK. It seems they're a bit pricey and gets expensive in a hurry if you have more than one light....

Erich

pathfinder

Yup!