Flash advice, please.
photomagic
Registered Users Posts: 257 Major grins
Hi...
I need some recommendations on a flash for shooting High School football. Right now I am using Canon 20D, Canon IS DO 70-300mm lens, and the Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash. I am not very knowledgeable in the flash area, so am not sure if there is such a thing as a faster flash like faster lenses, etc. It seems to me that my camera and lens are on one sync and my flash is much slower and only fires every so many frames. So it seems that I would need a faster flash. Any recommendations, comments, suggestions, etc? I would really appreciate the help here.
Thank you,
Michele
I need some recommendations on a flash for shooting High School football. Right now I am using Canon 20D, Canon IS DO 70-300mm lens, and the Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash. I am not very knowledgeable in the flash area, so am not sure if there is such a thing as a faster flash like faster lenses, etc. It seems to me that my camera and lens are on one sync and my flash is much slower and only fires every so many frames. So it seems that I would need a faster flash. Any recommendations, comments, suggestions, etc? I would really appreciate the help here.
Thank you,
Michele
0
Comments
Unless you are down on the sidelines and close to the action, a flash is probably not going to do much. I actually refused to use flash because the instantaneous light can startle the players and cause a fumble or worse, and I didn't want that possibility to occur.
I used a 70-200mm, f2.8 zoom from the sidelines and at ISO 1600 I was getting pretty good shutter speeds on all but the smallest fields at night games.
The local news guys did use flash, but they didn't do the kind of coverage I did (400 - 600 images per game.)
If you really need rapid recycling, use a Canon 580EX/EXII with a Quantum Turbo or Turbo SC external battery pack. For keeping up with a 3 or 5 frame burst you will have to switch to manual mode and trim the output.
Buy the Canon EF 70-200mm, f2.8L lens instead. You will be much happier in the long run I suspect.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Thank you for your input.
Yes, I do photograph from the side lines and easily go home with 400 images. I have been doing this for 3 years now. I used to use the Canon 70-200mm IS L 2.8 lens and loved it and miss it. But for reasons, I sold it and bought the Canon DO IS 70-300mm lens which I love just as much. It works great even with sports. However, I never was pleased with this flash and always needed to upgrade it and now I am tired of the issues I have with it and need something better.
I do shoot in manual mode when I use the flash for the night games. What do you mean by trim and output if you don't mind me asking?
Again, thank you so much for your input.
Ah good, you are well "seasoned". If you use manual mode but set the output to less than full, the recycle times drop dramatically, especially with the external battery. I think at about 1/16th power you can shoot almost continuously. (It is still pretty hard on the flash tube and circuits to run too many bursts without a cooldown.)
By the time you purchase the 580EX/EXII flash plus the cables and external battery pack you won't be too far from the cost of a 70-200"L", which is why I mention it. The really nice thing about the faster lens is that there is no "recycle time" or extra batteries to mess with.
I actually justified my first Canon 1D MKII partly to shoot night football. The 70-200"L" on a MKII is a very sweet combination of speed and accuracy.
Night Galleries here:
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/gallery/2008250#102694990
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/gallery/1948765#98895714
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/gallery/1922831#97298634
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/gallery/1906380#96238260
(The older games were shot with an XT.)
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I had the same problem with Canon L IS 70-200mm lens 2.8 as I am now. I can shoot and focus just fine with the combination I am using right now and with the combination I was using with the Canon 70-200 L. I am lost now and don't quite understand what you are saying in regards to recycle time. I apologize. Flash is new to me as I was told what settings to use in manual and made adjustments on camera from there in regards to shutter speed only. My flash, I can't set output. There are no optional settings like the 580EX has. I can do flash exposure compensation on my camera and I believe there is a Custom Function for flash on my camera as well that is set on default setting.
Yes, I saw your night photos. I went to your gallery after responding to you earlier. YOu have a nice website of photos.
Thank you again.
While the 70-300 is a nice lens (I have one myself), you will find an advantage shooting at f/2.8 instead of f/5.6 because you will need less power from your flash. A full power shot at f/5.6 only requires 1/4 power at f/2.8. Another way of looking at it is that f/2.8 will effectively double the reach of your flash. Full power at 5 yards and f/5.6 is the same amount of light as full power at 10 yards and f/2.8.
Thank you.... I am understanding it a bit more.
Well... I had the same problem at f2.8 as I do at f5.6. I very seldom shot at f2.8 as 5.6 suited my needs more during football games.
Can you tell me if a more quality flash would help or will it not? Bottom line is, I need something that will help me now with the lens I have as I have no intentions in purchasing the Canon L 2.8 lens in the near future after just using that lens for 4 years and did sell it at the beginning of this year with no regrets. The current lens is a better lens for me with the same quality. Please.
Thank you,
Michele
I am hoping you have the Sigma EF 500 DG Super flash. It has an adjustable output in manual mode. To use it, if you are in "M" (manual mode), tap "SEL" and then the minus "-" button as many times as needed to trim the power level.
(Just to be clear, you get to the "M" mode by pressing the "MODE" button until the "M" appears.)
Understand that this also greatly reduces the distance the flash reaches, and this is where the 580EX excels because it starts with a higher output, versus the Sigma 500, "and" accepts an external power pack for faster recycling. The Sigma flashes do not accept an external battery that I am aware of.
According to B &H, the Quantum packs I mentioned before can recycle the Canon 580EX series flashes in under 2 seconds from full-pop. At half power it should be under a second, at 1/4 power 1/2 second and at 1/16th power around 1/8th of a second recycle (or so), fast enough to keep up with the Canon 20D, 5 FPS continuous burst.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Thank you.
I don't have the upgraded 500DG flash. I have the older version which is even more so why I need to upgrade my flash. I am aware a little bit on how to operate a flash that has choices/settings as mine doesn't.
I don't use continuous shooting mode, but just regular single frame mode.
You have given me something to think about and will do some research on your recommendations. Any other options on flashes that I should consider?
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Well you don't have any options on settings, etc on the back of the flash. Its just solid with no screen or buttons, etc.
There are three things you can do to improve the cycle time of a flash:
1. Reduce the power you use per shot. To do this requires either a faster lens or higher ISO. Since you don't want to change lenses, you should try bumping the ISO as high as you can tolerate. If you are not already shooting at at least ISO 800, that is the first thing I'd change.
2. Get a flash with a bigger capacitor. I don't know the capacity of the flash you are using, but the Canon 580EX is about as big as will find in shoe mount flashes.
3. Use a better power supply. AA batteries can only crank the power out so fast. As ziggy suggests, the Quantum Turbo batteries can recharge a 580EX significatly faster than AA batteries can.
Upgrading to a 580EX and a Quantum Turbo battery as ziggy is suggesting will give you about as good as it gets in shoe mount flashes, but I don't know how much better that will be than what you have. The Quantum Qflash system might give you longer bursts of quick flashes because it has a bigger capacitor, but it is very expensive and also somewhat bulky. The next step from there will be studio-like strobes which you will have to put on stands rather than on the camera and will require a separate large battery pack.
Thank you.