Flash Umbrella Info?

Every time I look into light stands, umbrellas and the like, I am seriously
intimidated by my IGNORANCE!! ARGH!!

I thought I would purchase a second Canon Speedlite 580EX

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=10514

the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=8304

a couple umbrellas and stands and have some fun with my 20D.

But there's SO MUCH stuff out there, where do I begin?

Do I want an umbrella/light kit WITH a strobe?

If yes, do I "need" the above Speedlite and transmitter?

Should I start out with ONE umbrella or just get two and be done with it?

If there's a FAQ you can point me to, I will humbly RTFM. TIA
--

JR

Canon EOS 20D

Hi Jim,

I suggest you get a kit with 2 stands, 2 monolights and 2 umbrellas.
Something like: http://www.alienbees.com/digi.html

For a single portrait set up one flash high, aimed at subjects face,
max power, and well to one side of the camera. Put the camera on a
tripod, so the lens is even with the subjects eyes. Set the other
flash close to the camera, but on the other side of the camera from the
first flash. This flash should be at lower power than the first and at
camera height. Adjust the power of the flashes so the side flash casts
a triangular shadow of the nose, and the flash near the camera fills
that area in so it isn't too dark. Since you can experiment for free
with your 20D, you don't really need a flashmeter.

Also see:
http://www.photo.net/photo/studio-photography
http://www.google.com/search?q=+portrait+flash+tutorial

Good luck!

Peace,
-chasfs
http://chasfs.com

Jim Redelfs wrote:
Every time I look into light stands, umbrellas and the like, I am seriously
intimidated by my IGNORANCE!! ARGH!!

I thought I would purchase a second Canon Speedlite 580EX

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=10514

the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=8304

a couple umbrellas and stands and have some fun with my 20D.

But there's SO MUCH stuff out there, where do I begin?

Do I want an umbrella/light kit WITH a strobe?

If yes, do I "need" the above Speedlite and transmitter?

Should I start out with ONE umbrella or just get two and be done with it?

If there's a FAQ you can point me to, I will humbly RTFM. TIA
--

JR

Canon EOS 20D

Jim Redelfs wrote:
Every time I look into light stands, umbrellas and the like, I am seriously
intimidated by my IGNORANCE!! ARGH!!

I thought I would purchase a second Canon Speedlite 580EX

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=10514

the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=8304

a couple umbrellas and stands and have some fun with my 20D.

But there's SO MUCH stuff out there, where do I begin?

Do I want an umbrella/light kit WITH a strobe?

If yes, do I "need" the above Speedlite and transmitter?

Should I start out with ONE umbrella or just get two and be done with it?

If there's a FAQ you can point me to, I will humbly RTFM.

Diff. strokes, and all: I'd be inclined to not invest in fixed strobes,
unless you are sure you'll stick with studio type photography, and
instead get the 580EX and one of the smaller but new Canon flashes,
which would obviate getting the transmitter for less than a hundred more
than the transmitter, and gives off light as well as triggering the
slave. My understanding is that the two flashes can be both used in ETTL
mode, with one stopped down to act as fill or secondary light, but I
haven't done that yet with my 550 and 580. I was even considering
getting the 430 or 200 something to mount on the camera, to trigger both
the others, but haven't yet.

Do you have a decent flash currently?

--
John McWilliams

In article ,
John McWilliams wrote:

Do you have a decent flash currently?

Canon Speedlite 580EX

I paid a pretty penny for the "official" (mated?) flash when I made the switch
from my T90 to digital. (It sure hurts to walk away from collection of nice
"glass". sigh)

I would like to get as much bang for my buck, considering I'm already invested
in the Canon Speedlite. If acquiring another 580EX would be a good thing,
even if a bit more expensive than an alternative, I'm interested.

So, if I get a second 580EX, I *DON'T* need the transmitter? [scratching head]

I DO appreciate the info.
--

JR

"Jim Redelfs" wrote in message
...
In article ,
John McWilliams wrote:

Do you have a decent flash currently?

Canon Speedlite 580EX

I paid a pretty penny for the "official" (mated?) flash when I made the
switch from my T90 to digital. (It sure hurts to walk away from collection
of nice "glass". sigh)


Jim, I feel your pain times two!

I've decided to go "hybrid" and add a film scanner so that I can enjoy the
benefitis of both formats.
I have an EOS 20D and good EF L glass but I still want to take both my T90s
out and shoot slides.

I would like to get as much bang for my buck, considering I'm already
invested in the Canon Speedlite. If acquiring another 580EX would be a
good thing, even if a bit more expensive than an alternative, I'm
interested.

So, if I get a second 580EX, I *DON'T* need the transmitter? [scratching
head]

You can slave off-camera flash units to an on-camera flash unit, or you can
get the infrared xmitter and slave multiple off-camera flash units to the
xmitter on your hot shoe. I have the infrared remote control head but
sometimes I just just slave my 430EX to my 580EX.

HTH,

Jay Beckman
Chandler, AZ
www.pbase.com/flyingphotog

If you go with studio strobes then it's very hard to set up flash
lighting in the field.

If you go with the 580's then you can use them either in the studio or
out in the field - score one for the 580's.

Studio strobes don't work with the camera's E-TTL flash metering - so
it's "manual all the way" - score two for the 580's.

You can get inexpensive brackets that allow you to beam a 580 into an
umbrella on a tripod - the only downside is that the 580 on the tripod
must be able to see the 580 (or speedlite transmitter) on the camera -
inside it's not such an issue as the signal will bouce around the walls
quite nicely, but outside (especially if you've got an umbrella between
the transmitter and receiver) then you'll likely strike problems.

By the way, the speedlight transmitter and the 580 used as a
transmitter (master) communicate in different ways - the first via
infra-red, the 2nd via the pre-flash. For this reason a 580 used as a
transmitter generally has a better range.

With this in mind, you'll now understand why the 580 zooms to 24mm as
soon as you switch it to master mode. Additionally, if you set the
custom function on the master 580 to tell it not to fire, it still
fires the pre-flash (this one has people scratching their heads a bit).

For what it's worth I've now got 3 580's (heading towards 5 all up) -
great units.

Jim Redelfs wrote:
In article ,
John McWilliams wrote:

Do you have a decent flash currently?

Canon Speedlite 580EX

I paid a pretty penny for the "official" (mated?) flash when I made the switch
from my T90 to digital. (It sure hurts to walk away from collection of nice
"glass". sigh)

I would like to get as much bang for my buck, considering I'm already invested
in the Canon Speedlite. If acquiring another 580EX would be a good thing,
even if a bit more expensive than an alternative, I'm interested.

So, if I get a second 580EX, I *DON'T* need the transmitter? [scratching head]

I DO appreciate the info.

That's kee-rect. It'll be Slave or Master with another 580, a 550, or
430, for starters. The transmitters are incorporated in these units, and
with the transmitter a tad over $200, you can get a transmitter via, say
a 430 for about a hundred bills more. Something I am considering, but
haven't sprung for. I already have the 550 and 580 as I mentioned, and
still have a way to go to maximize their use.

==
john

I know that you believe you understood what you think I said, but I'm
not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.

In article . com,
"The Maverick" wrote:

If you go with studio strobes then it's very hard to set up flash
lighting in the field.

If you go with the 580's then you can use them either in the studio or
out in the field - score one for the 580's.

I know a thank-you (alone) is poor form but...

Thank-you for taking the time to post detail about the multiple-580
flash/transmitter system. I will be getting another 580EX.
--

JR

The 580ex makes a very compact flash system that will fit in your bag.

Jim Redelfs wrote:
Every time I look into light stands, umbrellas and the like, I am seriously
intimidated by my IGNORANCE!! ARGH!!

I thought I would purchase a second Canon Speedlite 580EX

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=10514

the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...fcategoryid=14
1&modelid=8304

a couple umbrellas and stands and have some fun with my 20D.

But there's SO MUCH stuff out there, where do I begin?

Do I want an umbrella/light kit WITH a strobe?

If yes, do I "need" the above Speedlite and transmitter?

Should I start out with ONE umbrella or just get two and be done with it?

If there's a FAQ you can point me to, I will humbly RTFM. TIA

I would suggest buying proper studio flash with a modeling lamp. You are
working blind with flash units like the 580EX et al.