cheap alternate studio lighting.

ScarySquirrel said:
Cool. Is the hotshoe the thing that looks like an H and sits on the bottom of the flash?

Also, how do I know which cheap flashguns will be compatible?
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yes the hot shoe is the H looking thing :)

pretty much any flashgun will be compatible, but it does need to have a manual adjustment which youll have to look at ona flash by flash basis :)
 
Great info there rG-tom
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for the life of me i cant find a couple of flashes around under 10 each. i'm starting to get really annoyed now
 
33L said:
for the life of me i cant find a couple of flashes around under 10 each. i'm starting to get really annoyed now
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I have seen some on eBay but tbh don't really know what I am looking for. I have a 430ex already but would like a cheap one for the softbox.

I have seen umbrellas and softboxes going on ebay petty cheap and they have lights already, they just look like light bulbs though. Would these not be ok?

I only want to spend max £50-70 on all of this as I don't think I would use it a great deal (unless I got some really good results from it)
 
just found some old flashes on the bay and if it goes ok i can get 2 for 9 quid. looking into a soft box and an umbrella next then the mounts, then the triggers then the receivers ......... oh lord this thread will be going for years! lol
 
What about continuous lighting? I have seen a fair few umbrellas/softboxes that come with a stand and a continuos light on the bay. I know this produces more heat etc.

I would be looking at using this setup out and about as well, so if it was dark it would help me to 'see the picture' before i press the shutter. Does that make sense?

What is a good wattage for continuous lights?

Also what is the difference between a softbox and an umbrella? Apart from the obvious, what different effect do they create?

Thanks
 
If your 'out and about' with a continous light, you really need to be keeping in mind the battery requirements, as you might end up needing to be dragging a huge battery or generator around with you.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
What about continuous lighting? I have seen a fair few umbrellas/softboxes that come with a stand and a continuos light on the bay. I know this produces more heat etc.

I would be looking at using this setup out and about as well, so if it was dark it would help me to 'see the picture' before i press the shutter. Does that make sense?

What is a good wattage for continuous lights?

Also what is the difference between a softbox and an umbrella? Apart from the obvious, what different effect do they create?

Thanks
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softboxes create a square catchlight with no voids, umbrellas create a round catchlight but there is a slight void in he middle where the flash is.

Tom.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
What about continuous lighting? I have seen a fair few umbrellas/softboxes that come with a stand and a continuos light on the bay. I know this produces more heat etc.

I would be looking at using this setup out and about as well, so if it was dark it would help me to 'see the picture' before i press the shutter. Does that make sense?

What is a good wattage for continuous lights?

Also what is the difference between a softbox and an umbrella? Apart from the obvious, what different effect do they create?

Thanks
Click to expand...

softboxes create a square catchlight with no voids, umbrellas create a round catchlight but there is a slight void in he middle where the flash is.

Bit exaggerated as it's such a glossy reflection, but this is an umbrella:

eyemacro1.jpg


Tom.
 
rG-tom said:
softboxes create a square catchlight with no voids, umbrellas create a round catchlight but there is a slight void in he middle where the flash is.

Tom.
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Sorry I don't really understand what a catchlight and a void is. Am I getting annoying now?

MK, good point about the battery power :)
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Sorry I don't really understand what a catchlight and a void is. Am I getting annoying now?

MK, good point about the battery power :)
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A catchlight is the pure reflection of the flash in say the eye. With a ringlight for example you will get a donught shaped catchlight in the eye, whereas with a softbox you would get a square one. The void is simply where your not getting light. so if you had a giant softbox behind you, pointing at the subject, you would get a square catchlight in the subjects eye, but you would have a photographer shaped void as you were standing between the light and the subject.
 
A catch light is the reflection of the light source been used to create that image.
The catch light in RG's eye shot is the entire visible reflection of the umbrella/flash light being reflected in the subjects eye.
The void is the area of the catch light that is canceled out by the flash unit emitting the light as it is firing backwards into the umbrella and is being shadowed by its self.
Hense voiding its self.
 
rG-tom said:
the entrance to my softbox is exactly the right size to wedge onto my flashguns :)
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chances are i'm not going to be that lucky and i want to order one soon, what should i get to mount them as well.
I have a spare tripod anyway i can use one of these.
 
right guys another question with regards to the setup. i have ordered the following.

2 umbrellas
2 flashes
2 umbrella mounts with shoe mounts


i have turned my attention to the trigger and receivers. some of the items i have looked at need a sync cord which the 400d cant accept. i am dubious at bidding for anything that may not work. Please let me know what i am looking for in a trigger/receiver set up.
 
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