Off Camera Flash - Strobist on a budget ?

Pinkeyes

Pinkeyes

Pinkeyes

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Greater Manchester
As a few people know on here, I am still really knew to DSLR (9 months in) and am still very much on budget lenses / kit while I learn / play and find my direction.

I got for fathers day (at my request) a Yongnuo rf-602 flash trigger as I would like to play with off camera flash. I have got a couple of old SLR flash guns, A Vivitar thyristor 3500 and a Canon Speedlite 199A - both of which work from the wireless trigger, but I have zero control over them.

I know I need a decent flash, but they are so expensive !

I also started reading the Strobist blog (lighting 101) which recommends the Lumopro LP160. This seems like a really good option, if I can source one in the UK to buy.

Is it worth learning all this using any old flashguns, or do I really need to learn about power and buy a controllable one ?
Does anyone have, or can recommend anything for a budget (like the LP160), or do I really need to save up and buy a Speedlite 580 ex II (or similar)
 
A Vivitar thyristor 3500
Click to expand...

SNAP! (No photo pun intended!)

I use one of them with my Nikon D40. It was my grandfathers, and when he passed away, I was alerted to his old photo gear, and use this as my only off camera flash.

It's not pretty, and by no means an orthodox way of shooting, but I feel I've achieve some pretty impressive results from it even if i do say so myself! Through a mixture of trial, error and luck, I think i've found a way to work my flash.

I've got no control over flash power (or that i've yet to work out how to control flash power) so I use Shutter Priority on my D40 to compensate for the flash. (*Prepares to be flamed by Photo Pros!*). But still, it works for me...I can't afford a SB-600 (or anytihng higher for that matter). So it works for me!

I'll post some examples below just to show whats possible with a bit of patience (oh, and a bit of luck :p)

Shadows in the loft



Strobist Info:

*Vivitar 3500 + DSC1 Off Camera Cord
*Bounced off right wall
*Bare head, full power.

Can I go on Xbox Live please?



Strobist Info:

Vivitar 3500 + DSC1 Off Camera Cord
Diffused / Full Power
Bounced off celing

Chalking Up



Strobist Info:

Vivitar 3500 + DSC1 Off Camera Cord
Bare / Full Power
Bounced off floor

Climbing under the over hang...



Strobist Info:

Vivitar 3500 + DSC1 Off Camera Cord
Bare / Full Power
Bounced off wall to camera right

So, long story short, you don't NEED an expensive flash unit, but it is a bit more difficult to get results with an older one
 
Thanks very much for that, and really like your shots (although the left shot disturbed me too :D). Shows what can be done.

So far anything I have done off camera was long exposure in the dark (camera on tripod) and then flash triggered by the test button with folder A4 paper in front to vary the flash.
 
Pinkeyes said:
So far anything I have done off camera was long exposure in the dark (camera on tripod) and then flash triggered by the test button with folder A4 paper in front to vary the flash.
Click to expand...

Something I found that worked well was making sure you have the right base on it! I use a DM/N as i'm using the Vivitar with a Nikon camera. Using the right one, I found that the flash actually triggered when i wanted it to! Can be picked up quite cheap on a popular auction site, but you may have to import it from America
 
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