Strobist - Flash recommendations please

[wolf]

Hi All,

This is my first post here, although I have been lurking and learning for a few days. I've become addicted to photography over the past few years and have been getting what i think are decent Portrait results using available light.

A comedian friend has requested a promo shoot "head shots, back lit on white background".

I'm confident I can get good results IF available light is there, but I think it's now time to get a flash unit for my 400d. I have started to read the strobist blog and think this approach would suit my photography style as most of my images are taken out and about.

Can anyone recommend a good, economical flash unit / speedlight for canon 400d for use primarily for portraits. Are there decent alternatives to buying Canon brand units?

I'm based in Australia so I'm unsure if shipping the "starving student kit" (linked in another thread) here is a possibility.

I also intend to get an umbrella / stand to go with the flash, unless there are better alternatives?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Some of my images are here:
Vibe pictures by lowqui - Photobucket

[zona5101]

White background means you're probably looking at 2 lights, one to light the background, one for the main but you might be able to light it with one light and a reflector. Your light on a stand shooting into the background, light bouncing off the background then off the ceiling and walls into a reflector to light your friend's face. Since you are going to want 2 or 3 stops difference between the background and the subject to make the background pure white trying this set up may work out nicely. I do not know alot about your 400d...I do not know if it has a pc socket...(seems those are like hens teeth anymore) but you'll need a method to fire an external flash. As far as the flash itself, you don't mention budget or if you have future plans for more flashwork. One the minimalist side, you can do this with a lightstand and a vivitar 283, you won't need the umbrella unless you go with 2 lights then you can use the unbrella on the main.

[wolf]

Hi Zona,

Thanks for the reply and the tip on the vivtar 283.

I will be using the flash for future projects. The 400d does not have a PC socket (so thinking of using wirless triggers instead). Think i'll leave the umbrella for now.

- I found out that the vivitar 285hv has been reintroduced so I may purchase that - although there are a couple of comments on the web about this new unit "popping & dying". anyone here had any experience of using this new version of this flash?

[zona5101]

wireless trigger...or an optical slave set off by your on-board flash. You'll probably want to dial down the on-board or soften it. I saw a flash difuser for an on-board flash made out of a translucent film canister.... but something to soften it up a bit.

[klam]

I have a manual LumoPro LP121 flash. It's a good off-camera flash for the price. It even has optical slave capabilities.

"Developed in conjunction with the Strobist community, this flash is ideal for
professional and amateur photographers alike. The LumoPro LP120 is the most
versatile all manual flash in production today. In its one size fits all design, it offers 4
ways of synchronization with your camera through its PC port, miniphone port,
optical slave sensor and hotshoe (PC/Miniphone cord included.) This diversity also
provides you with backup options should, for example, your existing radio slaves lose
power or you forget your sync cord at home. Using your flash off your camera has
never been easier. With its 270-degree swivel and 180-degree tilt, you will be able to
bounce the light off any wall, ceiling, and most light modifiers (using your forehead is
not recommended.) The manual zoom function allows you to focus the beam
regardless of your lens focal length. The wide-angle adapter helps disperse the beam
to a greater degree. The standard flash head design insures that almost any light
modifier on the market will fit securely. The LP120 is color neutral and offers 6
power variations"- mpex

[inkista]

A bunch of guys on the Strobist Flickr group say that MPEX ships to Australia, and the prices aren't that bad, as long as you can avoid GST by keeping your orders under $1k.

You may want to give Zack Arias's white seamless tutorial a read, to get an idea of what might be involved with some kind of Strobist home studio set-up.

Speedlight-wise, the MPEX Lumopro LP120 is probably to be preferred over a Vivitar 285HV, if you can afford it. The 285HV (and its current incarnation, the Cactus KF36) doesn't swivel, is missing the 1/8 power setting, and its PC port is non-standard. The LP120, in comparison swivels, tilts, and zooms, has a 1/8 power setting, and uses not only a standard PC port, but also a 1/8" mono jack, and has a built-in optical slave.

Using a cheap manual-only flash like the LP120, however, only really makes sense if you're only planning on using the flash off-camera in a studio-like setup. It's still useful for on-camera work, but if you're, say, event shooting in a run-and-gun manner (say for shooting weddings or photojournalism), it may make more sense to get a Canon, Sigma, or Metz speedlight for e-TTL capability as well, so that the flash unit can do double duty both on and off camera. In that case, a 580EXII or 430EXII might make more sense.

[bhursey]

The 400d does not have any pc ports. I would buy some used Nikon SB-24 or SB-28 flashes of ebay. Then I would get a Cactus v4 set it comes with one receiver but if you have 2 flashes you need to buy a extra one. Then I would get a stand and some umbrellas....

I would buy this stand kit... Impact | Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit | B&H Photo Video

Then buy some flashes and the triggers....

I currently own a SB-24 with a cactus v4 and a vivitar DF400mz optical slave. So I use a two strobe setup. With stands and umbrellas.. I can take it anywhere in the field or to peoples houses.