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Just picked up a SB-700 for upcoming class.

Ballistics

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One of my upcoming classes in 2 weeks is photographic lighting. I don't know what the class consists of,
but a flash is required. I have a Yongnuo YN467 but my instructor said that it wasn't powerful enough.
I've been playing around with it for about an hour and there are a TON of options.
The manual is huge. Who would have thought that a flash could be so intricate.

Here is the item list for required and suggested items:

Suggested Books:
The Hot Shoe Diaries, by Joe McNally, ISBN-10: 0-321-58014-1
Light, Science& Magic, by Fil Hunter& Paul Fuqua, ISBN-10: 0240808192
Lighting Techniques for Photographers, by Norman Kerr (Out of Print), ISBN-0-936262-66-4
PhotoShop CS5 for Digital Photographers, Scott Kelby, ISBN-10: 0321580095

Required Reflector (Choose One:
Impact 22" 5-1 Reflector $24.95 (One Person - Head and Shoulder Portraits)
Impact 32" 5-1 Reflector $38.95 (One Person - Up to Full Lenght)
Impact 42" 5-1 Reflector $46.95 (One/Two People - Up to Full Lenght)

Required Flash Units for Canon Cameras (Choose One + Cord):
Vivitar 285HV = $87.00 (+) Canon Cord = $65.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Canon 270EX Speedlight = $129.00 (+) Canon Cord = $65.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Canon 270EX II Speedlight (Wireless) = $161.00 (+) Canon Cord = $65.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Canon 430EX II Speedlight = $284.00 (+) Canon Cord = $65.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Canon 580EX II Speedlight = $449.00 (+) Canon Cord = $65.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99

Required Flash Units for Nikon Cameras (Choose One + Cord)::
Vivitar 285HV = $87.00 (+) Nikon Cord = $49.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Nikon SB400 Speedlight = $119.95 (+) Nikon Cord = $49.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Nikon SB700 AF Speedlight = $326.95 (+) Nikon Cord = $49.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99
Nikon SB900 AF Speedlight = $479.95 (+) Nikon Cord = $49.95 (OR) Vello Cord = $14.99

Optional Flash Accessories:
Stroboframe 350 Bracket = $35.95 (OR Better Quality)
LumiQuest Mini Softbox = $22.95 (OR Different Brand) (Does Not Work With The Vivitar 285HV)
LumiQuest 80/20 Bounce Reflector = $23.99 (Does Not Work With The Vivitar 285HV)
LumiQuest 80/20 Bounce Reflector Kit = $48.95 (Does Not Work With The Vivitar 285HV)
Rosco Filter Kit w/Gel Holder = $19.95 (Does Not Work With The Vivitar 285HV Flash)


I bought the 42" reflector, The SB-700 and Vello Cord, and Light Science and Magic book.
Very excited for this class, along with the rest of the photography classes now that I am officially a photo major.
I'm off to go and learn about the flash, read up on strobist.com, and do a little youtubing.
Anyone else here going to school for photography?
 
Congrats on the flash. I'm taking college photo classes as well and wow they are fun.
 
That's a little odd that your Yongnuo flash wasn't powerful enough, but the 270EX and the SB400 are both valid flash units for the course.

I don't think you'll regret purchasing the SB700 though.
 
That's a little odd that your Yongnuo flash wasn't powerful enough, but the 270EX and the SB400 are both valid flash units for the course.

I don't think you'll regret purchasing the SB700 though.

BINGO! After my instructor replied to my email and said that, I felt like I wasn't sure enough to rebut the comment but that it didn't sound right. He said that the guide number is only 33, and that I needed a flash that went up to 80-100. I just left it as it was. I linked him the Amazon page for my flash, so I feel like either the page has misinformation, or he misread and isn't familiar with the flash. Either way, a second flash couldn't hurt and since it has an optical slave, I can use both OC being that I only have 1 trigger. (At least I think that's right lol)
 
Sigh...Unfortunately, your instructor doesn't know the difference between Feet and Meters
 
Sigh...Unfortunately, your instructor doesn't know the difference between Feet and Meters

Not that he doesn't know the difference of both, but I guess he didn't know that they were rated in both meters and feet? Either way, he should have known the difference and I'm a little put off by that. It's odd too, because his work is absolutely amazing and he is the head of the department.
 
That's a little odd that your Yongnuo flash wasn't powerful enough, but the 270EX and the SB400 are both valid flash units for the course.

I don't think you'll regret purchasing the SB700 though.

BINGO! After my instructor replied to my email and said that, I felt like I wasn't sure enough to rebut the comment but that it didn't sound right. He said that the guide number is only 33, and that I needed a flash that went up to 80-100. I just left it as it was. I linked him the Amazon page for my flash, so I feel like either the page has misinformation, or he misread and isn't familiar with the flash. Either way, a second flash couldn't hurt and since it has an optical slave, I can use both OC being that I only have 1 trigger. (At least I think that's right lol)

Yeah, you can use the SB-700 in conjunction with the CLS, and use the Yongnuo as a fill with your triggers. You should be all set to use both off camera.
 
That's a little odd that your Yongnuo flash wasn't powerful enough, but the 270EX and the SB400 are both valid flash units for the course.

I don't think you'll regret purchasing the SB700 though.

BINGO! After my instructor replied to my email and said that, I felt like I wasn't sure enough to rebut the comment but that it didn't sound right. He said that the guide number is only 33, and that I needed a flash that went up to 80-100. I just left it as it was. I linked him the Amazon page for my flash, so I feel like either the page has misinformation, or he misread and isn't familiar with the flash. Either way, a second flash couldn't hurt and since it has an optical slave, I can use both OC being that I only have 1 trigger. (At least I think that's right lol)

Yeah, you can use the SB-700 in conjunction with the CLS, and use the Yongnuo as a fill with your triggers. You should be all set to use both off camera.

Awesome!
 
Sigh...Unfortunately, your instructor doesn't know the difference between Feet and Meters

Not that he doesn't know the difference of both, but I guess he didn't know that they were rated in both meters and feet? Either way, he should have known the difference and I'm a little put off by that. It's odd too, because his work is absolutely amazing and he is the head of the department.

A lot iof time with instructors, I know I do this, is they want you to use certain equipment because they are familar with them. So if he has to take time because he doesn't know how to change or tell you to change the power setting on your flash, It takes up class time and also makes him look stupid if he fumbles with something.

The Yongnuo actually has in feet abou 99 so it would fit criteria. But even with those numbers every manufacturer uses differnt ISIO and focal lengths for their ratings so it's hard to know. But you're on the right track and now you have two good flashes
 
Sigh...Unfortunately, your instructor doesn't know the difference between Feet and Meters

Not that he doesn't know the difference of both, but I guess he didn't know that they were rated in both meters and feet? Either way, he should have known the difference and I'm a little put off by that. It's odd too, because his work is absolutely amazing and he is the head of the department.

A lot iof time with instructors, I know I do this, is they want you to use certain equipment because they are familar with them. So if he has to take time because he doesn't know how to change or tell you to change the power setting on your flash, It takes up class time and also makes him look stupid if he fumbles with something.

The Yongnuo actually has in feet abou 99 so it would fit criteria. But even with those numbers every manufacturer uses differnt ISIO and focal lengths for their ratings so it's hard to know. But you're on the right track and now you have two good flashes

I will say from first hand experience, that the SB700 is way more powerful than the Yongnuo flash but the Yongnuo is rated higher. There's not really a comparison to the brightness. My wife was yelling at me because the flash was so bright lol.

Also, what you said is exactly what I was thinking when I bought the SB-700. There's nothing worse than that one student that has to deviate from the plan and make things harder so I bit the bullet and bought the flash. I'm not mad about it though lol.
 
It sounds like when he said "that flash isn't powerful enough"....he really meant "I would rather you had a 'brand name' flash".

Once you really understand the principles involved, it probably doesn't matter....but I'm sure he doesn't want to be teaching you (having to learn himself) the little intricacies of every flash ever made.
 
Yeah, you can use the SB-700 in conjunction with the CLS, and use the Yongnuo as a fill with your triggers. You should be all set to use both off camera.
Are you sure that's right? To be able to use CLS the pop-up flash has to be used to communicate with CLS-compatible speedlights. When the pop-up flash is up I'm pretty sure the hot shoe is disabled. I don't know that for certain though.
 
Yeah, you can use the SB-700 in conjunction with the CLS, and use the Yongnuo as a fill with your triggers. You should be all set to use both off camera.
Are you sure that's right? To be able to use CLS the pop-up flash has to be used to communicate with CLS-compatible speedlights. When the pop-up flash is up I'm pretty sure the hot shoe is disabled. I don't know that for certain though.

Ok so after playing with it since the last post, you are both right. The CLS does need the pop up flash, but the remote setting is called SU4 which the SB-700 can be triggered by the flash of the YN467.
 

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