itsjustbrandy
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2007
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Indianapolis
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
First off, a great discussion from everybody involved! For the OP's latest questions which are "does anybody know about a deal that comes with ''2 stands, 2 umbrellas, & the umbrella brackets''? I'd like the umbrellas to be white transparent with the optional black covers to come with.... being of decent quality? OR should I just purchase ''2'' of everything I listed earlier..."
Answer: Yes, exactly such a deal exists, from MPEX.com and also from B&H Photo, I believe. Midwest Photo Exchange or MPEX.com, but I think the umbrella brackets,light stand, and umbrella model you list will come in under the price of the "two kit" packages sold through MPEX or B&H and Adorama.
An optical slave or slave trigger is a small device that can "see" a bright, rapidly-peaking light source and trigger the electronic flash unit it is connected to. Slaves take several forms: some have a hot-shoe type mount, others are plug-in style, one is called a peanut slave. Vivitar and Wein make a lot of slaves. Wein might be the best-known, oldest brand of quality slave. A shoe-mount slave fits on the foot of a speedlight,making it usable with any shoe-mount speedlight, but adding in another two connections to the setup overall. Small, peanut style slaves and other small slaves usually need a PC cord connection between slave and flash. Slaves work on an "optical" basis which allows anything fitted with a slave to become part of the group; Nikon's CLS works on a "wireless" system, which demands "smart" flash units dedicated to the Nikon CLS protocol system.
You do not need Cactus or other triggers to fire more than one speedlight. Pocket Wizard is the best, but also the most costly.
You know, Adorama's FlashPoint monolight, the base model, is $99, which makes it about the same cost as a 285HV flash + umbrella bracket. The advantage of a monolight is the modeling light, allowing you to visually see what the light is doing, and where the shadows fall. You need AC power or a battery/sine wave inverter to run a monolight outdoors, but I think it might be easier to learn with modeling lights vs speedlights.
I'm a big fan of pack-and-head studio lighting, but speedlights are battery-powered. There are plusses and minuses for both studio flash and speedlight lighting equipment.
This is very helpful Derrel, thank you!
And I will try working with monolights next, but first I think that I am going to go with the Vivitar 285hv that you had recommended earlier.
How do you feel about buying a used one, well.. a used flash in general, from amazon?
And to go along with it, I'm gonna grab the Wein Slave that Keith recommended:
Here is a good optical slave unit for 285HV's: [URL]http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/63987-REG/Wein_W990400_Combination_Slave_and_Foot.html#features[/URL]
..but I found it new on Amazon for 50...
Here is an Impact 2 light stands, 2 32" umbrellas and brackets kit: Impact | Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit | | B&H Photo Video
I'd get 2, 45" and 2 60" umbrellas too.
I saw this earlier, and it looks like a good deal. But after doing lots of reading, I found that an umbrella around 45'' is what will suit my needs... so if I buy them seperately.. stand, bracket & umbrella..x2 - it's only 130.. not too bad.. so I think that's what I'll go with. Thanks for the help :thumbup:
Now, if you are willing to take the time it needs, you can probably make a living shooting flowers and nature. Can someone tell me how to make a living just reading books?
& once you figure this one out, tell me the secret and sign me up too
But yes, so now I am just curious how everyone feels on buying used flashes? and online at that... amazon most likely, but I won't be able to inspect it prior to buying it :er:
Thanks to everyone for being sooo helpful! :hug::