Basic studio lighting setup

[undesign]

I want to setup a very basic lighting studio - most likely in the garage. I want to keep the initial outlay costs low whilst I'm playing and experimenting - and antogonising my wife, daughter, cat and whoever else is willing to be subjected to my testing torture.

What I have -

- 430ex speedlite
- 270ex speedlite
- remote wireless flash triggers
- tripod

What I think I need -

- lighting stand (or two)
- umbrella (one of those combined reflective and shoot-through types)
- reflector
- back drops
- another wireless trigger for the second flash

For now I want to make do with the flashes I have. I imagine the 430ex and a reflector would suffice as the main lighting. Perhaps I can I use the 270ex to blow out background shadows, separation or something else? Advice would be appreciated.

Anything else you would consider a necessity? Any advice or suggestions is appreciated!

 

[koffiejunkie]

Which triggers do you have? Have you used the 270EX with them? I have the optical (bubble type) ones, and the 270EX needs to be turned off and on again between shots - it doesn't trigger a second time otherwise.

With regard to a lighting setup, I'm probably the last person you should take advice from But I have this stand, this umbrella adapter, and this umbrella. Two of each, actually

The umbrella is white, and it has cover that's silver on the inside and black on the outside. So you can shoot through it with the cover off, or reflect off it with the cover on. The thread on the umbrella adaptor can be changed between the wider one needed for the stand, or the narrower one to go on a tripod. So this combination gives me a lot of flexibility while I'm experimenting, for a pretty low cost.

 

[undesign]

Yongnuo 603 triggers. I haven't tested them with the 270ex yet. One issue is obviously manual control. I did read somewhere that you can set manual output via your camera and the 270ex remembers that for all subsequent outputs when off camera. A pita, but at least something. Thing is, since I'm stuck with the 270ex, I can just as well try to make use of it.

For the rest, sounds exactly like what I had in mind. Thanks!

 

[koffiejunkie]

Yongnuo 603 triggers.

Cool! Let me know how those work. They're nice on the pocket I almost bought something similar a while back, but then I got the 7D and more recently the 580EX II, so I can do TTL without any wires. I still don't like the strobing with the pop-up flash (even if it doesn't fire on the exposure) but I find the optical triggers (the bubble ones) work really well, so I only need to have one flash on a sync cord.

Thing is, since I'm stuck with the 270ex, I can just as well try to make use of it.

You can always use a 3rd party flash like the Sigma EF 530 DG (or even the Super) model, which has manual controls and puts out light by the bucketload. Just make sure you get one that hasn't been flashed for the new cameras - mine has been inconsistent since then.

 

[bwana]

Cool! Let me know how those work. They're nice on the pocket I almost bought something similar a while back, but then I got the 7D and more recently the 580EX II, so I can do TTL without any wires. I still don't like the strobing with the pop-up flash (even if it doesn't fire on the exposure) but I find the optical triggers (the bubble ones) work really well, so I only need to have one flash on a sync cord.



You can always use a 3rd party flash like the Sigma EF 530 DG (or even the Super) model, which has manual controls and puts out light by the bucketload. Just make sure you get one that hasn't been flashed for the new cameras - mine has been inconsistent since then.

The nice thing about the sigma is you can set it as an optical slave so you only need the one trigger.

BTW you can get a plain white umbrella from Jet that is perfect for the job for only R20.

 

[koffiejunkie]

The nice thing about the sigma is you can set it as an optical slave so you only need the one trigger.

Oh yes, I forgot about that. It's a bit fiddly though. I find it easier to just stick the bubble in there

 

[undesign]

Thanks guys. Going to pick up a few things today and see how it goes.

A cheap 3rd party flash makes a lot of sense, something to consider down the line. The optical slave makes sense, then I don't need another trigger.

Koffie, what is a bubble trigger?

 

[koffiejunkie]

Thanks guys. Going to pick up a few things today and see how it goes.

A cheap 3rd party flash makes a lot of sense, something to consider down the line. The optical slave makes sense, then I don't need another trigger.

Koffie, what is a bubble trigger?

It's just an optical slave. It picks up a light flash and triggers the flash. Looks like this:

The bottom bit fits on a hotshoe, but it is not a sender, only a receiver. It's just built like that so that you can put it in a flash bracket. There's usually a screw mount too.

 

[undesign]

It's just an optical slave. It picks up a light flash and triggers the flash.

Ah thanks, that's nifty!

 

[koffiejunkie]

Ah thanks, that's nifty!

And cheap. I think I paid £3 on eBay.

They also solve another issue for me: In the old days flashguns had a very high trigger voltage - typically above 100v but some as high as 300V. Modern DSLRs and flashes work at a much lower voltage. IIRC Canon uses 5v. So what happens when you put an old high voltage flash on your DSLR is the smoke comes out and your camera stops working.

But these bubble triggers are not sensitive to this, or if it does fry the trigger, you're not losing too much.

 

[bitesize]

don't forget an umbrella holder that has a hot shoe. also, do youself a favour and get maybe two male to male spigots and two female to female spigots. i make my own studio lights, macro ring etc (i'm broke most of the time lol, so need to crack a few brain cells) and those come in handy. if you are ever interested have a look at www.diyphotography.net. best of luck.

 

[undesign]

Just bought this umbrella, stand and head special -

http://www.cameraworld.co.za/Home/tabid/104/List/0/ProductID/9042/Default.aspx?SortField=UnitCost%2cProductName

and also a 5-in-1 reflector and one of koffie's bubble triggers. Can wait to try it out.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Cool!

So just so you know, when you use the bubble trigger, your master flash have to be in manual mode. If you shoot it in TTL mode, the bubble catches the TTL metering strobes (yes, there are several strobes for the exposure happens!) and you end up getting no light when you make the exposure.

 

[undesign]

Cool!

So just so you know, when you use the bubble trigger, your master flash have to be in manual mode. If you shoot it in TTL mode, the bubble catches the TTL metering strobes (yes, there are several strobes for the exposure happens!) and you end up getting no light when you make the exposure.

Thanks. The 430ex will be in manual as the Yongnuo triggers don't do TTL.

 

[undesign]

Which triggers do you have? Have you used the 270EX with them? I have the optical (bubble type) ones, and the 270EX needs to be turned off and on again between shots - it doesn't trigger a second time otherwise.

Hmmm...exact same issue. I'll have to get rid of it after all.

 

[bwana]

What camera do you have?

 

[undesign]

What camera do you have?

550D

 

[koffiejunkie]

Hmmm...exact same issue. I'll have to get rid of it after all.

That's too bad! I believe the 270EX II can act as a slave (and as a trigger) but you might want to confirm that before committing cash.

 

[undesign]

That's too bad! I believe the 270EX II can act as a slave (and as a trigger) but you might want to confirm that before committing cash.

Going to look around for a second-hand flash, or buy one of the Sigmas - they seem well priced and better powered than the price equivalent 270EX II.

 

[bwana]

Going to look around for a second-hand flash, or buy one of the Sigmas - they seem well priced and better powered than the price equivalent 270EX II.

As a remote flash my sigma is better than either of my canons because it functions as an optical slave with only a couple button presses.