Messages

1

Lighting / Re: Help with choosing a soft box

« on: December 07, 2012, 12:26:48 PM »

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience using the Einstein with Speedlights.  I'm thinking I will either need to use a PC sync cord for the Einstein and RF wireless for the Speedlights.  I'd love a shoot-through wireless solution which I can mount on my camera which controls the Einstein and then have the 600EX or ST-E3 mounted on top.   Has anyone attempted that?

If you're working indoors, you can just toggle the optical slave sensor on the Einstein so it triggers on the 600 EX (E-TTL pre-flash turned off, of course). When I'm at home and I need to take a quick product shot, I often just throw a 580 EX II on my camera instead of breaking out PocketWizards or the 12 foot pc-sync cord.

2

Lighting / Re: Help with lighting setups for portraits...

« on: December 07, 2012, 02:45:59 AM »

I bought a 580 EX II Speedlite early on, then got a second one along with PocketWizards when I decided to start messing around with off-camera flash and portraits. But I quickly realized small flash is expensive. So I ended up going with large flash / studio strobes because the cost to flash power ratio was far better with studio strobes.

I'd really love to go small flash for location shooting, but getting 4 to 8 Speedlites is way too expensive when I can get the same flash power out of a couple of studio strobes and battery packs.

For outdoor shoots, I operated on one light for quite a while (see: http://www.ocabj.net/abducted-by-alien-bees/). Use the sun for your rim and you have 'two' lights.

3

Lighting / Re: Current state of 5Dmk3 compatibility with triggers and strobes

« on: November 07, 2012, 06:50:45 PM »

I've been using the TT1/TT5 for a few years now, but the only reason I started off with them was because I was using a pair of 580 EX II's at the time (with a 7D). I used that only for a short time before I switched to Alien Bees / Einsteins. I retained the TT1/TT5 units and added the PowerMC2 for the Einsteins which give me remote power control via the AC3 Zone Controller.

So going back to just Speedlites, I would just go with dumb triggers (non-ETTL). I don't care for off-camera ETTL, but what I do like is being able to remotely set the power output of the flash without having to touch the flash itself. Not sure what else out there gives you this capability with a Speedlite (the TT1/TT5/AC3 combo will do this).

Note: I *did* take awhile for PW to add 5D Mark III compatibility, but they finally got there (and there were some workarounds if all you wanted was AC3 support).

http://www.ocabj.net/pocketwizard-beta-support-for-the-canon-5d-mark-iii/

4

Lighting / Re: Anyone with experience with WingLights?

« on: September 13, 2012, 01:23:15 AM »

For the most part, he's happy with it for running and gunning. Obviously, we prefer to run studio strobes with large modifiers, but for stuff like car shows and what not, Speedlites and brackets or some other on-camera flash modifier is being used.

5

Lighting / Re: Anyone with experience with WingLights?

« on: September 12, 2012, 06:21:31 PM »

I don't have one and never tried it, but a guy I know has one and I know for a fact all the shots in the link below (Facebook; public album) were shot with a winglight (I think with a 430 EX II).

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268650799903265.45729.100002750425253&type=1

If the above link doesn't work, this single image should load:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/526605_269180026517009_204185237_n.jpg

6

Lighting / Re: Pocket Wizard Canon firmware update 6.150 problem

« on: August 21, 2012, 12:07:12 PM »

Just updated Mini TT1 & Flex TT5 firmware to 6.150 for Canon Speedlites. Now flashes can't be triggered. When camera is fired Mini TT1 blinks red twice. Have used different combinations of 580 EX and EXII and 600 RT. Have reinstalled firmware in all three TT5 units and changed battery in Mini TT1. Any ideas?

I've noticed that Firmware updates, whether an upgrade or downgrade, could result in the PW's not working 100% correctly. So I got in the habit of always doing a factory reset after a firmware change, then manually setting all my configs (and duplicating) as appropriate.

7

Lighting / Re: FlexTT5 and 5DmkIII

« on: August 21, 2012, 12:05:32 PM »

It is the 1DX compatibility that I want.

 Me too. I now have a 600, a 580exII , an einstein, and 2 B800's that I use 3 flextt5's, a mini, and power MC2 that I can not yet REALLY use.

 I have to set the strobes to trigger using the eye on them. inside that is fine but outside it can be tough. my triggers stacked together right now are a $900 paperweight lol.

You *can* use the MiniTT1 on the 5DIII to trigger Einsteins with the PowerMC2. I know because I'm doing it. The only thing is that the AC3 ZoneController won't work if you have it piggybacking on the TT1/TT5 that's on the hotshoe. It was working fine in version 6, but after they released 6.021 beta (and all later releases), it killed the AC3 functionality with the 5DIII.

But it will still do basic triggering.

Although, what I was doing as a workaround if I wanted to use my Einsteins+PowerMC2 with remote power output control, is putting the TT1 on camera, and then placing the AC3 on a FlexTT5 in my pocket. Then I simply did the power adjustment on the AC3+FlexTT5 in hand. Since the TT1+5DIII wasn't sending any power settings even with the in-camera FEC, my AC3+TT5 settings weren't being overridden.

Not optimal, but it works and I can use my 5DIII and not have to fall back on my 5DII.

8

Software & Accessories / Re: Blackrapid Strap for Left-handed photographer

« on: July 17, 2012, 12:43:17 PM »

You ever use a single point sling for a carbine/rifle? Lots of people wear the sling so the gun can be rested on the side of the body.

The left handed sport strap is for people who want the camera to hang on the left side of the body. Doesn't matter if you're right handed or left. Having the camera on the left side of the body might be a better option for right-handed people since it keeps the strong side of the body clear.

9

Software & Accessories / Re: RSS L-plate for 5DIII w/ BG-E11 grip

« on: July 14, 2012, 12:03:32 AM »

I got mine in earlier this week: http://www.ocabj.net/really-right-stuff-l-plate-for-gripped-canon-5d-mark-iii/

No fit issues whatsoever.

10

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

« on: July 13, 2012, 10:52:33 AM »

This is a very fun lens. Definitely glad I bought one. http://www.ocabj.net/canon-ef-40mm-f2-8-stm-pancake-lens/