Cheap manual flash to use for fill lighting...

[kentandersen]

youngnou is the way to go.

Even the cheapest brings excelent results. You can manualy adjust the amount of light even on the cheapest.

I have one, and it is perfect for most situation.

[dexstrose]

You mention you didn't like the shadows. Did you play around with the light moving it closer so the light would wrap around Your daughter to get rid of unwanted shadows?

I would also try a reflector before jumping in to get another light. You can pickup a cheap 42" 5 in one for about 18 bucks at amazon.

[jdramirez]

I don't understand where the ND filter comes in.

He wants to shoot his 85/1.8 wide open.  To keep the shutter speed below xsync, in many situations, he'd need an ND filter to achieve this.

 that's exactly it...  so the  sync  speed for the mkiii  is 1/200  of a second... I  was  shooting at 1/2500  the other day,  so I think I would need a 16x nd  filter..  or  somewhere close to get  to 1/200. 

 so maybe I just buy a 430 ii.   Damn it.

Ok.  You mentioned umbrellas, infants and sidelighting with a strobe and a modifier...  I assumed you were in an indoors studio situation.

 it is the living room,  but the wife reneged  on her agreement,  so now it is called the billiard room out of spite.

I feel your pain.  I just moved all my camera equipment out of my ‘studio’ to put a crib in it.

So you’re shooting indoors and still pulling 1/2500?  If you have (presumably sun) light that bright in your “studio” then why aren’t you using your 580 for fill light?

 it isn't that bright in the room...  bright enough to get 1/250,  due,  but I  want some of the shadows from the side lightning.   I'm bored taking the same photo of my new born...  this is her sleeping...  and here and is sleeping...  oh and this one of her sleeping is my favorite.

[jdramirez]

You mention you didn't like the shadows. Did you play around with the light moving it closer so the light would wrap around Your daughter to get rid of unwanted shadows?

I would also try a reflector before jumping in to get another light. You can pickup a cheap 42" 5 in one for about 18 bucks at amazon.

I have such a limited amount of time to play with light source distances.   two hours seems like a ton of time,  but not really....

[Skirball]

You mention you didn't like the shadows. Did you play around with the light moving it closer so the light would wrap around Your daughter to get rid of unwanted shadows?

I would also try a reflector before jumping in to get another light. You can pickup a cheap 42" 5 in one for about 18 bucks at amazon.

I have such a limited amount of time to play with light source distances.   two hours seems like a ton of time,  but not really....

If two hours seems like a ton of time then getting more lights is not the answer.

[verysimplejason]

YN 560 II or III.  I had one I use as my primary flash.  Very cheap but very powerful.  It's also easy to use.  I've used one in a concert of my daughter and it can almost illuminate the whole stage.  It's also very flexible that I can easily use it for macro shooting.

[jdramirez]

You mention you didn't like the shadows. Did you play around with the light moving it closer so the light would wrap around Your daughter to get rid of unwanted shadows?

I would also try a reflector before jumping in to get another light. You can pickup a cheap 42" 5 in one for about 18 bucks at amazon.

I have such a limited amount of time to play with light source distances.   two hours seems like a ton of time,  but not really....

If two hours seems like a ton of time then getting more lights is not the answer.

 In baby time,  it is like fifteen minutes...

[dexstrose]

Maybe this could be helpful before buying another light. Gives you a basic of light modifiers. Or look for one on the inverse square law.

http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013691/article/Light-Modifiers-AdoramaTV

[jdramirez]

Maybe this could be helpful before buying another light. Gives you a basic of light modifiers. Or look for one on the inverse square law.

http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013691/article/Light-Modifiers-AdoramaTV

I saw something similar recently... I thought it was interesting but I don't see myself getting the 72  inch  umbrella anytime soon.  I'll give it a look when I'm not at work.

[privatebydesign]

Window light/ambient with or without reflectors is the easiest and cheapest way to lower contrast.

The Canon 550EX secondhand is the best bang for the buck with regards HSS and unbreakable full Canon compatible bargain flashes. Get one off eBay for under $150 and sell it next year, if you want, for $140.

[Marsu42]

Window light/ambient with or without reflectors is the easiest and cheapest way to lower contrast.

+1, but you need a ff camera for that because indoors with ambient from a window you're reaching iso 1600-3200 in no time with sufficient dof & fast x-sync for portrait - I just tried that with the 60d, nice shots, but horrible noise that drowned a lot of details. Actually, that was the last drop in the bucket for me to order the 6d :-p

[Skirball]

Window light/ambient with or without reflectors is the easiest and cheapest way to lower contrast.

+1, but you need a ff camera for that because indoors with ambient from a window you're reaching iso 1600-3200 in no time with sufficient dof & fast x-sync for portrait - I just tried that with the 60d, nice shots, but horrible noise that drowned a lot of details. Actually, that was the last drop in the bucket for me to order the 6d :-p

He said he was having the opposite problem, too much light.  If you’re using HSS because you can’t stay below your max sync speed and shooting at ISO 1600, you’re doing it wrong.

[Marsu42]

He said he was having the opposite problem, too much light.  If you’re using HSS because you can’t stay below your max sync speed and shooting at ISO 1600, you’re doing it wrong.

Wupps, I should start reading the op's posts :-p ... but you're correct, I just couldn't imagine this situation, at least unless you need a very fast sync speed for freezing motion.

[jdramirez]

for reference,  most of these are night shots indoors.  I  work traditional hours and with the son going down earlier and earlier,  flash is a necessity.   bouncing it off the walls works,  but I'd like to be able to do if camera effectively.   it seems like one off those things that should simply come naturally. 

[Skirball]

for reference,  most of these are night shots indoors.  I  work traditional hours and with the son going down earlier and earlier,  flash is a necessity.   bouncing it off the walls works,  but I'd like to be able to do if camera effectively.   it seems like one off those things that should simply come naturally.

Then just get the cheap manual flash, you don't need HSS.