looking for my 1st flash

[pdirestajr]

What is your purpose of high speed sync? Is it really needed with outdoor portraits?

If it is because you want to use wide apertures for artistic effect, which will kick your shutter speed way up in outdoor light, and that is the only real issue, why not just use an ND filter?

That will allow you to control the DOF and ambient light without the need for hss.

[briansquibb]

Many Pro's shooting e.g. fashion outdoors/indoors now use long lenses.

I used to think the 135 was the ideal length for ff, but am now shooting with a 200 if that is possible.

I would think 3 lights are sufficient for most standard portraits more than that it is for creativity/effects.

or really big groups of people might use more than 3 but i think 3 would cover a pretty big group (not using HSS obviously)
bunch of speedlights on stands with shoot throughs evenly spaced covering the whole group ETTL and its nice and easy

I cover a stage with 4 lights with 7ft parabolas from the front row of seats (I get to take the pictures during a dress rehersal

[briansquibb]

What is your purpose of high speed sync? Is it really needed with outdoor portraits?

If it is because you want to use wide apertures for artistic effect, which will kick your shutter speed way up in outdoor light, and that is the only real issue, why not just use an ND filter?

That will allow you to control the DOF and ambient light without the need for hss.

I use hss outdoors to catch the hair blowing in the wind. About 1/2000 seems to be ideal

Flash outdoors is no more than infill on the whole, unless you are shooting contre jour

[wickidwombat]

here is a couple of inspiring vids

Desert Shoot w/Joe McNally	Small | Large

The Desert, Part II	Small | Large

[bycostello]

i'd get quantums if i was to start flash shopping again...

[briansquibb]

I am looking to get a gang like Joe McNally has in the video - also described in Syl Arena's books.

Obviously I would be using Canon gear. I would like to have two poles of 8 for starters (have tried a pole of 6 which worked well)

I am buying used speedlites where possible - 580EX are quite cheap here - although I notice that 550EX are almost being given away now so I might get a basket full of those

[K3nt]

I use both a 430EX2 and a Nissin Di866 mkII. Haven't had a problem with either one. I might get some more of the Nissin ones as they offer a little bit more power but at a more reasonable price point.
If I had unlimited money I'd get 12 of the new 600RT's. 

[wickidwombat]

I am looking to get a gang like Joe McNally has in the video - also described in Syl Arena's books.

Obviously I would be using Canon gear. I would like to have two poles of 8 for starters (have tried a pole of 6 which worked well)

I am buying used speedlites where possible - 580EX are quite cheap here - although I notice that 550EX are almost being given away now so I might get a basket full of those

while it is very cool i dont think you need it anymore given the odins power 2 x 400W monolights at full power driven by odins up to 1/8000 sec or whatever speed you want are going to provide tons of power those setups are a few years old before these new tech triggers came out so the built in HSS funtion was the only way to do it

many ways to skin that cat
and how much would all those speedlights cost!  i have 6 580 exii now which i think is enough ?

[briansquibb]

I am looking to get a gang like Joe McNally has in the video - also described in Syl Arena's books.

Obviously I would be using Canon gear. I would like to have two poles of 8 for starters (have tried a pole of 6 which worked well)

I am buying used speedlites where possible - 580EX are quite cheap here - although I notice that 550EX are almost being given away now so I might get a basket full of those

 
while it is very cool i dont think you need it anymore given the odins power 2 x 400W monolights at full power driven by odins up to 1/8000 sec or whatever speed you want are going to provide tons of power those setups are a few years old before these new tech triggers came out so the built in HSS funtion was the only way to do it

many ways to skin that cat
and how much would all those speedlights cost!  i have 6 580 exii now which i think is enough ?

Ganglighting gives a very different light than single source - that is why I want it, for the IQ. My PW drive each speedlight at max power@1/8000. With 6 lights I can fire at low speed (5fps) for a burst as each light uses so little power on each flash.

Once I get myself organised I will do sample pics.

[april]

Presumably you're going to be shooting wide open with fast primes @ 1/1000s or faster because as you say you'll be shooting outdoors (daylight) and primarily portraits, so really shallow DOF, but you said which camera you intend to use but not what glass you already have. The reason I say this is that if you have a zoom lens like a 70-200mm f2.8L II IS USM already, then you can achieve a similar look @f2.8 (from a distance) as you'd get from say a typical portrait lens at f2 or even f1.4 (up close).

If it was my 1st flash I'd be looking to try cheaper alternatives like the 430EXII or the YN-565EX to see what the real-world limitations are, and if those don't work out, then opt or the flagship canon models. Personally I use a couple of Yongnuo YN-565EX's mounted on stands shooting through white umbrellas and my 7D triggers them up to 1/300s and like the 580EXII's the power setting is adjustable from 1/128 up to 1/1 in one-third increments.

Many Pro's shooting e.g. fashion outdoors/indoors now use long lenses. Otherwise, if your lens collection is mainly short-zooms or primes and your budget is tight (having just spent a lot on a 5D3) then you might want to consider continuous lighting options (can be quite inexpensive).

But the real advantage of avoiding HSS and going with 3rd-party flashguns for the time-being is, that you can buy 3 or 4 YN-565's for the price of 1 x 580XII....then you have Key Light, Fill Light, Back-Light & Hair-Light options that multiple speedlights give you.

that's a very good point THANK YOU! I have 70-200mm IS II, 24-105, 60mm macro & 50mm1.8

What is your purpose of high speed sync? Is it really needed with outdoor portraits?

If it is because you want to use wide apertures for artistic effect, which will kick your shutter speed way up in outdoor light, and that is the only real issue, why not just use an ND filter?

That will allow you to control the DOF and ambient light without the need for hss.

thanks dude ! you've just reminded me of my other gears and yes you're right I always shoot with wide aperture on portraits. I'll be trying a combination of both ND filter + flash & I'll see where it will lead me hopefully I could borrow some flashes from my mates to test it with.

[wickidwombat]

I am looking to get a gang like Joe McNally has in the video - also described in Syl Arena's books.

Obviously I would be using Canon gear. I would like to have two poles of 8 for starters (have tried a pole of 6 which worked well)

I am buying used speedlites where possible - 580EX are quite cheap here - although I notice that 550EX are almost being given away now so I might get a basket full of those

 
while it is very cool i dont think you need it anymore given the odins power 2 x 400W monolights at full power driven by odins up to 1/8000 sec or whatever speed you want are going to provide tons of power those setups are a few years old before these new tech triggers came out so the built in HSS funtion was the only way to do it

many ways to skin that cat
and how much would all those speedlights cost!  i have 6 580 exii now which i think is enough ?

Ganglighting gives a very different light than single source - that is why I want it, for the IQ. My PW drive each speedlight at max power@1/8000. With 6 lights I can fire at low speed (5fps) for a burst as each light uses so little power on each flash.

Once I get myself organised I will do sample pics.

true its a much harder light though, lots of contrast
also these
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Flash-Battery-Pack-SF-18-Yongnuo-Flash-Speedlite-YN-560-YN-565-EX-/180751364543?pt=UK_Camera_Chargers_Docks&hash=item2a159ef1bf
can really help boost the cycle time of your flashes and they will shoot all day without changing batteries

[briansquibb]

Ganglighting gives a very different light than single source - that is why I want it, for the IQ. My PW drive each speedlight at max power@1/8000. With 6 lights I can fire at low speed (5fps) for a burst as each light uses so little power on each flash.

Once I get myself organised I will do sample pics.

true its a much harder light though, lots of contrast
also these
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Flash-Battery-Pack-SF-18-Yongnuo-Flash-Speedlite-YN-560-YN-565-EX-/180751364543?pt=UK_Camera_Chargers_Docks&hash=item2a159ef1bf
can really help boost the cycle time of your flashes and they will shoot all day without changing batteries
[/quote]

No reason why a diffuser cant be used. McNally was using triple heads with a shoot though - no reason why they couldn't all use shoot throughs or  diffusers

[wickidwombat]

Ganglighting gives a very different light than single source - that is why I want it, for the IQ. My PW drive each speedlight at max power@1/8000. With 6 lights I can fire at low speed (5fps) for a burst as each light uses so little power on each flash.

Once I get myself organised I will do sample pics.

true its a much harder light though, lots of contrast
also these
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Flash-Battery-Pack-SF-18-Yongnuo-Flash-Speedlite-YN-560-YN-565-EX-/180751364543?pt=UK_Camera_Chargers_Docks&hash=item2a159ef1bf
can really help boost the cycle time of your flashes and they will shoot all day without changing batteries

No reason why a diffuser cant be used. McNally was using triple heads with a shoot though - no reason why they couldn't all use shoot throughs or  diffusers
[/quote]

true you can just strap a 2m x 1m diffuser panel to the front of each tree

actually i can see you in something like this...

Human Light Suit: Burning Man 2010	Small | Large

[briansquibb]

Here is my first venture - a couple of years ago which was my trigger to move to PW

[wickidwombat]

hehe i remember that pic did you get any shadow cast from your head?