Cheap manual flash to use for fill lighting...

[jdramirez]

so I have been side lighting photos of my infant daughter using a 580 exii, an umbrella, and a yongnuo 622c... and even though I can't access all the ettl features immediately (I'm pretty sure it is operator error), I think the shadows from being side lit aren't exactly what I'm looking for.

so I wasn't too get a cheap manual flash that I can couple with my rouge flash bender to add some fill flash or maybe even side lit fromtheother side using a wire that attached to the hot shoe.

I was thinking about one of the newer brand flashes for 40 bucks, but once I nut it it will only be worth twenty bucks if I sell it. I hate losing money on gear... it drives me nuts. so I was thinking, maybe I should buy something like a 430 ex ii which will retain its value, but 200 v 40 seems like a bad use of resources.

I see really old manual speed lites on craigslist, but the head doesn't articulate backwards...

so the question is... what is the right price to pay for a manual flash that will only be used inside the home for fill light.

 

[jdramirez]

it just occurred to me that I like to shoot at f 1.8 so I use high speed sync to raise my shutter speed so it is properly exposed... and a cheap manual flash won't hss, so that won't work... unless I invest in a nd filter.

 

[Skirball]

What's the right price to pay? As cheap as possible? Kind of a subjective question. Personally I'd go for the cheapo, if I already had a decent flash like the 580. In fact, that's exactly what I did when I had just a 580. But many would argue that you should get a 600. You're really worrying about resale value of a $40 flash?

I don't know much about Newer, but Yongnuo has a variety of flashes from full manual no zoom, to their 580 knockoff. Choose the features you want and grab one. I have one of the ultra basic models, I usually just use it to light backgrounds or as a hair light (snooted). It works fine, it cost me next to nothing, and if I need more features I just use one of my other flashes.

Also a personal preference, but with something as sedentary as an infant I'd definitely be shooting manual anyway.

In the mean time: with a subject as small, and as stationary as an infant you should be able to use a reflector quite successfully for fill light.

 

[Skirball]

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

 

[7enderbender]

so I have been side lighting photos of my infant daughter using a 580 exii, an umbrella, and a yongnuo 622c... and even though I can't access all the ettl features immediately (I'm pretty sure it is operator error), I think the shadows from being side lit aren't exactly what I'm looking for.

so I wasn't too get a cheap manual flash that I can couple with my rouge flash bender to add some fill flash or maybe even side lit fromtheother side using a wire that attached to the hot shoe.

I was thinking about one of the newer brand flashes for 40 bucks, but once I nut it it will only be worth twenty bucks if I sell it. I hate losing money on gear... it drives me nuts. so I was thinking, maybe I should buy something like a 430 ex ii which will retain its value, but 200 v 40 seems like a bad use of resources.

I see really old manual speed lites on craigslist, but the head doesn't articulate backwards...

so the question is... what is the right price to pay for a manual flash that will only be used inside the home for fill light.

Here's my take (based on some experience and experimentation with Speedlites - something I was completely new to not even 3 years ago). It's always great to have options. Having ETTL and Hi Speed Sync can be very beneficial. You may find that setting things manually is preferable. But even then it's nice to be able to control things via the camera menu. So there's you're answer if another Canon flash or fully compatible third party (such as Metz) is better than a cheap manual flash that doesn't support that nor Hi Speed sync for those saturated outdoor shoots in bright daylight.

BUT: if the goal is just to have nice fill I would start with adding a reflector to your existing setup. That usually works really well even with just one flash.

There is some good reading material available on the web and in books (e.g. Sil Arena's books or the basics covered on http://strobist.blogspot.com/ )

 

[RGF]

as far as I know, the cheap flashes for canon are manual only. No E-ttl. YOu will need to set the power down - trial and error.

 

[jdramirez]

You're really worrying about resale value of a $40 flash?

worry about the pennies and soon you won't have any... you'll have dollars.

 

[bvukich]

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.

 

[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.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

so I wasn't too get a cheap manual flash that I can couple with my rouge flash bender to add some fill flash or maybe even side lit fromtheother side using a wire that attached to the hot shoe.

Try this ... costs only $43 http://yn.eachshot.com/product/yongnuo-yn-460-yn460-flash-speedlight-for_canon/
OR if you are willing to pay another $30 more, you can get one with a metal hot shoe, like this one http://yn.eachshot.com/product/yongnuo-yn560iii-yn-560-iii-ultra-long-range-wireless-flash-speedlite_canon/

Happy shopping

 

[jdramirez]

for the record, I hate typing on my phone. it is amazing y'all could make sense of the gibberish.

 

[Skirball]

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.

 

[Skirball]

for the record, I hate typing on my phone. it is amazing y'all could make sense of the gibberish.

It's not easy.

 

[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.

 

[Skirball]

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?

 

[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.