Wildlife Photography , To flash or not?

[eml58]

Thanks Edward. Wow! 320 US$ for the ring clamp and 260 for the 3/4th clamp and 130 for the extender! That is a lot of $$$

Hi RPT, Yes, hence my comment about being kept poor, but the gear is just well Engineered, well made & works, and I really like the RRS after sales service, I've not had much at all in the way of issues, but any I have had have been resolved Positively & without any concerns, an advantage I feel of dealing in this day & age with a family owned & Operated Company.

 

[Marsu42]

You mean with a flash bracket? Which one do you have?

Personally, I always fill-flash wildlife (unless I get green/red eyes) because I like background lit objects ... I've got a Demb flash bracket with a 600rt (200mm reflector) which is rather inexpensive, let's you only fill the shadow side and is the only flexible way I know of to prevent horrible drop shadows.

 

[Loswr]

Hi RPT, Yes, I use the RRS Full Ring Bracket (FR-91-QR) with the Extender slider (FA-QREX2) that allows the Flash attached to be set at any point around the Lens and extends out a further 6" to 10" (20" if you connect two), I've used two 600EX-RT's on this Ring , but generally use just the one combined with the ST-E3-RT on the Camera.

I use the 600EX-RT with a Better Beamer on the RRS B91-QR with FA-QREX2 on my 600 II. I've been using the OC-E3, but I have a SnapQR cold shoe, and triggering with the ST-E3 would be a little cleaner than the coiled cord - great idea!

 

[deletemyaccount]

Another consideration for a flash extender is the "Harbor Digital XT Flash Extender Kit".

Pros

No assembly required
Extremely light
Won't burn flash head

Cons

Bulky

 

[Marsu42]

I've been using the OC-E3, but I have a SnapQR cold shoe, and triggering with the ST-E3 would be a little cleaner than the coiled cord - great idea!

After breaking my 2nd (China copy) oc-e3 cord I also switched to triggering the on-flash-bracket coldshoe flash with another flash on the camera hotshoe - its heavier, but the cable is messy and I can use the 2nd flash for high power hss or bounce if I want to.

 

[rpt]

Eml, Marsu, Neuro, thanks for the input.

 

[mackguyver]

Another consideration for a flash extender is the "Harbor Digital XT Flash Extender Kit".

Pros

No assembly required
Extremely light
Won't burn flash head

Cons

Bulky

Cool - I didn't realize they made this - I have their softbox system, so this could work well for me!

 

[eml58]

I use the 600EX-RT with a Better Beamer on the RRS B91-QR with FA-QREX2 on my 600 II. I've been using the OC-E3, but I have a SnapQR cold shoe, and triggering with the ST-E3 would be a little cleaner than the coiled cord - great idea!

Hi Neuro, I bought the Better Beamer specially for use on the 600f/4 II, Haven't actually tried it yet, but I have hopes the Better Beamer can help overcome the 200mm Zoom limitation of the 600EX-RT, the 200mm Zoom seems to work just fine when in use on the 200-400, 300 & 400, but I've tried it with the 600 & there's a lot of light fall off/spread which the better beamer should help with.

I found the ST-E3-RT Triggering via the Camera worked well for me, especially when you need to change the position of the 600/s on the Ring, I imagine that could become a bit of a Tangle using a cord to trigger.

Just an added reminder for anyone wanting to go the RRS way, keep in mind if you want to attach your 600EX-RT to the RRS extender, or any RRS piece of gear that has a dovetail fit, you need a "Snap QR Adaptor", RRS make a number for different fit outs, when I first bought my set up I had everything I needed, except this little bit of gear to actually attach the 600 so it would all work.