So.... I'm thinking I need to get some external flashes to enhance my automotive photography. Right now, I'm thinking of getting one really good flash (Canon Speedlight EX series) which can be a multipurpose type of flash (and I can use for many things), and two cheapy ones "that will do the job." What do you guys recommend? How about a few subpack 383's? Any other recommendations? I'm looking primarily at these flashes due to compact size and affordability.

thanks

 

Sounds like a pretty good plan.

Don't forget to factor into the cost equation a method of firing the remote strobes (Pocket Wizard, Radio popper, eBay triggers, etc...)

 

if you plan on using them exclusively off camera, any old nikon SB flash, vivtar 285, sunpack 383 will do you good. Assuming you have a way of triggering them. There is no need for expensive ETTL canon flashes.

fyi the 285's arent very compact, but very good bang for the buck

 

Also, a single 550EX or similar model in that range will control the 4xx series of flashes, but not the other way around.

So to save some money, you could just get one 5 series and the rest 4.

 

true that the 550/580ex series can be a master while the 430ex/4__ can be slaves, but the canon IR system is very blah at best. Outdoors on a sunny day they are not the best to use IMO, the IR transmitter / reciever have to be in direct line of sight of each other or they wont fire.

Radio triggers wether it be the more expensive pocket wizards, cybersyncs, skyports, or the cheaper radiopoppers / cactus triggers are much more reliable IMO.

 

External flash

 

Oh yes, probably some Cybersyncs.

 

exactly. SIMPLY off-camera. Only reason one will be EX series is so I can use that for on-camera.

 

I don't know if this helps if your still a student or working for certain organizations cybersynce offer a 10% or 15% discount when you register with them that your a student or something.

 

xx

 

Well, 383's seem to be out of the question... very difficult to find! So now, looking at the Vivitars. Problem, the 580ex can't master the vivitars. So maybe I need to get the 580ex with two cheaper of the speedlight series? Another option to put the 580 on the 40d and attach a radio trigger to the camera via pc sycn cord...but I don't like that option. I want to be able to use my cheapy ebay radio control to take shots @ night.

 

just get some cheap cactus v4 or v2 triggers. they should do the work

i dont see why you cant use ebay triggers at night?

 

Hrmm you can get optical slaves from zebraflash or whatever that place is with the hot shoe acessories.

They are pretty decent give or take you might get some random triggers, or be limited in certain weather conditions.

Its a cheap alternative. I know i'm taking advantage of nikons cls but its so limited when its not facing the flash. Or humid weather.

Indoors its pretty solid !

 

hmmm.. I'll have to look into that. This is all still very new to me. How about using the 580EX on the camera as the Master (providing fill lighting) and then have two Speedlites controlled by the master (probably 420EX)? Of course, this is going above my budget a bit...but want to make this setup as easy as possible.

 

If you dont want to dish out for the radio poppers/ cyber synce get some http://www.flashzebra.com/products.shtml optical flash there. I dont know which canons have optical flash sensors but all you need is them to trigger other flashes =P

 

thats the expensive route, and canons IR system is very finicky.

indoors it usually works fine, but outside on a sunny day. good luck plus with radio triggers you can fire em behind walls, in a diff room, etc.

 

Synth, how about a Cactus setup with a transmitter and THREE receivers.

580EX on a bracket over the camera (if you want flash from the camera) and two vivitars off camera? Or, truthfully, just do all three totally off camera.

 

^ Cactus setup? Please explain while I google.

 

the cactus setup looks pretty nifty, I just guess I have to manually figure out the exposure....

 

it seems confusing at first, but its not too bad.

a sekonic light meter helps, if you want to nail it on the first try. but personally a few extra test shots doesnt really hurt

3 flashes is plentiful, especially off camera.

 

Sorry, eBay triggers. They are hit and miss for operation, though.

 

the cactus v4 triggers have improved greatly.

if you plan on getting the v2 version, make sure its the v2s. i have modded my triggers (google cactus trigger mods) and they fire reliably 99% of the time. with the rare occasional misfire.

i dont use wireless flash enough to justify the $300 price tag for 1 transmitter and 2 recievers for a 2 flash setup.

 

I'm pretty much sold on this idea Eryk, thanks for the idea. I'm going to hold off on the 580ex and just play around with the Vivitars and the cactus setup. A bit of urgency on the flashes since I have a deal for two used Vivitars $140 for a pair.

 

yea you need to set each strobe up ttl but with canon and nikon does a decent job getting it balance
but manual you get a lot intersting effects =)
Just make sure you don't drop the cactus some of them are good as dead in one fall =\

 

Anyone using these? Looks interesting for the price:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RF602-RF-602-for...d=p3286.c0.m14