d7100 flash range: A friend has asked me to photograph her engagement party at a local restaurant. Amateur only. My question is, what is the range and fill area of the flash on the...

innershield Loc: phoenix, az

A friend has asked me to photograph her engagement party at a local restaurant. Amateur only. My question is, what is the range and fill area of the flash on the D7100. I have an SB700 but if I don't need it why haul it around. Will be using a 17-55 2.8 to shoot. Have others (kit lenses) and a 70-200 2.8. The room will hold about 30 people. Thanks

amehta Loc: Boston

innershield wrote:

A friend has asked me to photograph her engagement party at a local restaurant. Amateur only. My question is, what is the range and fill area of the flash on the D7100. I have an SB700 but if I don't need it why haul it around. Will be using a 17-55 2.8 to shoot. Have others (kit lenses) and a 70-200 2.8. The room will hold about 30 people. Thanks

I think you do need the SB700. Getting the flash even a little bit away from the lens helps, especially with reducing red-eye. And it makes you look more professional, so people will follow your instructions. :-)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Your friend has asked you to shoot the engagement party because (pick one):
A. You know what you are doing
B. You have a "good" camera.
C. All of the above.

If you are just going to use the pop-up flash there isn't much reason for you to use anything more than a point & shoot camera.
Using the 17-55 is a great idea- it's an incredible professional zoom lens (made back when Nikon didn't have full-frame sensors) and would be my choice for shooting events with a crop-sensor camera.
The fast aperture helps when trying to focus in low light situations with which you may be faced in restaurants.
Problem is, it's a pretty big lens and at 17mm, it will cast a shadow if you use the pop-up flash.
As amehta stated above, getting the flash off the camera will help eliminate red-eye and it eliminate getting the shadow from that lens.
If you know how to bounce the light from the flash, that can help make the photos so much more natural looking.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Absolutely taken the SB 700. And as someone else noted, get the flash off the shoe. If you are doing tripod shoots, I would use the "Hold it high as you can" method with a flash to camera sync cord. Otherwise, either bounce or use a soft box, if possible.

MtnMan Loc: ID

innershield wrote:

A friend has asked me to photograph her engagement party at a local restaurant. Amateur only. My question is, what is the range and fill area of the flash on the D7100. I have an SB700 but if I don't need it why haul it around. Will be using a 17-55 2.8 to shoot. Have others (kit lenses) and a 70-200 2.8. The room will hold about 30 people. Thanks

The built-in flash range is addressed in your manual. It isn't adequate for a room full of 30 people.

The SB700 is ideal for this situation, as others have noted.

If the lighting is good you might get away with just upping the ISO to 3200 or so. You won't be using f2.8 except on individual portraits...at least not if you want stuff in focus.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

I would definitely use the 700. Either on camera and bounce it, or set it up on a tripod (or stand) and use it off-camera, with the pop-up dialed down a bit as commander.

twowindsbear

innershield wrote:

A friend has asked me to photograph her engagement party at a local restaurant. Amateur only. My question is, what is the range and fill area of the flash on the D7100. I have an SB700 but if I don't need it why haul it around. Will be using a 17-55 2.8 to shoot. Have others (kit lenses) and a 70-200 2.8. The room will hold about 30 people. Thanks

IF you don't KNOW the answer to this question already, you're in over your head with this project.

IMHO, of course.

innershield Loc: phoenix, az

I think I knew the answer, just needed reinforcement

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Use your SB700 and you'll get many photos the family will enjoy for years to come. Without it you'll miss a lot of pictures where you'll wish you had. Be professional about the pictures you take and use the best equipment you have.

amehta Loc: Boston

innershield wrote:

I think I knew the answer, just needed reinforcement

It is rare for a topic to result in such a strong consensus. :-)

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

The pop-up flash will handle the subjects directly in front of you and has a range to about the end of the table. Anything else will need a bigger flash, like, say, an SB700?

innershield wrote:

A friend has asked me to photograph her engagement party at a local restaurant. Amateur only. My question is, what is the range and fill area of the flash on the D7100. I have an SB700 but if I don't need it why haul it around. Will be using a 17-55 2.8 to shoot. Have others (kit lenses) and a 70-200 2.8. The room will hold about 30 people. Thanks

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Here's another thought. Your flash on a stand and use the CLS with your on camera flash as the trigger. You will get outstanding lighting, with all kinds of control. I would personlly still bounce it if ceilings are white and not too high. Getting the SB 700 off your camera will make a night and day difference.

If you aren't familiar with CLS with the SB-700, go to Youtube. I can't help too much, I shoot with a D7000 and have an SB 600, 800 and 910. All of them have different ways of using the menu (frustrating)

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

bkyser wrote:

... I would personlly still bounce it if ceilings are white and not too high.

You bring up another good point. Any chance of practicing in the room beforehand? This would give you a chance to experiment/test.

innershield Loc: phoenix, az

Gonna check out the room prior, good advice. Also gonna use a sync cord and get the flash off the camera. Have little flash experience with my XD-11. RIP