Multiple Flash Photography: Long time reader, 1st time poster (lol)....Ok so I've never liked flash photography, Now embracing the idea and Introducing myself to low key and portrait...

Metpin777 Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

Long time reader, 1st time poster (lol)....Ok so I've never liked flash photography,
Now embracing the idea and Introducing myself to low key and portrait photography, I want to use 2 flashes off of camera, Canon 80D, don't have a clue of good flash to use without breaking the bank or how to wireless synchronize the two, what is a good investment and some suggestions please? Will end up with soft boxes and focused grids with backdrop and any thing else I might need, thank you for all your help,

canon Lee

Metpin777 wrote:

Long time reader, 1st time poster (lol)....Ok so I... (show quote)

for portraiture I suggest that you purchase 2 monolights/umbrellas. ( AlienBees.com), and don't use flash.

Dan Downie Loc: Rochester, NY

For around $300 you can get two Yongnuo YN600EX-RT speedlites and a YN-E3-RT transmitter to control them wirelessly using infrared technology. They are simply amazing and on par with Canon's top of the line speedlight that cost $500 a piece, and probably the same for their transmitter. You will be impressed with Yongnuo's quality and reliability, as well as their reputation. I have 3 of their speedlites, a transmitter, and a macro ring flash, all for about the price of one Canon flash.

CO

You can get studio strobes for about the same price as a good speedlight. I paid $325 for my Nikon SB-700 flash and $350 for my Paul C Buff Digibee DB-800 strobe. Adorama Camera has their Flashpoint series of studio strobes that are very economical. I use PocketWizard Plus III and Plus X radios (trigger only) and PocketWizard Mini-TT1 and Flex-TT5 radios (support TTL metering).

If you get a Paul C Buff strobe (AlienBee, DigiBee, Einstein, or White Lightning) and you plan on using umbrellas be sure to get their 7UR umbrella reflector. It has a 180 degree spread of light to better fill the umbrella with light.

You would have more possibilities with studio strobes. You can use umbrellas, soft boxes, beauty dishes, reflectors with grids. I purchased the Paul C Buff 22" white beauty dish. You can use it with or without the center direct light blocker and it comes with a diffuser sock that stretches over the dish.

sandiegosteve Loc: San Diego, CA

https://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

I got a pair of the Yonguno 685s and a wireless controller. You can do neat things. I've heard they can overheat and that is what kills them. I don't do a lot of heavy sessions with them personally.

Moving your light off camera is the fist thing, so you're thinking right. There are a lot of modifiers from umbrellas to softboxes to reflectors. I didn't like the idea of flash at all, and now I think they are fun to play with.

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

Yongnuo 685s...they have built in wireless xcvers that provide total control from the master yn622 controller in hot shoe. (These are High Speed Sync flashes that are totally controllable from the master and can be used outdoors in high sunlight when you need to crank up the shutter speed to over 1/200.

Buy some cheap softbox, reflectors and stands and play around.

If you really want to go cheaper but still good quality, get the Yongnuo low speed gear .... yn603 trigger and 560iii flashes. If you want to have total control, get the master and/or the 560IV which is a combo flash and master controller....the low speed sync setups wont sync above around 1/200 but you wont need to for indoor portraiture (in most cases)..have fun !

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Metpin777 wrote:

Long time reader, 1st time poster (lol)....Ok so I... (show quote)

This was done with a speedlight (Sunpak 383 manual flash), firing into a softbox, and a reflector for fill, on location.

You really don't need a lot to make good portraits. And speedlights are more then enough. There are advantages to using monolights especially if you have groups of people or are doing full body shots.

(Download)

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

Gene51 wrote:

This was done with a speedlight (Sunpak 383 manual flash), firing into a softbox, and a reflector for fill, on location.

You really don't need a lot to make good portraits. And speedlights are more then enough. There are advantages to using monolights especially if you have groups of people or are doing full body shots.

Agreed! ...total cost to get this shot ...under $400 (3 - 560iii, 1 560IV, 1 cheapie softbox, 1 lightstand - 3 of daughters willing millenial friends (free) ...camera and lens sold extra :-)
once you start having fun with speedlights, it will re-energize your creativity!!

(Download)

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

crazydaddio wrote:

Agreed! ...total cost to get this shot ...under $400 (3 - 560iii, 1 560IV, 1 cheapie softbox, 1 lightstand - 3 of daughters willing millenial friends (free) ...camera and lens sold extra :-)
once you start having fun with speedlights, it will re-energize your creativity!!

Excellent lighting and composition. Very professional looking in every way.

DavidM Loc: New Orleans, LA

Metpin777 wrote:

Long time reader, 1st time poster (lol)....Ok so I... (show quote)

Join facebook group listed below and ask Tim Payne to set you up with the godox flash system and the newly announced Flashpoint R2 Pro / Godox Xpro-C transmitter about to be released. Tim warranties these flashes for two years instead of the standard one year.

In the States the Godox system is re-branded as the Flashpoint brand and can be purchased from Adorama.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/speedlightfundamentals/

http://flashhavoc.com/flashpoint-r2-pro-godox-xpro-c-transmitter-announced/

http://www.lightingrumours.com/godox-xpro-9125

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

crazydaddio wrote:

Agreed! ...total cost to get this shot ...under $400 (3 - 560iii, 1 560IV, 1 cheapie softbox, 1 lightstand - 3 of daughters willing millenial friends (free) ...camera and lens sold extra :-)
once you start having fun with speedlights, it will re-energize your creativity!!

Nice!
Like most of the others, I use speedlights for almost all of my location work.
I have several generations of Nikon SB's and Phottix radio triggers, but recently purchased a slightly used Godox kit for cheap. I am impressed, but would definitely replace the X1 transmitter when the new one is available
The moonlights pretty much stay in the studio.

DavidM Loc: New Orleans, LA

DavidM wrote:

br br br Join facebook group listed below and a... (show quote)

Also the xpro system has the ability to shoot in TTL then save the setting as a manual adjustment!!

This feature is TCM mode.

TCM: TCM Function is made only by Godox, users can trigger the flash under TTL mode to achieve the output values and then by pressing TCM button, the transmitter will change to M mode display. The flash will then work under M mode. For compensation, a user can slightly adjust the power up or down in M mode if the exposure is not set correctly. This function will be very useful for those users who are not familiar to the properly setting the flash via manual settings.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

DavidM wrote:

Also the xpro system has the ability to shoot in T... (show quote)

I wasn't aware of that feature. Wow, what a time saver, as I hardly ever use TTL with multiple lights. More reading in order today. THANKS!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

GoofyNewfie wrote:

I wasn't aware of that feature. Wow, what a time saver, as I hardly ever use TTL with multiple lights. More reading in order today. THANKS!

Ok, I'm sold!!!!

http://www.lightingrumours.com/godox-xpro-9125

Basically, all you do is shoot in TTL mode, which gets you close on the first try, hit the TCM button on the new Godox Xpro transmitter, then the output used for the TTL exposure is transferred to manual output.

“The chief one being the TTL-Convert-Manual (TCM) function, which lets you meter your flashes in TTL mode, then click a button and switch to manual power mode, with settings automatically adjusted to give equivalent output.
You can then tweak the output manually up or down as you please, or leave it there for consistent exposures. “

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Dan Downie wrote:

For around $300 you can get two Yongnuo YN600EX-RT speedlites and a YN-E3-RT transmitter to control them wirelessly using infrared technology. They are simply amazing and on par with Canon's top of the line speedlight that cost $500 a piece, and probably the same for their transmitter. You will be impressed with Yongnuo's quality and reliability, as well as their reputation. I have 3 of their speedlites, a transmitter, and a macro ring flash, all for about the price of one Canon flash.

With the 600EX-RT IIs you can also use radio control as opposed to infrared, which has a number of advantages. I have both the Canon 600EX-RT and the Yongnuo (as well as the Yongnuo transmitter), and they are indistinguishable in terms of appearance and operation, but the Yongnuo is about 1/4th the price. Now if I was a working pro, I'd likely use all Canon for reliability, but as an amateur, where the failure of one flash isn't a disaster, the Yongnuo are pretty tempting.

I'd also suggest investigating the Strobist site and online free courses. Lots of straightforward and useful information for those beginning with flash. https://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html