So... I pressed “place order”! (Page 2): Thank you! Good information to have! I saw it said it would work as a slave, but was not entirely sure about that! They did offer it in a...

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

I think you'd be better off getting the url=https... (show quote)

Thank you! Good information to have! I saw it said it would work as a slave, but was not entirely sure about that! They did offer it in a package deal with the wireless transmitter and I almost did that...now that I know what I know, maybe I should have chosen that option! Well Adorama, here I come again!!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

PeggySue58 wrote:

Thank you! Good information to have! I saw it said it would work as a slave, but was not entirely sure about that! They did offer it in a package deal with the wireless transmitter and I almost did that...now that I know what I know, maybe I should have chosen that option! Well Adorama, here I come again!!

Add an umbrella and stand and flash adapter to that order if you don't already have one.
Personally, I like softboxes better. Not as much spill.
Have a couple of these: https://www.adorama.com/glsb3131sbk.html I use with speedlights for on-location work.
Use the normally useless diffuser cap you may get with the speedlight to even out the light inside the softbox.
This system sets up really fast- had 15 minutes in a busy restaurant to shoot a chef for a charity auction.

BTS (Behind The Scenes) and final shot below.

(Download)

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Add an umbrella and stand and flash adapter to that order if you don't already have one.
Personally, I like softboxes better. Not as much spill.
Have a couple of these: https://www.adorama.com/glsb3131sbk.html I use with speedlights for on-location work.
Use the normally useless diffuser cap you may get with the speedlight to even out the light inside the softbox.

Well, pressed the place order button again and ordered the transmitter, had already ordered a softbox with the flash! Can’t wait to receive it all! Thank you for the great information!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

PeggySue58 wrote:

Well, pressed the place order button again and ordered the transmitter, had already ordered a softbox with the flash! Can’t wait to receive it all! Thank you for the great information!

Which softbox did you wind up with?
Lots of (too many?) choices out there.
I have a bad case of G.A.S. when it comes to softboxes.
The speedlight adapters I use allow me to use the accessories from my Bowens monolights with them

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Add an umbrella and stand and flash adapter to tha... (show quote)

Great shots! Now I am even more happy I placed that order! Thanks!

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Which softbox did you wind up with?
Lots of (too many?) choices out there.
I have a bad case of G.A.S. when it comes to softboxes.

Well it is a flashpoint mini softbox, I am not a pro and it may not get a lot of use, but I dislike the harshness of an undiffused flash!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

PeggySue58 wrote:

Well it is a flashpoint mini softbox, I am not a pro and it may not get a lot of use, but I dislike the harshness of an undiffused flash!

That's really pretty small if it's THIS one.
3.5 inches square isn't going to soften much at normal distances.
Remember: Bigger is softer.
A cheapo umbrella would be more useful if you want to use this with your new 85mm for portraits.

You could even bounce the light off of a large piece of foamcore.

The smallest softbox I have is 24" and I use it close to keep it soft.
The largest I have is maybe 5 x 7 feet.
I rarely use it, but when I do, it's with my more powerful studio lights.

When I started working in a real commercial studio, after 15 years working at a newspaper and university, I realized how much I didn't know.
You don't know what you don't know.

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

That's really pretty small if it's url= THIS /url... (show quote)

I am still learning and adding to my "bag"! Most of the time I am running after my grandchildren to get their pictures, I have a hard time corralling them to sit still, so it definitely won't be a studio type setting! But thank you so much for your suggestions, and I will probably be adding some of these items to my collection!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

PeggySue58 wrote:

I am still learning and adding to my "bag"! Most of the time I am running after my grandchildren to get their pictures, I have a hard time corralling them to sit still, so it definitely won't be a studio type setting! But thank you so much for your suggestions, and I will probably be adding some of these items to my collection!

There's always a reason (excuse?) to buy more stuff!

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

There's always a reason (excuse?) to buy more stuff!

That is so very true! Cameras are my weakness! I had added a D500 to my cart, removed it, then right before I hit place order, I realized it was back in the cart, so I removed it again....I can justify the lens and the flash unit to my hubby....afraid he would have not had my enthusiasm on the camera!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

PeggySue58 wrote:

That is so very true! Cameras are my weakness! I had added a D500 to my cart, removed it, then right before I hit place order, I realized it was back in the cart, so I removed it again....I can justify the lens and the flash unit to my hubby....afraid he would have not had my enthusiasm on the camera!

The D-500 is awesome!
Borrowed one from Nikon last May.
Probably the best DX DSLR on the market.

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

The D-500 is awesome!
Borrowed one from Nikon last May.
Probably the best DX DSLR on the market.

I agree, just afraid I would not be able to convince the hubby that I really need that over my D7200! Although one of these days my finger just may slip when the D500 is in my cart!!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

PeggySue58 wrote:

I agree, just afraid I would not be able to convince the hubby that I really need that over my D7200! Although one of these days my finger just may slip when the D500 is in my cart!!

The D7200's no slouch.
Doubt you'd see a difference.
I just like the way it handles and it has flicker detection for dealing with lighting that pulses you'd find in gymnasiums and other venues.
Get lenses and lighting...and experience!

PeggySue58 Loc: Sedro Woolley, WA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

The D7200's no slouch.
Doubt you'd see a difference.
I just like the way it handles and it has flicker detection for dealing with lighting that pulses you'd find in gymnasiums and other venues.
Get lenses and lighting...and experience!

Yes, that is what I intend to do for now. I really do love my D7200 and I am impatiently awaiting the arrival of my new lens and flash...and now the transmitter as well!! I sure hope my grandkids are ready for me to be chasing them around with all my new stuff!!

CO

I know that the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 is an excellent lens. For prime lenses, I go for Tamron's new SP series primes. The reason is that they all have vibration compensation. They also have a metal lens barrel and are fully weather sealed. It's especially important to have stabilization now with high pixel density cameras. Camera shake can be more evident. I purchased the 45mm f/1.8 SP VC lens for my Nikon D7000 and D500. I've been able to get stable, blur free photos at shutter speeds as slow as 1/25 second hand held. The new lenses are the 35mm f/1.8, 45mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8, and 90mm f/2.8 macro.