Lukabulla

HI ya All ,
I do a lot of flash photography mostly at gigs / Nightclubs.
Not so much of the bands , but people having fun at the events etc .

I use a D300s with SB600 flash and 18 -135 lens ,with usually good results .
But the camera and flash are so big ... Stick out like dogs balls .

Is there such a thing as a Capable compact with zoom that will do the same
job ? perhaps with a small clip on flash ?

I have a LX100 but up to now not suitable , though I have not tried it
with a more powerful flash .

Would be nice and handy to not walk around with such a big camera and flash .

Any ideas ?

tnx

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

I had to laugh at your characterization of the size of the camera, lens and flash combo.

markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

I've successfully photographed high school reunions with my LX100 and an auxiliary Metz Mecablitz 26 AF-2 flash. In fact, that flash is the smallest of the Metz line, yet it does the job for me.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

Concur in the Metz 26AF-2. Look to KEH [used] camera for one.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Stick with your current kit.

photoman43

What you have now is a perfect combo. Why change it and make life difficult for you? And it is actually is pretty small.

One alternative is to buy a (used?) Nikon SB 400 flash. It is smaller, but has less features than the SB 600. Look at your D300s manual and see what flashes are fully compatible with your camera. If it is compatible make sure it has the features you need in a flash.

One tip--If you want background and foreground to be lit by the flash make sure TTL BL is the mode. If you are just interested in foreground, set the Mode to TTL or Standard TTL. If you want the camera and flash to do all the work for you, set P for Program priority on the camera and TTL BL on the flash and then use exposure compensation or flash compensation or both if needed to get the result you need.

The best book on Nikon flash IMO is the one by Matt Hagen on Nikon Creative lighting System from Rocky Nook. It is now in its third edition. A used copy of the first edition might be all that you need as long as you stick with the D300s.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Creative-Lighting-System-Flashes/dp/1933952415

Najataagihe

This is going to sound weird, because it does not answer your direct question about a zoom lens, but your indirect one about getting indoor pictures.

Rent or borrow a Fujifilm X100F and check it out.

Not the original or the S or the T models, the F.

With a 70mm-equivalent f/2 lens, 24MP resolution (think crop-zooming) and the flash efficiency of its leaf shutter, you will be amazed at how well it takes telephoto-perspective pictures under the conditions you describe - without an external flash.

It is effective, tiny and warrants little more than a passing glance from your subjects, so it is even more unobtrusive than your D300.

If the on-board flash is not enough (unlikely, unless you are shooting in an arena) an EF-X20 (AAA batteries) or EF-20 (AA batteries) should give you all the power you need.

If you are still trying to light up the world, an EF-42 is HUGE (remember that leaf shutter?), but still physically small.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Canon M50, EFM 18-150 and 90EX very capable and compact.

jcboy3

The D300s and LX100 are pretty close with respect to low light performance. You could improve the D300s performance by using a faster lens, and the bulk by using a prime lens (such as the 35mm f/2 DX). The lens you are currently using is too slow for low light shots.

Or you could get a flash for the LX100. A small flash like the Nissin i400 or Godox TT350O would not be too large on the panasonic. The Godox can be used with the wireless radio transmitter, so I'd recommend that over the Nissin (which would need both a transmitter and a receiver).

Toad Rancher Loc: Central PA Mts.

My Canon G16 works with the same flash units as the EOS cameras. It makes for an awkward set-up as the flash is heavier than the camera but it works and it's compact.