I need some feedback on Speedlites Please (Page 2): ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Good Morning.. If you are on Face book...

bearwitme Loc: VA, USA

Steffen-1 wrote:

Below are two speedlites and I would like to purch... (show quote)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Good Morning..

If you are on Face book there is a group dedicated to Off Camera Flash. The fellow that runs it is also the USA rep for Youngno flashes and triggers. Excellent service and lots of help to learn..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/speedlightfundamentals/?ref=bookmarks

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

My humble opinion is that if you don't know what you need in the way of flash capabilities and types of flash and controllers you are not ready to successfully take on the responsibility of shooting someone's wedding day as the primary shooter. I think you need to be more realistic about your ability and shooting one of the most important days of their life.

Minimally if you go ahead with this plan you need two powerful TTL capable flashes and a radio controller for them in my opinion. But please give it some very serious thought.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

Jcmarino

I dont know much about these flashes but if you are wanting to do a wedding and use on and off camera flash, I would look for these capabilities: the flash should be able to do TTL and HSS, TTL being more important here, have adjustable power levels that can be adjusted manually (especially important if HSS is not present). A good set of triggers and receivers or flashes that have built in receivers are a must. They must work with your camera without misfire. For weddings: the ceremony- one flash will do, for reception 2 will do, 3 flashes are better, so keep that in mind for budget purposes. Radio transmitters and receivers work best in my opinion, they can reach farther and through walls. This is hard because there are sooooo many speedlites out there in a wide arrange of prices. Yongnuo is a good manufacturer, Nissin is another. I use the Nissin Air 1 Commander (shoots TTL,HSS and Manual) and Scott Robert Lim's strobies (totally manual no HSS or TTL) Good luck in your decision and what ever you buy, practice, practice, practice before the wedding so you are comfortable with using the flash on and off the camera.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I have 2 of the 568EX units that I use on my 7200 and my 5000. I purchased these before the 685EX was available. Great speed lights but I agree with the above if I were to purchase today I would go with the 685EX because it has the radio slave built in and all you will need to buy is the 622N flash controller to work with it.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

My humble opinion is that if you don't know what y... (show quote)

Amen to that. With NO flash experience you must have taken leave of your senses to agree to shoot a wedding. If it were me, I would hire a pro and call it a wedding gift.

zigipha Loc: north nj

The 560s can be manually adusted for power output (walk up to the flash and push buttons)
They can also be remotely controlled for power output with a yongnuo controller, but agin you hav to push buttons but at least you don't have to walk to the remote flash to do so

The yongnuo 685 for example can do ttl remote power adjustment.

yongnou is a very reputable brand.

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

I do realize these are reasonable flash units but today you get what you pay for if you can afford it look on eBay for a used Nikon SB 800 you will not regret that purchase that flash is even better than the current new Nikon 910 also look on KEH, bought mine on eBay and it was in mint condition.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

Woodworm65 wrote:

I do realize these are reasonable flash units but today you get what you pay for if you can afford it look on eBay for a used Nikon SB 800 you will not regret that purchase that flash is even better than the current new Nikon 910 also look on KEH, bought mine on eBay and it was in mint condition.

Why is the 800 a better speedlite than the 910?

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out how it works very simple menus.

UXOEOD

Steffen-1 wrote:

Below are two speedlites and I would like to purch... (show quote)

Allow me to add confusion and more options into your mix. I suggest you investigate Adoroma's line of flashes, FLASHPOINT series. Functions and features seem very competitive to Yongnuo's units, and the prices are very nice.

Good luck!

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

I'm not sure about these flashes but I'd go for onE with high speed sync. HSS.

You may not use it this time but for regular posed portraits it comes in handy in sunny areas.

For things like environmental portrats they may not have enough power since about half of that type need the flash to be a bit further away. Most smaller flashes just don't have the power to reach.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

GENorkus wrote:

I'm not sure about these flashes but I'd go for onE with high speed sync. HSS.

You may not use it this time but for regular posed portraits it comes in handy in sunny areas.

For things like environmental portrats they may not have enough power since about half of that type need the flash to be a bit further away. Most smaller flashes just don't have the power to reach.

The Yongnuo's mentioned above have HSS.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

GENorkus wrote:

I'm not sure about these flashes but I'd go for onE with high speed sync. HSS.

You may not use it this time but for regular posed portraits it comes in handy in sunny areas.

I use HSS a lot and would not buy a speedlight that wasn't capable of doing it.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

This is only my humble opinion. A wedding is a serious matter and the most important day for the couple. Will you be capable of producing the shots they want? Do you know basic wedding poses?
Flash is a very important accessory in photography to supply light when there is not enough and to fill shadows to reduce contrast. Using flash can enhance your photography but only if you know how to use it.
I use Nikon flashes so I cannot be of help to you nor I am familiar with the flashes you mentioned.
There are plenty of tutorials in the Internet. I like Strobist and the teachings of Neil van Nieker, the South African photographer. Do a search in Google and you will find both.
If there are wedding photographers in the area where you live try to learn from them assisting with their photography. The time is short but you could learn some posing and perhaps how to use flash.
There is nothing that could make you feel worse than to spoil the day of a young couple that expected the best from you.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

camerapapi wrote:

This is only my humble opinion. A wedding is a serious matter and the most important day for the couple. Will you be capable of producing the shots they want? .....There is nothing that could make you feel worse than to spoil the day of a young couple that expected the best from you.

You are not alone.
I've been a full-time pro for over 40 years and the thing that makes me the most nervous is a shooting wedding.
On the other hand, I couldn't tell you where our wedding album is at the moment.