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To buy a flash or not?
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Jul 16, 2012 20:35:46   #
Pasha69 Loc: SoCal beach area
 
Would you be interested in a SB400? Also have an 105mm 2.5 AIS lens(manual focus) which is wonderful for portaits and also a 180mm 2.8 ED AF in case you are interested

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Jul 17, 2012 00:16:41   #
Denisedancer Loc: Sydney Australia
 
I was wondering the same thing and at around $300 Aussie Dollars I was thinking I wouldn't ever use it. However I recently completed a photography course that had a lot of emphasis on lighting and saw how essential it is - especially if you want to do portrait photography, but its also great for landscapes too. I was able to borrow the teachers flash on an outing and I found it very easy to understand and to use (TTL). Makes a tremendous difference to your photos once you know how and when best to use flash. Was also great being able to diffuse the amount of light coming from the flash. I am saving for one. I'm an amateur, so much still to learn. Cant help you with which flash however, I have a Canon.

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Jul 17, 2012 00:21:17   #
skidooman Loc: Minnesota
 
anotherview wrote:
One can gauge the effect of flash lighting by studying the Histogram and the LCD monitor on the back of the camera. A light meter is not necessary to do flash lighting. Instead, take a test shot, and adjust accordingly.
The Watcher wrote:
While you're considering what flash to buy, I would also consider investing in a good light meter that measures flash output.
It will let you fine tune your flash photography.


That's called chimping,,,and it's called that for a reason.

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Jul 17, 2012 00:27:37   #
BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
 
kurme wrote:
I have money saved and was wondering if anyone thinks it would be a good investment to buy a flash for my camera i was thinking of the sb-700 nikon. Does it make a great difference in your pics?
I have a 24-70 2.8
50 1.4
18-55
Or should i invest in something else? Advice would be greatly appreciated. Note: i am into portrait photography:)
I am quite intimidated by flash for some reason is it hard to learn?

I have a very small Canon flash (I don't remember the model) that works on both DSLRs and my SX1-IS. I almost never use it. But when I need a flash, it's worth its weight in gold. Oh, also, I can use it with my 4 X 5.

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Jul 17, 2012 00:32:48   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
skidooman wrote:
anotherview wrote:
One can gauge the effect of flash lighting by studying the Histogram and the LCD monitor on the back of the camera. A light meter is not necessary to do flash lighting. Instead, take a test shot, and adjust accordingly.
The Watcher wrote:
While you're considering what flash to buy, I would also consider investing in a good light meter that measures flash output.
It will let you fine tune your flash photography.


That's called chimping,,,and it's called that for a reason.
quote=anotherview One can gauge the effect of fla... (show quote)


One uses whatever tools one has.
It's the equivalent of Polaroid tests from film days.
Overdoing it is called Chimping.

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Jul 17, 2012 00:55:51   #
kurme Loc: Sudbury, Ont
 
Well considering everyones posts i bought the sb-700:).I just want to take a minute and thank everyone on this site that helps me i am just learning and all the advice i get is sooo appreciated. Hopefully one day i will know enough to help others as well. Thanks again

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Jul 17, 2012 01:01:02   #
georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.
 
Thanks for the links to Strobist. This is one area I never really learned anything about, how to control lighting with flash or lightstands. Looks like a great websight, no charge to look so far, and I learned a new word today: "gel" meaning 'color filter'...
GoofyNewfie wrote:
kurme wrote:
I have money saved and was wondering if anyone thinks it would be a good investment to buy a flash for my camera i was thinking of the sb-700 nikon. Does it make a great difference in your pics?
I have a 24-70 2.8
50 1.4
18-55
Or should i invest in something else? Advice would be greatly appreciated. Note: i am into portrait photography:)
I am quite intimidated by flash for some reason is it hard to learn?


It's harder if you don't get one. The SB700 is a great flash. You probably don't need more power than what it puts out.
Get an umbrella and learn to use the flash remotely if your camera is capable. Some of the Nikons are equipped to control Nikon flashes automatically from the pop-up flash using the CLS system. You didn't say which camera you have.
Lighting is one of the most important things in photography, especially true for portraits.
If the lighting isn't to your liking, you can do something about it. Learn how to use diffusers, reflectors and other lighting, like flash.
Check out the Strobist website:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/
They have a section called Strobist 101:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

As far as lenses go, at 70mm, the 24-70 is a good one for portraits, but I like to use even longer focal lengths than that. I use an 85mm, 70-200 or for cropped sensor cameras, the discontinued Sigma 50-150 was a great one.

You could get a macro lens in the 90-105mm range and use it for portraits too. Good macros do tend to be rather expensive though.
quote=kurme I have money saved and was wondering ... (show quote)

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Jul 17, 2012 01:08:00   #
nitejdp53 Loc: ATX
 
Congrats Have fun shooting.

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Jul 17, 2012 16:29:44   #
skidooman Loc: Minnesota
 
GoofyNewfie wrote:
skidooman wrote:
anotherview wrote:
One can gauge the effect of flash lighting by studying the Histogram and the LCD monitor on the back of the camera. A light meter is not necessary to do flash lighting. Instead, take a test shot, and adjust accordingly.
The Watcher wrote:
While you're considering what flash to buy, I would also consider investing in a good light meter that measures flash output.
It will let you fine tune your flash photography.


That's called chimping,,,and it's called that for a reason.
quote=anotherview One can gauge the effect of fla... (show quote)


One uses whatever tools one has.
It's the equivalent of Polaroid tests from film days.
Overdoing it is called Chimping.
quote=skidooman quote=anotherview One can gauge ... (show quote)


Fair enough. But I would disagree that a light meter is not necessary for flash lighting. I put my speedlights in manual often and meter. No adjustments needed.

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Jul 17, 2012 16:31:16   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
skidooman wrote:


Fair enough. But I would disagree that a light meter is not necessary for flash lighting. I put my speedlights in manual often and meter. No adjustments needed.


I use one as well.
Keeps me from licking my finger and sticking it up in the air.

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Jul 17, 2012 16:33:12   #
skidooman Loc: Minnesota
 
GoofyNewfie wrote:
skidooman wrote:


Fair enough. But I would disagree that a light meter is not necessary for flash lighting. I put my speedlights in manual often and meter. No adjustments needed.


I use one as well.
Keeps me from licking my finger and sticking it up in the air.

I use one as well.
Keeps me from licking my finger and sticking it up in the air.




:lol: :lol: :lol:

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Jul 17, 2012 16:35:00   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
skidooman wrote:
GoofyNewfie wrote:
skidooman wrote:


Fair enough. But I would disagree that a light meter is not necessary for flash lighting. I put my speedlights in manual often and meter. No adjustments needed.


I use one as well.
Keeps me from licking my finger and sticking it up in the air.

I use one as well.
Keeps me from licking my finger and sticking it up in the air.




:lol: :lol: :lol:


A photog I assisted actually did that testing his Dynalites.
He was usually really close. (It's called experience)

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Jul 17, 2012 17:13:10   #
marty wild Loc: England
 
I use fill in flash all the time in bright sun light, at the setting of TTL 1/64 it's brilliant. You must have seen images when your models has hats/caps you get a half moon shadow under the peek the fill flash angled right knocks away the shadow. also I can get 7 frames per second at this setting on my d300s

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Jul 17, 2012 23:38:26   #
Michael greiner-marcotte Loc: Meze,France
 
There is a neat little app called "SB-700 Nikon Speedlight" that will give you a ton of easy to use informaion-There is also several ebooks on amazon that are good refer for speedlights

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Jul 19, 2012 16:04:10   #
cableguy Loc: Germantown Hills, IL
 
consider getting the Scott Kelby books on photography (4). he really explains the use of ext. flash extremely well for the novice photographer.

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