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Strobes

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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
I'm looking into getting a strobe for this upcoming ski season (yea upcoming i'm on the east coast fuck all of you that have snow) and I wanted to know what all of you use and how they work for you
Nov 7 2010 2:14PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
It all depends on your angle and the desired shot.

When you are completely in control of the light, there's a ton of different ways to light everything
Nov 12 2010 9:41PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399
.
Nov 12 2010 10:59PM
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mammothpunks
Posts: 5724 - Karma: 372
profoto all the way. most professionals use the 7b 1200 w/s pack. gotta love skiing around with a 30 pound flash in your backpack.
Nov 12 2010 11:08PM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
but in all seriousness you should prob try to get that damn Broncolor that does 8Fps with no power loss (gatling gun flash configuration, basically 4 flashes)
Nov 13 2010 12:14AM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,240
here's a strobist shot i took this weekend

sunpak 333, full power, frame left

Click for larger image

definitely am going to get a b400 soon
Nov 13 2010 1:05AM
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PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
This has all the answers, good friend.





Yes, I was too lazy to get the tinyURL... but this goes to I'm Feeling Lucky and has a very nicely presented comparison between the sb600 and sb700, and throws in the sb900 as well.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sb600+vs+sb700&l=1
Nov 13 2010 1:45AM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219
i think the real question that everyone wants to answer is should i get the elinchrom quads or the ranger rx? will i need the power for the big features shooting this season or will the 400w be fine?
Nov 13 2010 5:04AM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
what sort of power system do you guys use for your larger strobes
Nov 18 2010 7:43PM
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PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
Now that's a tough one!

I'm going to say Profoto :)

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=profoto&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=13826572717973369275&ei=LdXlTPq7E4vEsAO2wOmwCw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDoQ8wIwAw#

But who the hell can afford $4500 for two lights!?! I really don't know man, all I've ever shot with are Alien Bees.
Nov 18 2010 8:40PM
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chipkalback
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 30
curious what your reasoning is as to why you would need an elinchrom light setup vs. alienbees..
Nov 19 2010 10:32AM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
Yeah? alienbees are cheaper and prob just as good. why spend 1,600$ on a ranger rx??

the recharge speed doesnt really matter that much 2.9 Seconds compared to like 4 seconds of an alienbee vagabond II, the vagabond also takes about 400 photos per charge with 3 flashes and not once have i taken 400 photos during a single session.

Also just came out with new lithium batteries that are very light, actually just bought two of them with the money that i sold my vagabond for.


I think you should reconsider Alienbees especially with the new Einstein which is amazing.
Nov 19 2010 10:54AM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219

well firstly im not looking at alienbees, im looking at the elinchrom quadra or the ranger rx

im from the uk so getting alienbees are hard to get a hold of.

the quadra has 400w ( a little bit more powerfulleer then the alienbee b800) where as the ranger has 1100w. most pro photogs that i know use the the ranger, but im still coming up. my worry is, is 400w strong enough to shoot something such as the nine knights jump or joi jump? also the weight of the ranger is alot more then the quadra and the less weight the better when skiing. another thing is i can get two heads with the quada for less then the one head ranger pack

what to do?

Nov 19 2010 1:23PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
It can be like that but they technically do the same thing - emit a burst of light. Speedlights refer to the portable version of strobes.
Nov 19 2010 5:01PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
if you want to get technical, I guess. But I've never heard anyone call a speedlight a strobe.
Nov 19 2010 9:19PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,240
looks like we got a strobist virgin right here ;)
Nov 19 2010 9:42PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
I looked hard between the quadra and the Ranger's

In the end I went with the Ranger RX Speed AS pack.

Never looked back. They're bomb proof - they throw out so much light it's crazy and the control and everything about them really shines.

they're heavy as fuck - so prepare for that.

But I think my main thing that set them appart from the Alien Bees was build quality - given they are a lot more expensive - I can set those puppies up in a downpour and they'll shine right through....
Nov 19 2010 10:00PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Truth. I can nerd out about lighting to a certain degree. that site is too much. Too many numbers. haha
Nov 19 2010 10:08PM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219
cheers bro yeah thats the one thing im not looking forward to this season skiing with a strobe but hey how back can it be?
Nov 20 2010 4:39PM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
really fucking bad.

haha.

They are REALLY FUCKING HEAVY.

but it's worth it.
Nov 20 2010 5:22PM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219
yeah i gathered from what everyone has told me thats why i was so torn between the two but im not sure the quadra would be powerful enough, so the ranger it is :)
Nov 20 2010 5:28PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
^I went with this does anyone have a kinda cheap light stand system that I could set up or build myself
Nov 21 2010 11:48AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
if you're shooting skiing, remove the baskets from some ski poles, grab some hotshoes off old cameras you get at the thrift shop or buy a cheap speedlight holder and put it on the top. then you can just stick it in the snow.

Same goes for a monopod. If you can get a collapsible ski pole and put a ball head on the top of it, you've got yourself a cheap and skiing friendly monopod.
Nov 21 2010 12:09PM
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Obie.
Posts: 1741 - Karma: 3,646
this thread could probably be sticky'd, helped me out anyways 
Nov 21 2010 12:26PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
^this
Nov 21 2010 7:19PM
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
It kills... I missed last chair this summer at Windells and ended up having to walk to the parking lot with my camera pack (about 40 lbs) and my strobe (about 30 lbs). Sucks. But like Jordan said, totally worth it! Just make sure you get a good bag for it
Nov 23 2010 2:39AM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
what do you use for powering your strobes when out on the mountain
Nov 23 2010 4:48PM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
alienbees has the vagabond battery pack, and just came out with the new big lithium batteries which are lighter and more portable.

other companies have similar power packs
Nov 23 2010 6:34PM
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
A lot of the strobes mentioned have dedicated batteries
Nov 23 2010 11:40PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
I know I already kinda asked this question regarding umbrellas and such but does anyone use gels when they shoot?
Nov 27 2010 11:44AM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219
yeah i use gels when i shoot, mostlly colour correcting but lately been using colour gels check out my website and blog got a few exapmles there
Nov 27 2010 1:49PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
I don't generally like the look of gels. I think it's awesome when you can shoot a photo and the different colors of the streetlights and lights around the buildings burn in a little, but I want the light I add to photos to be white.

I could see using them for color correction, but I've never had that be a big enough issue for me to worry about.
Nov 27 2010 2:01PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
I found some stuff that's really sick that could be really helpful

This things fucking dirty I would love to see how all of you guys light your shots up http://snowtographers.com/2010/how-to-diy/lighting-diagram-creator

This is a basic of all the equipment you need,


This is just the basics of the techniques


I hope this helps someone it helped me
Nov 27 2010 2:45PM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219

colour corrections can be used to create some great effects as well as just correcting colour, for instance if you put your white balance to tungsen and use orange colour correctors it creates a night effect check a post on felix rioux about that

also erik seo used colour gels in such a sick way

Nov 27 2010 4:42PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
^ yea man his shit is uber legit
Nov 27 2010 8:12PM
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Obie.
Posts: 1741 - Karma: 3,646

I thought id just bump this,, but im looking into getting a couple Vivitar 285Hv 's for my nikon. Ive read through this thread multiple times..., some of it is somewhat foreign language to me, but would you recommend triggers for the 285's? If so what are some cheap(er) functional triggers you recommend that are easier to use and learn....thanks

Dec 15 2010 10:36AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
haha yes you need triggers, otherwise your flashes would just sit there, triggers are what fire them.

triggers themselves are relatively simple though. check out the yongnuo rf 602's. considerably cheaper than PW's or even cybersyncs or skyports, but still relatively reliable and a decent range compared to cactus's or pt 04's

heres their ebay store, its straight from the company and definitely legit
http://stores.ebay.com/hkyongnuophotoequipment/Trigger-Receiver-/_i.html?rt=nc&_fsub=465333016&_sid=720284096&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=2


google around for some reviews.
Dec 15 2010 10:53AM
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Obie.
Posts: 1741 - Karma: 3,646

yea i know i need triggers, and that they fire the flashes. My question was more towards what was the pros/cons to some triggers compared to other methods/triggers, but i neglected to explain that in my question,, my bad. Anyways thanks, that does help..    

Dec 15 2010 12:14PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
my threads
Dec 15 2010 12:25PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
I'm getting the yongnuo rf602's how reliable are they
Dec 15 2010 5:14PM
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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
Does anyone else have yongnuo products one of my speedlites broke and I need help
Feb 17 2011 11:29PM
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deciblast
Posts: 52 - Karma: 10
Don't get CyberSyncs.... If you aren't buying PocketWizards then you should look at the Yongnuo RF-602s.. You can get a trigger and 3 receiver setup for like $70.

I would skip Nikon/Canon flashes and get Yongnuo's flashes too. Now if you need bigger lights then by all means look at Alienbees and Elinchrome, etc.

This is the bible. read this site a million times.
http://strobist.blogspot.com/
Feb 18 2011 1:27AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
I've used cybersyncs for over a year now and haven't had any issues, why shouldn't someone buy cybersyncs?
Feb 18 2011 11:37AM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
yeah i didnt understand that, yeah they are a little more expensive but i have been using them for a while and they are great, also if you get the + version you have the option of doing remote operation with a cyber commander.
Feb 18 2011 12:18PM
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cool.
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 1,724
threads
Feb 18 2011 5:39PM
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deciblast
Posts: 52 - Karma: 10
1 transmitter 3 receiver setup

Cybersyncs $330
Yongnuo RF-602 $54.99

Need I say more? They do the same thing. You decide where you want to spend your money.. lol.



Feb 18 2011 8:03PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,240
the new rf-603's look sick. can't wait for them to drop.
Feb 18 2011 8:09PM
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
Where is the evidence that supports these statements?
Feb 19 2011 12:14PM
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chipkalback
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 30
Any chance anyone is looking to sell an SB-800 or two?
Feb 19 2011 3:41PM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
mo freds
Feb 19 2011 7:37PM
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cool.
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 1,724
so i just received an sb-600 from a very generous uncle for my D7000. i've just been messing around with it for the past few days and reading a lot about lighting and such and so i want to start working with off-camera lighting and i need a transmitter/receiver, a light stand, an umbrella, and a flash bracket umbrella holder thang. after doing a good amount of research i've been reading a lot of mixed reviews about almost everything and just can't decide what to get. if someone could make some suggestions that would be great. i don't really want to spend over $100 bucks so if you could keep it under that, that would be great. thanks
Feb 20 2011 6:26PM
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