 BetterPhoto Member |
Flashes for Wedding Photography Hi, I was wondering what flash would best suit a Nikon D1X for wedding photography. Ceremony and reception. I am currently using a SB-80dx on a Stroboframe and I am not very happy with it. The recycle time is terrible and I am getting really inconsistent exposures. I am ready to purchase a new one before the upcoming wedding season and I am looking for suggestions on the flash as well as the frame/mount. Also, any suggestions on good softening filters. Thank you in advance.
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Jon Close |
Your inconsistent exposures may be due to the flash firing at too low a power because it hasn't fully cycled. What type of batteries are you using? Single use alkalines are going to give the slowest cycling times. Best is to use rechargeable NiCd or NiMH. Even better would be to use an external battery pack, such as Nikon's SD-8a or SD-7. If that doesn't fix your exposure problem ...
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W. |
"Also, any suggestions on good softening filters." If you mean a LIGHT softening 'filter' for your flash gun: try an "ABBC", Randi. abetterbouncecard.com/ Much cheaper and much more effective than the ubiquitous "Tupperware diffusers".
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Mark Feldstein |
An SB800 is a great portable strobe. As Jon said, your problem is recycle time limited by your power supply. From my own experience, I can safely tell you that the SB800 is a high voltage system that works extremely well with a Quantum Turbo battery pack. At full power charge, it's good for at least 200-250 shots. For fill at half power, probably twice that. It's extremely reliable and has a fuel gauge to tell you how much power is left and also takes a quick charge to get you out of a crunch. Expensive? Sure. (B&H offers the best prices on these) but it's professional grade. I have two of them and wouldn't shoot an important event without them. They've never let me down. Just has one recelled, cost me $70 bucks and it's now as good as new. http://www.qtm.com For your camera, take a look at Underdog Batteries. http://www.underdog-battery.com/index.html This is the kind of solid portable gear that event and media photographers rely on.
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W. |
A top-of-the-line dSLR deserves/requires a top-of-the-line flash gun. Nikon SB800 or Metz mecablitz 76 MZ-5.
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Oliver Anderson |
I love my Quantum Turbo pack...the battery life on my flash batteries are about 5x as long when I use it and the recycle time is really fast especially when that bride is throwing the bouquet cutting the cake or the grooms tossing the garter.
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