 Albert Guevara |
Better on-camera lighting Hello, thanks for your help! I shoot weddings and have been shooting with medium format & 35mm, I usually do the non-candids with the 120 and I can control the light, usually an electical strobe. However, the lighting for my 35mm camera is either too harsh or not bright enough, I have tried with E-ttl and just ttl but I think maybe I just need more power than the canon 550ex provides, I am considering purchasing a quantum qflash x2, is this worth the money or is there something I can do with my current flash? background is either too dark or foreground too bright. Please help !!!
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Jeff S. Kennedy |
Your problem doesn't sound like one of power. You need to make the flash "larger" in order to make it less harsh. A bounce attachment or mini softbox is the easiest way to do this. I assume your flash is mounted on a bracket already. Just use a bounce attachment and drag your shutter to lighten your backgrounds and you should be ok.
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Bill McFadden |
I doubt you made this mistake that I did but I failed to look at distance scale on the back of my EOS-550 when I decided to shoot in-doors. As a result, I had inconsistent results. One thing to consider with the Quantum flash is the large batteries that are required to power modeling light feature. You may want to consider using a METZ flash. Dean Collins has excellant videos on using relfectors and METZ strobes for studio quality lighting, in and out doors.
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Andy |
Or maybe another 550EX or 420EX unit to light up the background.
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Bill McFadden |
Andy has a good solution that I did not address. One place I looked at when I decided I needed a multiple flash set-up was www.photo.net for discussions on what does and does not work. The EOS wireless system has mixed reviews, unless you own a high end newer model camera like the EOS-3 or have about $1000.00 or more to spend. (I do photography as a hobby, so I spend no more $500.00 per year. After a few years, it adds up to a decent set-up. I just wish I knew then to look at sites like this and to have a definite plan for acquisitions.) I looked into the SUNPAK 383, Vivator 285, Bogen and Red Wing light stands and the Wein slave/transmitter light control system. I am still researching the Wein system, so I cannot say I have drawn any conclusions yet.
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Albert Guevara |
You can't use wireless slaves with the canon system because of the low voltage system, I tried using the wein peanut and the more expensive $ 40 hot shoe slave, and they are not compatible, even when set to manual, it still won't fire.
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Bill McFadden |
I should have clarified my response better. A Canon camera linked to a Sunpak 544 via a PC cord to a Nikon AS-15 sync terminal adapter mounted on the camera's hot shoe will fire another Sunpak flash (in my case, a Sunpak 522) that has a Sunpak optical slave plugged into it. It will also fire a Metalight strobe set using Metalite slaves and a sync cord plugged into the Nikon As-15. A Canon 800 number rep once told me tha company has, if I recall correctly, designed the polarity of their hot shoe to not allow most sync terminal adapters to be used on Canon cameras. The company's concern is the possibility of third party devices allowing high voltage to burn out electrical components. (there is a website that breaks down the high volatage risk flash units. Most inexpensive autotryister flashes on the list.) I did not mention the AS-15 because it does not seem to have a voltage "guard" though my Elan EOS II is still safe after seven years. I appreciate the information about the Wein systems. I submitted a request for more info on that topic today. (My very dependable local store rep told me I can use the Wein high voltage regulator but I have not tried yet.)
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Bill McFadden |
I did not get into details on the Canon's wireless system because I own EOS Elan IIs. The Elan II only allows two set of EOS system units to fire. (it basically does not allow for light ratios to be set as a result.) The newer model cameras such as the Elan 7, EOS 3 and EOS 1V allow for more "groups" of flashes to be used. From what I have read in my EOS 550 instruction book and on websites, only the EOS-3 is designed to allow someone to mount an EOS-550 on the hot shoe and use it to control lighting ratios of off-camera flashes. I do not know if the EOS-1V has this capability or not. The other "A" type cameras require an ST-transmitter to be mounted on the hot shoe if you want to control ratios. My conclusion is if I purchase an Elan 7, I would need a minimum of one EOS-550 (350 - $400) 1 - EOS 420 and 1 - Speedlite Transmitter St-E2 ($200.00 each) to allow a two light flash system at a cost of $800.00 ($1000 if two EOS-550s are used.) Also, as I found out the hard way, if you need to use EOS flashes for both on and off-camera work, you need prep time between events at the wedding, etc or several expensive flashes, so you can allocate some resources to a lighting set-up while keeping some flashes on your camera(s) It is issues like this quest for a solution that caused me to lose my hair!
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Andy |
The wireless system is built inside the flash (420EX has a built in slave unit and the 550EX has a master and slave), not inside the camera. Mounting a ST-E2 on the camera can control up to 2 groups of flashes (a group can consists of any number of flashes, theoretically) and all flashes can be 420EX only. No 550EX required. With the 550EX on camera, it can control up to 3 groups of flashes. No ST-E2 required. Even with ST-E2 that allows only 2 groups of flashes, you can simulate the third group's ratio by manually setting the flash exposure compensation. Also the 1v has the same flash and wireless features as the EOS-3. For your wedding application, I would recommend the 550EX on camera instead of ST-E2 and with various 420EX unless you have at least one assistant holding the flashes for you. You can even have your on camera's 550EX turn off and still communicating with other slave flashes.
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Bill McFadden |
Andy, could you provide a reference on the EOS-420 capabilities. I attached a review from someone at www.photo.net, where they have had several on-going discussions on this capabilities and limitations of the EOS wireless flash system. "The manual furthur states: "With the EOS Elan II, IIe, 50, 50E; Rebel G, 500N, EOS IX, and EOS IX Lite, only one slave group can be used for wireless E-TTL flash control" (page 51) Also the 70hz modeling flash wont work with anything but the Eos-3. (page 50) Furthurmore, with an ElanIIe (550ex manual pages 124-125)): * Max sync speed with 550ex is 1/125
-- Mike C , October 20, 1999; 06:22 P.M. Eastern (person on www.photo.net site) more quotes to follow (notice, they tend to address using EOS-550s not a combination of EOS-420s and EOS-550s)
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Bill McFadden |
Another preson from the discussion on www.photo.net wrote: Patrick brings up an important point about metered flash ratio control with multiple 550EXs and the EOS-3. This function works wonderfully with the EOS-3, at least two 550EXs and with the ST-E2 transmitter. Once you get away from the metered ratio flash capacity, the wireless function capability of the 550EXs becomes limited and an expensive proposition. Patrick also brings up the alternative approach of using a flash meter and two 550EXs in manual mode with a type A or B EOS. If the starting position is an Elan IIE/380EX combo and the desire to have a second wireless-controlled flash that can be adjusted for ratio lighting, I believe it would be cheaper to buy a flash meter, an inexpensive (used) adjustable-power flash and a Wein hot shoe slave. Buying two 550EXs ($700) is an expensive alternative for what you get using an Elan IIE. Of course, if the long-term goal is really to buy an EOS-3 and ST-E2 transmitter to use the 550EXs for their designed application, go for it. -- William Castleman , October 20, 1999; 11:33 P.M. Eastern (550 EX Manual Page 2) -- Mike C , October 21, 1999; 03:01 P.M. Eastern
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Bill McFadden |
Page 60 of the EOS 550 manual states: "With the Elan II-IIE/50-50E, EOS Rebel G/500N, EOS IX and EOS IX Lite/1X7 a flash ratio cannot be set with the master unit." yes, we can possibly achieve lighing ratios using manual settings but if we do this manual action, we are now using the same technology that is available in flashes that cost far less then the EOS-550 and could be done by flashes that cost about $80.00 less than an EOS-420. For on camera use on a Canon "A type" camera, the EOS 550 cannot be beat. The EOS 420 is designed to work with the EOS Elan 7/7e series.
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Bill McFadden |
Just to muddy the waters possibly a little farther, this reply from photo.net shows a website for additional information on Canon wireless systems.have you checked the EOS-Flash FAQ? http://teladesign.com/photo/eos-flash/ This link: http://teladesign.com/photo/eos-flash/index3.html#wireless may have the answer to your question. Sorry I can't help more. -- Jeremy Kindy , April 25, 2002; 10:51 A.M. Eastern -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the EOS-Flash faq link above: It looks like the 550EX can control other flashes regardless of the camera used (Note: I haven't used either the 550EX or the Elan 7, so I can't say for sure). Your best bet would be to go to a store and play around. jdk better news that seems to confirm Anthony's good news is: Only the 550EX gives you MANUAL flash power control over an 8 stop range (1/1 down to 1/128). It can also be triggered by wireless E-TTL in this fashion. Sorry I can't help more. I do not have the Sigma EF 500 Super, so I shall refrain from making any comments about what I think it is able to do, or what I think it ought to be able to do, for fear of making a fool of myself.
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Bill McFadden |
Someone-else on the photo.net site reports a problem and a solution for managing ratios with the EOS wireless system. (note: this explanation may be the reason why so many people have so many varying positions on the subject.) "Jim, I had the same experience when I tested the ratios first time. Then I realized that for the ratios to work as expected your setup must be such that both flashes will properly illuminate the spot you are using to measure the flash exposure.
-- Vesa Perala , April 25, 2002; 04:41 P.M. Eastern
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Bill McFadden |
Bad news seems to be shown below from someone who has read, like I have, website information and the Canon EOS-550 manuals. This author, though, also has an EOS 420 (or at least the manual!) "This stuff is only in the fine print of my 550EX instruction manual. Page 60 states See also: -- Julian Loke , April 29, 2002; 08:49 A.M. Eastern
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Bill McFadden |
Bad news seems to be shown below from someone who has read, like I have, website information and the Canon EOS-550 manuals. This author, though, also has an EOS 420 (or at least the manual!) "This stuff is only in the fine print of my 550EX instruction manual. Page 60 states See also: -- Julian Loke , April 29, 2002; 08:49 A.M. Eastern
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Andy |
I guessed I am lucky so far. I did used the ST-E2 on my older EOS 1000Fn to trigger the two 550EX I have and it worked, although I did not use it on a real project (no modeling light though because there is no depth-of-field button on that camera). I also used either the ST-E2 or the 550EX on my 1v as master and worked. But most of the time I will use the ST-E2 as master so my camera weights lighter. I am planning to buy another 420EX to use as background. I do not have a chance to test on the other EOS cameras, so I cannot comment on that. But it's good to know there are ways to get around the problems.
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