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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> which flash meter
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 01/02/2005 07:02:09 PM · #1
Hi,

I need to buy a flash meter and was hoping someone could recommend a good one for about £150???

I also need to get a stand and hotshoe adaptor for my SB800, can anyone recommend a brand or supplier for these?

Thanks a million,

f
 01/02/2005 07:48:00 PM · #2
I use the Sekonic 508 meter and it is terrific. They have other models at various price points that should offer a match for your needs and budget.

With regards to the SB-800 question, I use the Manfrotto stands (Master - 129742) and an articulated mount joint (Lite Tite - 129645). I add an accessory shoe for mounting the flash. I use one of two different mount couplers depending upon the flashgun, one from Nikon (SU-4) or one from Manfrotto (Flash Shoe - 129507). The Nikon is also a slave trigger unit that works with older flashguns, but is not required for the SB-800 as this feature is built-in. The Manfrotto flash mount is simply a plastic mount that threads into the joint.

The Manfrotto joint will permit an umbrella to be mounted and then I can use it to reflect the light from the SB-800 flashgun. The joint also permits adjustments for tilt and pan of the light source at the subject.

Manfrotto
 01/02/2005 08:12:11 PM · #3
Thanks for that, I too have the Manfrotto Master so will look into the adaptor so I can mount flash and umbrella. Do you ever use multiple SB800s?
 01/02/2005 09:04:34 PM · #4
Originally posted by fee2404:
Thanks for that, I too have the Manfrotto Master so will look into the adaptor so I can mount flash and umbrella. Do you ever use multiple SB800s?


Yes, I do use multiple flash units. I have a number of SB-80s that I hope to trade up to SB-800s in the next few months. I use three together often for control room shots and sometime just one on a stand to offset the light source from the camera.
 01/02/2005 09:06:25 PM · #5
Here is a sample image that was lit with three Nikon SB-80s on stands with umbrellas.

TV Control Room
 01/02/2005 11:22:53 PM · #6
Another plug for sekonic, although I'm using the L-308B 'Flashmate' which is less sophisticated than the 508 morgan mentioned..

See my post, and Natator's (the ones with pictures) in This thread for some gear to use with hotshoe flashes... Might or might not be of use. :-).

Cheers, Chris H.
 01/03/2005 07:20:53 PM · #7
hmmm, just heard that I don't need a light meter if the SB800 is set to iTTL mode - seems too easy!

For a standard portrait shot at an event, what is an ideal lighting configuration?

Thanks,

F
 01/04/2005 03:54:36 PM · #8
Originally posted by fee2404:
hmmm, just heard that I don't need a light meter if the SB800 is set to iTTL mode - seems too easy!

For a standard portrait shot at an event, what is an ideal lighting configuration?

Thanks,

F


Hi-ho,

Certainly TTL metering is simple with modern gear, but...

For iTTL mode with the flash off the camera you'll need an off-camera TTL cable, which might be more expensive than using manual settings and a flash meter... (It certainly is for Canon, you'd have to check with a Nikon Dealer).

Also with TTL metering you're not necesarily going to get a result as consistent as using a light meter. The reflectivity of the objects/people you're taking photos of will 'trick' the TTL metering.. If you get someone turning up in a stunning white dress, the camera will more than likely underexpose the image slightly, or if you get a bunch of folks wearing solid black it will overexpose. Not a big deal, but if you want a whole group of photos to look consistent a light meter and manual settings is the best option.

For the event portraits.. What type of portraits are we talking?

For candid, roaming around the event type shots a sofen omnibounce (or bit of white card) on your SB800 will do the trick as well as anything...

If you're setting up in a corner to do 'formal' photos, the 'ideal' setup would be two 500ws (or bigger) strobes out front, and a third smaller one for a hairlight along with a large backdrop of some kind, but I suspect that's not what you mean?

If you've just got the SB800, a lightstand or tall tripod with a shoot-through white/translucent brolly placed above eye level and slightly out to one side should do the job quite well.. Either using iTTL (expensive TTL cord) or manual settings (light meter & cheap cord/hotshoe adaptor). If you're doing more than 20-30 shots take at least a couple of spare sets of charged spare batteries for the flash.. Noting worse than finding you have to fun the flash at full power to get enough light and running out of juice half way through the class of '04. :-).

Oh, and if you're set up in a corner doing formal shots, don't trust auto white balance... Use a gray card, or white bit of paper under your flashes to set it manually at the location before the first shot. For that matter, if you've got the card space to do it, shoot raw in case the colour isn't quite right out of the camera.

When's your event?

If you're new to the process you really want to have decided on what gear you're going to use at least a couple of weeks ahead, learn how to use it, and what settings work. Even if you have the wrong gear for the job at hand, being consistent on the night will be more important. If you spend the night messing about with settings, and changing things the results wont be that flash.

Hope that was helpful. :-).

Cheers, Chris H.
 01/05/2005 08:23:27 AM · #9
Thanks, was very helpful...

the event is the beginning of February (aaaaargh!!). I have decided to set up in a corner and not do any candids as its just too large an event with too much happening. I have 2 SB800s and I plan to mount one to my camera and the other on a light stand with an umbrella. I am going to get teh L358 as I know I defo need it. Glasgow is a nightmare for getting equipment and I'm struggling to get stands and mounts. To be honest its a bit of a worry. I need 1 stand and a mount thatt can take an umbrella and the light. I also need to find this cheap cable and the hotshoe adaptor!!! where?

I will do the grey card as I don't think I'll have the capacity to shoot all raw (although it may be a better option to get some more memory)
 01/06/2005 04:28:18 AM · #10
www.bhphoto.com ?

I've bought a couple of things from there now... The service was good, and the bits arrived quite quickly considering I'm 7000k's away (or something like that...)

I would hve thought Glasgow would have at least one decent camera shops? Even Christchurch (Nearest city) has two places that stock 'pro' gear, and it's only 400,000 or so people.

Cheers, Chris H.
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