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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Beginner lighting equipment...need opinions.
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 02/02/2008 01:47:23 PM · #26
Question on the Strobist option:

I've only heard good things about going the Strobist route when the photographer wants to be mobile and flexible. What are the drawbacks to consider?
 02/02/2008 02:00:14 PM · #27
Originally posted by yakatme:
What are the drawbacks to consider?


* Lack of modeling lights, which may or may not be a disadvantage, but less of a disadvantage with digital.
* Not as much power available from standard flash guns as from studio strobes
* Lack of pre-made light modifiers, such as softboxes, snoots, grids... might have to go DYI of most of that. For umbrella shooting, not a big issue
* Recycle times are generally much slower, although battery packs can help.

FWIW, I have both. I use the strobes when I have available AC power and when I don't need to travel light. I use the strobist setup (two Sunpal 383's and an older 333 with Cactus triggers) whenever I need to travel light or don't have AC power OR if I don't feel like dragging the strobe setup out (for last minute challenge entries for instance).

Message edited by author 2008-02-02 14:03:40.
 02/02/2008 02:02:23 PM · #28
Originally posted by yakatme:
Question on the Strobist option:

I've only heard good things about going the Strobist route when the photographer wants to be mobile and flexible. What are the drawbacks to consider?

Since you are using lower power flashes instead of strobes, they can be underpowered in some cases. Say you have a large room that eats a lot of light or a room with a lot of heavy fabric like velvet.
 02/02/2008 02:24:29 PM · #29
Originally posted by Gaby_G:
Hi, I know this thread is for low budget lighting equipment, but I dont wanna open a new lighting thread, has someone has the "Square perfect" brand? I saw a very large equipment in ebay, at an affordable price and would love to know if it is a good brand...


From a different thread, about a week ago or so, I mentioned that ALL strobes are made in China.

Someone said that Alien Bees were not, and I replied that they probly just make the housing, else they would not be as cheap as they are in the first place and couldn't compete in todays market.

The brand name now a days is really irrelevant. It's not like the old days when the brands had workers that had a stake in the products, making the quality brands from their respective countries.

When one heard of a Swiss, or Italian, or German strobe, it once meant a high standard of quality from their respective companies.

Today, however, it is only about warranties, bells and whistles, and how much money you are willing to spend.

Chinese companies hammer out, per brand name specs, strobes just like Detroit and Japan hammer out a car.

Just like we have seen in recent months of Chinese made toys going to big name companies here in the USA being dangerous to children. The same goes to the consumer in "buyer beware" when purchasing a strobe. Unfortunately, photography has become available to anyone with a few dollars, creating a market of less than high quality, cost cutting, cheap labor products.

I am just talking about strobes. I am not talking about propriatory equipment with top secret engineering like the camera body or lens sets.

But a strobe is a strobe is a strobe. Stamped, milled, wired, painted, and sold to the consumer that doesn't know better.


02/02/2008 07:30:54 PM · #30
Ok guys, I have read through the strobist lighting 101 and I have to say that it is brilliant. I am a bit uncertain exactly what flash guns are being used. Can you all give me some cheap ideas that will work with my D40? Thanks again all for your help!
 02/02/2008 07:36:24 PM · #31
Mr. Hobby used sb-24's and 28's when he first started, but he might have upgraded now to some that support CLS, not sure.

You can randomly find 24/28's on the internet, but they went up in price significantly when the Strobist blog became really popular.

The Vivitar 285's seem to be the the DIY gear of choice lately, you can find strobist kits and Mpex.com, which is one of the Strobist advertisers.
 02/17/2008 09:31:29 AM · #32
I've been poking around the Stobist site and here look for what I need. I've already got the Rebel XTi (400D) and Sigma EF 500 DG ST Flash.

I guess I'll need a PC to Hotshoe adapter (for the flash) and a Hotshoe to PC adapter (for the camera) and a PC cord. Am I correct in this? The cheap adapters on B&H don't seem to get good reviews. Does anyone have any other recommendations? I want to go inexpensive for now, but not necessarily "cheap".

I'm just looking to do some fun stuff in the basement. Still lifes, play around with portraits, etc. I'm not looking to become a pro right now, I just want to learn a little.


02/17/2008 10:16:38 AM · #33
Originally posted by larryslights:
I've been poking around the Stobist site and here look for what I need. I've already got the Rebel XTi (400D) and Sigma EF 500 DG ST Flash.

I guess I'll need a PC to Hotshoe adapter (for the flash) and a Hotshoe to PC adapter (for the camera) and a PC cord. Am I correct in this? The cheap adapters on B&H don't seem to get good reviews. Does anyone have any other recommendations? I want to go inexpensive for now, but not necessarily "cheap".

I'm just looking to do some fun stuff in the basement. Still lifes, play around with portraits, etc. I'm not looking to become a pro right now, I just want to learn a little.


I recently went the strobist route. When I was considering the price of pc cords and adapters, I went ahead and just decided to give the cactus V2s triggers a try. I heard good and bad about them, so for my own piece of mind, I ordered straight from Gadget Infinity. $32.95. You can get them cheaper on e-bay.(just make sure they are the 4channel V2s versions, most of the problems I heard about were on the earlier version)
I've been real happy with mine so far. I've done a couple of shoots, probably over 200 shots easy. Maybe 3or 4 misfires, but at least a couple of those I think I was just getting a little overzealous and didn't wait for the flash to re-cycle.
 02/17/2008 12:00:12 PM · #34
I spent a total of $400 on my lighting rig and got 2 Vivitar 285s, a Nikon SB-20, 2 stands, gels, umbrellas, adapters, wireless firing stuff and 3 receivers and a 5 in 1 reflector job that I don't really use.

I've done a lot of gigs with the strobist stuff and I have to say that for the money they're fantastic. No ttl, no fancy gubbins but you don't really need that if you're used to your equipment.
 02/19/2008 10:30:32 AM · #35
Originally posted by taterbug:
Originally posted by larryslights:
I've been poking around the Stobist site and here look for what I need. I've already got the Rebel XTi (400D) and Sigma EF 500 DG ST Flash.

I guess I'll need a PC to Hotshoe adapter (for the flash) and a Hotshoe to PC adapter (for the camera) and a PC cord. Am I correct in this? The cheap adapters on B&H don't seem to get good reviews. Does anyone have any other recommendations? I want to go inexpensive for now, but not necessarily "cheap".

I'm just looking to do some fun stuff in the basement. Still lifes, play around with portraits, etc. I'm not looking to become a pro right now, I just want to learn a little.


I recently went the strobist route. When I was considering the price of pc cords and adapters, I went ahead and just decided to give the cactus V2s triggers a try. I heard good and bad about them, so for my own piece of mind, I ordered straight from Gadget Infinity. $32.95. You can get them cheaper on e-bay.(just make sure they are the 4channel V2s versions, most of the problems I heard about were on the earlier version)
I've been real happy with mine so far. I've done a couple of shoots, probably over 200 shots easy. Maybe 3or 4 misfires, but at least a couple of those I think I was just getting a little overzealous and didn't wait for the flash to re-cycle.


Thanks for the link to the wireless triggers. I'm just a bit skiddish ordering from Hong Kong. If I do decide to go wired, are these the parts I need?:

Hot Shoe adapter
Adapter for flash
Sync cable
 02/19/2008 10:41:31 AM · #36
Originally posted by larryslights:
I've been poking around the Stobist site and here look for what I need. I've already got the Rebel XTi (400D) and Sigma EF 500 DG ST Flash.

I guess I'll need a PC to Hotshoe adapter (for the flash) and a Hotshoe to PC adapter (for the camera) and a PC cord. Am I correct in this? The cheap adapters on B&H don't seem to get good reviews. Does anyone have any other recommendations? I want to go inexpensive for now, but not necessarily "cheap".

I'm just looking to do some fun stuff in the basement. Still lifes, play around with portraits, etc. I'm not looking to become a pro right now, I just want to learn a little.


The sigma WILL NOT fire off a hot shoe adapter. I don't know why, but the sigmas won't do it.
02/19/2008 11:01:07 AM · #37
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Originally posted by larryslights:
I've been poking around the Stobist site and here look for what I need. I've already got the Rebel XTi (400D) and Sigma EF 500 DG ST Flash.

I guess I'll need a PC to Hotshoe adapter (for the flash) and a Hotshoe to PC adapter (for the camera) and a PC cord. Am I correct in this? The cheap adapters on B&H don't seem to get good reviews. Does anyone have any other recommendations? I want to go inexpensive for now, but not necessarily "cheap".

I'm just looking to do some fun stuff in the basement. Still lifes, play around with portraits, etc. I'm not looking to become a pro right now, I just want to learn a little.


The sigma WILL NOT fire off a hot shoe adapter. I don't know why, but the sigmas won't do it.


bummer. I guess I should think about the Hong Kong wireless doohickeys
 02/19/2008 11:05:47 AM · #38
I also went the strobist route. I have 2 Sigma 500 supers, and a Nikon sb-24. I made a long pc adapter cable (instructions on strobist) to connect to the Nikon flash, then trigger the sigmas using the optical slave mode.

since then i bought the gadget infinity triggers. I use them exclusively now. No issues whatsoever. it is nice to have the freedom to move flashes at will. Just means that I have to set power manually. would be nice to have e-ttl wireless!
 02/19/2008 11:33:49 AM · #39
Sigma 500 DG Super will work on or off the camera JUST FINE! YOU NEED TO KNOW THE TRICK!

You must pres the FEL or the # with your right thumb to set off the preflash if you are using a super off the camera...

This is optical slave mode...your sigma flash off the camera will now be triggered by the camera flash. For the camera to fire a flash, you must have the shutter speed at under 200th of a sec and you must have hit the * or fel on the camera to pre fire the pre flash.

If you have more than one Simgma Super, there is a few settings more that have to be figured out first for it to work. It works great, the Canon TTL is what is throwing the sigma off!

here is what you should see if you flash was setup optically
02/19/2008 12:25:59 PM · #40
Yes, they will fire eTTL wirlessly from a Canon or Sigma 'master' unit, and will trigger via their built in optical slave. What they won't do is fire off a hot shoe adapter - needed if you're using a pocket wizard or similar item to trigger the Sigma.

I have a Sigma EF500DG Super for sale, with two stofen's (white and amber). Works fine. PM if interested. It used to be my backup flash so it never got used a lot, but did get used at least once a month to keep the capacitors fresh.

Metz says that strorage for 3+ months without use will cause the caps to go bad (in any flash) so beware of old units you buy on ebay that have been sitting around for months or years unused. Been there done that myself. Just thought I'd pass it along.
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