idealguy Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 I would like to set up a home studio to use for both portraits and other creative (in my case experimental) photos. I am thinking of getting the set with 2 Canon 550EX flash units and the ST-E2 On camera controller. What else would I need to make this effective and produce soft lighting for portraits and other photos. Do they make a stand that the flash will mount onto and then somehow mount an umbrella to it to soften the flash? would I need another flash or would 2 be sufficient? As for metering would the cameras meter work? or would I need some other form of light meter? as the flash units and the controller are already going to run about 800 bucks I would like to get 2 stands maybe another umbrella (if necessary), basically the minimum I can get away with for now....as I still have to purchase a backdrop and stands for that as well. Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto phokuz Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 Okay, first off: Photography isn't a cheap hobby or profession, so as far as spending money --get over it.I recently purchased two clamps that fit onto regular stands. They have a screw-in at the top similar to the camera bottom for tripods. The clamp also has a place to secure umbrellas. They swivel, etc. Try B&H photo, 'swivel-brackets' about $28@.If you have a controller, I assume you're using the Canon digital?If so, you probably can get out of having to buy a flash meter, like the Minolta VI for $250.If it's home and you need backdrops, don't limit yourself, try coloring some plain sheets, hang the backdrop from the ceiling on a piece of conduit, (really cheap). Couple of hanging plant hooks and some wire, you got it made.Be creative! Nessecity is the Mother of Invention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_strutz Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 The 550EX comes with a small mount that holds the flash and has a tripod screw socket (1/4"x20) You will need to get a swivel/tilt mount for the top of a stand or tripod that holds the umbrella & allows the flash mount to attach to it. They're about $20 or so. You'll also need two light stands and two umbrellas. If you used a third flash for either a hair light or back light, you probably would not want another umbrella, but sometimes you might want to fashion a snoot for it with black alluminum foil or something else like it. No other light meter would be needed, and it wouldn't work if you had one. The communication & metering pre-flashes would fool the meter. Even if you use the flash units in wireles manual mode, the communication pulses would likely mess up any hand held meter reading. In my opinion, Canon's wireless system works best as quick setup system. By the time you assemble the stands, umbrellas, lights & background; it's no longer really a quick setup system. You could spend considerably less by using old manual flashes, like Sunpak 522 units, with a flashmeter & peanut slaves. You'd have to meter, but exposures would be at least as reliable. Or you could spend about the same as the Canon Wireless system & get real monolights or a pack light setup. Then you would get real modeling lights to work with and more power. But is quick setup is what you want... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_cochran Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 I put together a page on basic off-camera flash with umbrellas<a href="http://webs.lanset.com/rcochran/flash">here</a>.There are pictures and info on how to attach hotshoe flashesand umbrellas to stands.<p>My suggestion would be along the lines of Jim's. For $800.00, geta couple of monolights with modelling lights, along with a basic flash meter. It'll be much more versatile and powerfulthan a couple of dedicated 550EX flashes, though it will beadmittedly less automated. But putting lights on stands isn'tthat automated anyway -- if you can afford the time to set upthe lights on stands, you can afford the time to take a readingwith a flash meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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