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2 550EX's and the ST-E2 Stands?


idealguy

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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 flashes

and umbrellas to stands.

<p>

My suggestion would be along the lines of Jim's. For $800.00, get

a couple of monolights with modelling lights, along with

a basic flash meter. It'll be much more versatile and powerful

than a couple of dedicated 550EX flashes, though it will be

admittedly less automated. But putting lights on stands isn't

that automated anyway -- if you can afford the time to set up

the lights on stands, you can afford the time to take a reading

with a flash meter.

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