Category Archives: Gear

Gear

Bargain flash Yongnuo YN-568

I’m always on the lookout for ways to get the most bang for the buck since many of my students are on a very tight budget.

I’m always helping them figure out ways to get a photo shot without buying unnecessary equipment.

Whether it is recommending they buy a bulk film loader and loading their own film, using a car’s sun shield as a reflector, or making their own beauty dish, I’m emphasizing this: the more they’re out there shooting, the faster they’ll progress and improve.

Figuring out workarounds is problem solving.

A good part of photography is just that, once you get past the basics of depth-of-field, exposure and basic lighting.

Nikon, Canon and other Speedlights or flash units are fancy and chockful of bells and whistles but they cost a lot.

That’s why I’ve been telling my students about Yongnuo. Continue reading Bargain flash Yongnuo YN-568 →

Gear

Canon 600EX-RT with Canon 40D & Canon 5DMark2

Though Canon says you will need a camera body made in 2011 for High Shutter Speed Sync, my tests show older camera bodies will work in this mode.
Though Canon says you will need a camera body made in 2011 for High Shutter Speed Sync, my tests show older camera bodies will work in this mode. Above is the display of the ST-E3-RT that is attached to the hotshoe.  I set shutter speed to 1/8000 sec and shot off a frame. The resulting frame looked under exposed but was in sync meaning the entire frame was exposed. I suspect in that mode, I will have to go into my E-TTL setting and add more light selecting “+2” or even “+3” to compensate for the light loss or else switch to Manual mode and increase the power ratio.

High shutter speed sync is the mode that many photographers using Speedlites rave about but in practice its applications even with the latest greatest Canon bodies is limited.

It’s a very pricey feature because you have to buy the top-of-the-line Speedlite. Continue reading Canon 600EX-RT with Canon 40D & Canon 5DMark2 →

Gear

Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT is worth the price

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The 600-EX-RT Speedlite was placed out-of-sight behind Arnold on the right to provide the much needed separation of my subjects in black tshirts from the dark interior of the tunnel. Buy a Hip-o tshirt.
The 600-EX-RT Speedlite was placed out-of-sight behind Arnold on the right to provide the much needed separation of my subjects in black tshirts from the dark interior of the tunnel. Buy a Hip-o tshirt.

600exrt-ste3rt
Happy New Year everyone.

I started the new year with a new addition to my lighting toolkit–the next generation radio controlled Canon Speedlite–the 600EX-RT and its companion transmitter ST-E3-RT.

The price tag is pretty hefty, $890, the 600 EX-RT costing $570 and the ST-E3-RT $320.

Compare that to the price of a top-of-the-line Radio Popper radio slaved Speedlite $879 or mid-range radio slave Cybersync radio slaves—$655

Interestingly before Canon’s new Speedlite 600Ex-RT hit the markets, Radio Poppers kits of transmitter and receiver were priced at $250 a piece! Continue reading Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT is worth the price →

Gear, Tutorials

Two light setup for self-portrait

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Self Portrait Tips

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#1 A ‘hard light’ i.e. a Speedlite fitted with a grid spot was my main or key light on the right for this type of lighting commonly known as ‘short lighting’. There was another speedlite also fitted with a grid spot for a backlight. I used the grids because I didn’t want the light to spill all over. I was too lazy to remove the picture hanging on the wall behind me, so this was the simple solution. See other picture.

When my new Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite and its companion ST-E3-RT transmitter arrived, I couldn’t find locate a model.

I’m not so fond of self-portraits for obvious reasons. Continue reading Two light setup for self-portrait →