i quite like the look of this...
Pascal:
I just recently purcahsed a 550EX, 420EX, ST-E2, 30" and 45"
umbrella, 2 light stands, and a Sto-fen diffuser for my 420EX.
For the images below, it was my FIRST attempt at portrait
photography. I used the 420 on a light stand with stofen diffuser
direct on the flash (didn't use umbrealla). The 420 was my main
light. I used the 550 as fill light using the 30" umbrella directly
behind the camera and about 3 feet above the camera. I set a ratio
on the ST-E2 of anywhere between 1:2 and 1:4 for the images shot,
the most pleasing ended up being about 1:2 (the first and last
images below were shot with 1:2 ratio).
All this was my first attempt, I learned quite a bit and didn't
have any problems setting up the lights or with the ST-E2. Modeling
flash is pretty usefull!
Keep in mind that I really don't have any experience doing
portraits or setting up the lighting for it. My intent was only to
show you that a beginner like myself was at least able to obtain
the results below with absolutely no troubles at all.
These pictures were shot in my apartment with the model about 3
feet from the living room wall sitting on a little foot stool with
my 28-70L lens zoomed at 70mm with 2.8 or 5.6 aperture. Shutter
speed 1/60. The camera was in manual mode and was showing an
underexposure of over 2 stops. Regardless, I let the E-TTL of the
flash do all the work. I ended up having to overexpose the flashes
by +1 stop (in camera settings, no need to tweak the flashes
themselves) to get the amount of light I wanted. I think I needed
the flash compensation because the metering for flash was partially
metering the off-white wall.
2 reasons
I needed two flashes off camera. One above the camera at least 2 to 3 feet and behind me about 3 feet. (thus eliminating the possibility of the off camera cable). The other for main light to the left or right of subject. If I wanted to, I could have paid the extra $120 or so for another 550EX instead of the ST-E2, but chose not to. Also, using the ST-E2 in the store was really easy to use and I liked how easy setting ratios was (one button operation).
I Probably would. I haven't used my 550EX in manual or strobe yet, so technically I haven't really gotten my monies worth yet.
I've never tried, but everything I've read tells me that you can make it work solely as a trigger but the pre flash will still fire from the 550EX. Apparently there's nothing you can do about that.
Nice results. Especially for a first attempt.
I have a couple of questions for you. I want to do a similar thing
to you. I currently have a 550EX and I'm trying to decide what else
I need to buy.
Is there any reason why you chose the configuration you did?
Why a 420 and a 550 instead of two 550's?
Why did you need the ST-E2 if the 550 can trigger the 420? Couldn't
you just use an off camera cable for the 550 (to get the umbrella
out of the way of the viewfinder/screen) and have it trigger the
420?
If all your stuff was stolen and you had to replace it, would you
buy the same config?
My immediate need (for another project) is a single wireless
off-camera flash. However, I would like to use whatever I buy for
portraiture too.
My current thinking is that (because the ST-E2 is $194, the 420EX
is $184 and the 550EX is $314) I should buy a second 550EX (a bit
more expensive, but gives me a second good flash) or a 420EX
(cheaper than ST-E2, using 550EX o trigger) instead of the ST-E2.
Maybe I would also buy the off-shoe cable too to get the 550 out of
the way (off the camera) What do you thinlk about this?
Do you know if it's possible to use the 550EX solely as a trigger
for a wireless slave (i.e. no flash output: I want it to behave
like a ST-E2 in certain cases).
Thanks in advance
mark
I just recently purcahsed a 550EX, 420EX, ST-E2, 30" and 45"
umbrella, 2 light stands, and a Sto-fen diffuser for my 420EX.
For the images below, it was my FIRST attempt at portrait
photography. I used the 420 on a light stand with stofen diffuser
direct on the flash (didn't use umbrealla). The 420 was my main
light. I used the 550 as fill light using the 30" umbrella directly
behind the camera and about 3 feet above the camera. I set a ratio
on the ST-E2 of anywhere between 1:2 and 1:4 for the images shot,
the most pleasing ended up being about 1:2 (the first and last
images below were shot with 1:2 ratio).
All this was my first attempt, I learned quite a bit and didn't
have any problems setting up the lights or with the ST-E2. Modeling
flash is pretty usefull!
Keep in mind that I really don't have any experience doing
portraits or setting up the lighting for it. My intent was only to
show you that a beginner like myself was at least able to obtain
the results below with absolutely no troubles at all.
These pictures were shot in my apartment with the model about 3
feet from the living room wall sitting on a little foot stool with
my 28-70L lens zoomed at 70mm with 2.8 or 5.6 aperture. Shutter
speed 1/60. The camera was in manual mode and was showing an
underexposure of over 2 stops. Regardless, I let the E-TTL of the
flash do all the work. I ended up having to overexpose the flashes
by +1 stop (in camera settings, no need to tweak the flashes
themselves) to get the amount of light I wanted. I think I needed
the flash compensation because the metering for flash was partially
metering the off-white wall.
You must have been searching the forum to dig up this post.
I'll try to answer your questions...
2 reasons
1: to save a little money.
2: because the 420EX is quite a bit smaller and I also wanted an on
camera flash that wouldn't intimidate people. I only bought the
550EX for future manual uses and for strobe (which I haven't even
tried yet).
I needed two flashes off camera. One above the camera at least 2 to
3 feet and behind me about 3 feet. (thus eliminating the
possibility of the off camera cable). The other for main light to
the left or right of subject. If I wanted to, I could have paid the
extra $120 or so for another 550EX instead of the ST-E2, but chose
not to. Also, using the ST-E2 in the store was really easy to use
and I liked how easy setting ratios was (one button operation).
If you just need one off camera flash, ST-E2 + 550EX is a LOT less
bag space than two 550EX's.
I also use a flash bracket on the camera and didn't want to have to
fuss with wires floating around. ST-E2 with flash on bracket works
excellent indoors, but I haven't tested enough outdoors to know if
it's reliable enough.
And the last reason for the ST-E2 instead of an additional 550EX
was because of the answer to your last question about using it
solely as a trigger.
I Probably would. I haven't used my 550EX in manual or strobe yet,
so technically I haven't really gotten my monies worth yet.
I've never tried, but everything I've read tells me that you can
make it work solely as a trigger but the pre flash will still fire
from the 550EX. Apparently there's nothing you can do about that.
Nice results. Especially for a first attempt.
I have a couple of questions for you. I want to do a similar thing
to you. I currently have a 550EX and I'm trying to decide what else
I need to buy.
Is there any reason why you chose the configuration you did?
Why a 420 and a 550 instead of two 550's?
Why did you need the ST-E2 if the 550 can trigger the 420? Couldn't
you just use an off camera cable for the 550 (to get the umbrella
out of the way of the viewfinder/screen) and have it trigger the
420?
If all your stuff was stolen and you had to replace it, would you
buy the same config?
My immediate need (for another project) is a single wireless
off-camera flash. However, I would like to use whatever I buy for
portraiture too.
My current thinking is that (because the ST-E2 is $194, the 420EX
is $184 and the 550EX is $314) I should buy a second 550EX (a bit
more expensive, but gives me a second good flash) or a 420EX
(cheaper than ST-E2, using 550EX o trigger) instead of the ST-E2.
Maybe I would also buy the off-shoe cable too to get the 550 out of
the way (off the camera) What do you thinlk about this?
Do you know if it's possible to use the 550EX solely as a trigger
for a wireless slave (i.e. no flash output: I want it to behave
like a ST-E2 in certain cases).
Thanks in advance
mark
I just recently purcahsed a 550EX, 420EX, ST-E2, 30" and 45"
umbrella, 2 light stands, and a Sto-fen diffuser for my 420EX.
For the images below, it was my FIRST attempt at portrait
photography. I used the 420 on a light stand with stofen diffuser
direct on the flash (didn't use umbrealla). The 420 was my main
light. I used the 550 as fill light using the 30" umbrella directly
behind the camera and about 3 feet above the camera. I set a ratio
on the ST-E2 of anywhere between 1:2 and 1:4 for the images shot,
the most pleasing ended up being about 1:2 (the first and last
images below were shot with 1:2 ratio).
All this was my first attempt, I learned quite a bit and didn't
have any problems setting up the lights or with the ST-E2. Modeling
flash is pretty usefull!
Keep in mind that I really don't have any experience doing
portraits or setting up the lighting for it. My intent was only to
show you that a beginner like myself was at least able to obtain
the results below with absolutely no troubles at all.
These pictures were shot in my apartment with the model about 3
feet from the living room wall sitting on a little foot stool with
my 28-70L lens zoomed at 70mm with 2.8 or 5.6 aperture. Shutter
speed 1/60. The camera was in manual mode and was showing an
underexposure of over 2 stops. Regardless, I let the E-TTL of the
flash do all the work. I ended up having to overexpose the flashes
by +1 stop (in camera settings, no need to tweak the flashes
themselves) to get the amount of light I wanted. I think I needed
the flash compensation because the metering for flash was partially
metering the off-white wall.
Well, my experience tells me that the so called infra red (red light) works well indoors because it is able to bounce off of walls and transmit it's signal all around with the bouncing. This is probably why the 550EX works on a flash bracket with ST-E2 on camera indoors.
