Hiya Chuck,
Have you tried the MikeM foam reflection-diffuser idea yet? It's
far more portable than umbrellas. There's really no limit to how
big you can make them and they lay flat for storage. In addition
to using them as diffusers they can be rolled around the flash head
to create a snoot, or placed to the side as a flag. A very handy
device
Nope! That's all news to me. Please fill me in.
Another great discovery was the use of an IV stand as a portable
light stand. Compact but heavy cast steel base and 5 wheels for
stability.
Heavy? HOW heavy? I'm trying to make something I can throw over the 'other' shoulder and carry on the tube (read subway).
Mind you, I'm not averse to pressing equipment into service that was designed for use in applications different to photography. My background support system is a block and tackle arrangement made with parts sourced in a yacht chandlers -- low cost, and works a whole lot better than any of the purpose made stuff.
big snip
[Hmm.. that is seriously cheap for something with a cast base and wheels. How about the pole? Does it break down at all?]
As it happens I have got my stands, and they were reasonably priced.
They're Manfrotto Nano stands, the successors to the Bogen model that Strobist suggest, and I have to say that they are good. Very light, but with a sizable footprint, and the folded size is really mini. Also, I do not need wheels at all in this application, especially not out of doors.
Are you going to stick with your Vivitars or upgrade?
Well, I know that you went for a Canon system that pleased you greatly, but the 285s have been very good to me, so I have no plans to pass them on just yet. I find their power more than adequate, and I prefer old fashioned switches and controls I can set by 'feel'.
(see note re. 285s at the bottom of this post)
The SB26 (that is also going to be part of this lightweight kit) is a real hassle by comparison. It is more adjustable all round, and does some clever tricks like strobing, but I hate the way I have to look at its LCD just to select/page through the menu system to the function I want. If I come back one minute later, to tweek it, I have to page all the way through to that function again....I always overshoot and have to come round again.
.....AND I have to put on my old man's reading glasses just to do it. Grrrrrr....... !!
I also have an old but well preserved Metz CT-1 hammerhead, which is a flash with serious grunt -- so much so it's a very satisfactory substitute for a proper studio head. Unfortunately its manual control is limited to full smack and nothing else, although I have found the auto apertures, choice of 5, very consistent in that model.
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Did you know that the 285 has the potential for MORE auto apertures than you think? Oh yes indeedy!.
Because of the simple way the auto apertures are implemented, it is perfectly possible to set half way "between colours" [red/blue, or yellow/red, say] and get those extra settings. The accuracy is perfectly fine; certainly no worse than the legitimate settings. It is even quite easy to open the sensor housing and cut additional click-stop notches in the little cam thing that revolves, if you are minded to do so. I did it with a craft knife.
Thank you for your interest, Chuck.
Be careful out there.
--
Regards,
Baz
