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Getting to M and Off Camera Flash
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<blockquote data-quote="Fortkentdad" data-source="post: 604706" data-attributes="member: 24285"><p>Time for an update on this "getting to M with OCF" story.</p><p></p><p>So after much consternation and internal debate I decided to go with the Godox line. </p><p></p><p>Looked long and hard at Pocket Wizard but since one of my three flashes have a PC sync I'd have to go with the hotfoot models or buy new flashes the cost became a bit much. </p><p>I looked at the TTL5 set up which in these parts comes in $750 for a mini TTL1 transmitter and two TTL5, plus that AC gizmo. And a bag. But that gave me direct control of two off camera flashes, all others would need to be optical slave. Came close to going that way. </p><p></p><p>Yongnuo's challenge with using a light meter had me concerned, but I did consider it and the price made it tempting - it is the number one selling brand out there now. Cactus V6 was also in the running as was Phottix models. I spend many evenings back and forth on which one to go with. </p><p></p><p>In the end I went with the Godox X1 system - the transmitter (with a pass through hot shoe) and two receivers was $180. And I added a new flash GN60 - with Lithium battery - and built in radio transmitter/receiver. Plus a big bare bulb Godox 360ii also with built in radio transmitter/receiver. There is a shop called "Strobe Pro" in Calgary that supplies these rebranded as Strobe-Pro line. This rebranding is an odd way to market but to each their own I guess. The fact there is a 'local' specialty photography lighting shop that features the godox line was part of my choice. Local as in just a six hour drive away. <a href="https://strobepro.com/collections/speedlite-flash-1" target="_blank">https://strobepro.com/collections/speedlite-flash-1</a> both flashes I bought there are on that page. </p><p></p><p>For good measure I've ordered two new softboxes (one arrived from Amazon; the 2'x2' Neweer grid box). A Westcott Apollo is on order yet, importing that from distant NY NY. And a few speedlight modifiers (ebay specials - should be here by Easter). </p><p></p><p>And I bought a Sekonic 308s light meter. Oh my dearly beloved did ask the other day "are you done yet?" - I just smiled. </p><p></p><p>Part of the deciding factor was reading that Godox had found a way around the pre-flash problem to use light meters even though the flashes are in TTL. So I had to try this out after the triggers arrived and I'm satisfied it works. It does not work if you trigger the flash with the camera while taking a picture unless the flash itself is in Manual mode - in which case you lose the trigger's remote control features and turn it into a simple dumb trigger that just fires the flash in the Manual setting it is at (just like the basic P.W.). But if you put the flash into TTL and then dial in Manual on the trigger unit, press the Test button and the light meter gets a meaningful reading. Apparently it also works if you attach the trigger to the meter by a cable but that's a bother I didn't try. </p><p></p><p>It seems to be a valid reading although I'm no expert. If I increase or decrease the power dialed in for the flash - the light meter responds in the appropriate way. I took a set of test shots using the recommended settings from the meter gave me when I pressed "test fire" - and the images all had very similar levels of exposure even though I was using different apertures / shutter speeds and/or ISO. So close enough for this novice. </p><p></p><p>Today I tested the HSS capacity and I had no problem breaking the 1/250 mark for shutter speed. </p><p></p><p>I tried a two light set up to torment my poor parrot. He'll let me know when he's annoyed enough - believe me he knows how to say 'no more'. </p><p></p><p>These are all HSS with two off camera flashes. All flash and the camera in M (well the flash are in TTL but set to M through the trigger). The lights are speedlights (SB-700 and SB-600) with no modifiers. They are side lighting coming at Kiwi from the left and right about two to four feet away. I played with positioning, sometimes higher sometimes as low as sitting on the floor. I like how the background either goes black or pretty close to black. The light meter gave me a reading of F 6.3 at 1/500 (the fasted speed the unit I have would give me? ) This resulted in a lovely fully exposed images - showing the dirty cage and all the mess behind. Chose to creatively hide all that in these shots ignoring the 'recommended' exposure. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]243972[/ATTACH][ATTACH]243973[/ATTACH][ATTACH]243974[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The adventure continues.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fortkentdad, post: 604706, member: 24285"] Time for an update on this "getting to M with OCF" story. So after much consternation and internal debate I decided to go with the Godox line. Looked long and hard at Pocket Wizard but since one of my three flashes have a PC sync I'd have to go with the hotfoot models or buy new flashes the cost became a bit much. I looked at the TTL5 set up which in these parts comes in $750 for a mini TTL1 transmitter and two TTL5, plus that AC gizmo. And a bag. But that gave me direct control of two off camera flashes, all others would need to be optical slave. Came close to going that way. Yongnuo's challenge with using a light meter had me concerned, but I did consider it and the price made it tempting - it is the number one selling brand out there now. Cactus V6 was also in the running as was Phottix models. I spend many evenings back and forth on which one to go with. In the end I went with the Godox X1 system - the transmitter (with a pass through hot shoe) and two receivers was $180. And I added a new flash GN60 - with Lithium battery - and built in radio transmitter/receiver. Plus a big bare bulb Godox 360ii also with built in radio transmitter/receiver. There is a shop called "Strobe Pro" in Calgary that supplies these rebranded as Strobe-Pro line. This rebranding is an odd way to market but to each their own I guess. The fact there is a 'local' specialty photography lighting shop that features the godox line was part of my choice. Local as in just a six hour drive away. [URL]https://strobepro.com/collections/speedlite-flash-1[/URL] both flashes I bought there are on that page. For good measure I've ordered two new softboxes (one arrived from Amazon; the 2'x2' Neweer grid box). A Westcott Apollo is on order yet, importing that from distant NY NY. And a few speedlight modifiers (ebay specials - should be here by Easter). And I bought a Sekonic 308s light meter. Oh my dearly beloved did ask the other day "are you done yet?" - I just smiled. Part of the deciding factor was reading that Godox had found a way around the pre-flash problem to use light meters even though the flashes are in TTL. So I had to try this out after the triggers arrived and I'm satisfied it works. It does not work if you trigger the flash with the camera while taking a picture unless the flash itself is in Manual mode - in which case you lose the trigger's remote control features and turn it into a simple dumb trigger that just fires the flash in the Manual setting it is at (just like the basic P.W.). But if you put the flash into TTL and then dial in Manual on the trigger unit, press the Test button and the light meter gets a meaningful reading. Apparently it also works if you attach the trigger to the meter by a cable but that's a bother I didn't try. It seems to be a valid reading although I'm no expert. If I increase or decrease the power dialed in for the flash - the light meter responds in the appropriate way. I took a set of test shots using the recommended settings from the meter gave me when I pressed "test fire" - and the images all had very similar levels of exposure even though I was using different apertures / shutter speeds and/or ISO. So close enough for this novice. Today I tested the HSS capacity and I had no problem breaking the 1/250 mark for shutter speed. I tried a two light set up to torment my poor parrot. He'll let me know when he's annoyed enough - believe me he knows how to say 'no more'. These are all HSS with two off camera flashes. All flash and the camera in M (well the flash are in TTL but set to M through the trigger). The lights are speedlights (SB-700 and SB-600) with no modifiers. They are side lighting coming at Kiwi from the left and right about two to four feet away. I played with positioning, sometimes higher sometimes as low as sitting on the floor. I like how the background either goes black or pretty close to black. The light meter gave me a reading of F 6.3 at 1/500 (the fasted speed the unit I have would give me? ) This resulted in a lovely fully exposed images - showing the dirty cage and all the mess behind. Chose to creatively hide all that in these shots ignoring the 'recommended' exposure. [ATTACH=CONFIG]243972._xfImport[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]243973._xfImport[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]243974._xfImport[/ATTACH] The adventure continues. [/QUOTE]
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