Getting into Flash photography.

[nominak]

So i'm looking at getting into Flash photography, and i'm not prepared to pay the premium for Canon flashes.

I've been looking around and saw that the Yongnuo 560 II seems to be the most used "cheap" flash that results in decent results. It has an LCD on the back and everything so that's nice, and it's all manual.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the YN560 II? If so, how do you like it?

I'm also gonna buy wireless receivers for it as well for cheap, seen a few that have great reviews on Amazon, and for $30 why not right?

[Argote]

Try reviews over at B&H Photo which should be a bit more professional than the ones at Amazon. Amazon is still a good indicator though.

[nominak]

I would have loved to but when I went to search for it, B&H said they don't carry YN gear.

Turns out when I went to order the 560 II from Amazon they were out, so I opted for the higher end version with ETTL the YN 565ex.. So I hope my NPT-04 triggers work with it :p

[Argote]

Does that one also have full manual controls? (on top of the ETTL)

[DJD]

I would have loved to but when I went to search for it, B&H said they don't carry YN gear.

Turns out when I went to order the 560 II from Amazon they were out, so I opted for the higher end version with ETTL the YN 565ex.. So I hope my NPT-04 triggers work with it :p

I don't own a Yongnuo myself but I know people who do and they all really like them, build quality isn't as good as a Canon 580EXII but they are reliable.

I'm sorry to say it but those triggers don't do ETTL you have to manually set everything. If you want triggers that do ETTL you should look at Pocketwizards or Pixel Kings but they cost 10x the amount as the NPT-04 triggers.

[nominak]

I don't own a Yongnuo myself but I know people who do and they all really like them, build quality isn't as good as a Canon 580EXII but they are reliable.

I'm sorry to say it but those triggers don't do ETTL you have to manually set everything. If you want triggers that do ETTL you should look at Pocketwizards or Pixel Kings but they cost 10x the amount as the NPT-04 triggers.

Oh yeah I know they won't do Ettl and that's cool. That might make me better for using the flash manually and really learn lighting.

[DJD]

Oh yeah I know they won't do Ettl and that's cool. That might make me better for using the flash manually and really learn lighting.

Yeah and ETTL isn't useful when using multiple flashes anyway! It works great with macro photography though!

[nominak]

Yeah and ETTL isn't useful when using multiple flashes anyway! It works great with macro photography though!

Well I'll see how working with one flash goes lol. I have a few ideas for portraits already for a one light setup. Just not sure if it'll work right lol

[crazzy88ss]

Yeah and ETTL isn't useful when using multiple flashes anyway! It works great with macro photography though!

Either you're misinformed, for I'm misinformed about Canon's flash capabilities (which is 100% possible).

I use all 3 of my Nikon flashes w/ TTL just fine. So do the pros. I can't imagine Canon's is THAT much worse?

[crazzy88ss]

Well I'll see how working with one flash goes lol. I have a few ideas for portraits already for a one light setup. Just not sure if it'll work right lol

Anyway, if you haven't already, be sure to follow Strobist and Joe McNally; they're kinda two main guys in small flash stuff.

[nominak]

Anyway, if you haven't already, be sure to follow Strobist and Joe McNally; they're kinda two main guys in small flash stuff.

Yeah i've been kinda watching more of their videos in the last couple of days.. gonna have to follow them a little more closely

[Argote]

Either you're misinformed, for I'm misinformed about Canon's flash capabilities (which is 100% possible). I use all 3 of my Nikon flashes w/ TTL just fine. So do the pros. I can't imagine Canon's is THAT much worse?

I'm guessing that what was meant here is that the true potential of using a multiflash setup is more evident when you manually set up the lighting to achieve the effect you want rather than just getting "correct" lighting everytime with TTL.

[DJD]

Either you're misinformed, for I'm misinformed about Canon's flash capabilities (which is 100% possible).

I use all 3 of my Nikon flashes w/ TTL just fine. So do the pros. I can't imagine Canon's is THAT much worse?

Did I ever say it wasn't possible? No! Imho the whole reason of using multiple flashes is to get a more creative shot which to be honest doesn't really work with TTL, the whole point of using TTL is to get a "correct" exposure. For instance in situations where you simply don't have the time to manually set every flash, but when lighting conditions don't change every time you will want to have more control over your lights to get a bit more creative freedom. The whole problem with TTL is that it has to fire a pre-flash directly onto the subject to get the correct exposure now this will be a problem when you have a white subject where almost all the light will be reflected back so it has a tendency to underexpose, and over expose black subject because that soaks up all the light.

[nominak]

So the YN 565EX came in today, quicker than I expected since it only shipped on Monday!

Anyway, never really got a chance to test it out in a real world situation yet, but I went and took a picture of the spider outside lol... I'm waiting on my wireless triggers/stand/umbrella combo to come in and hopefully take some pictures with that.. and I need to invest in some Eneloops..

First picture :

Cropped real close thats why its all grainy...

Second : Same picture just black and white.

Done with 50mm 1.8 @ f5.6/ISO 100/Shutter @ 1/200th

Flash was @ 1/16th power : Zoom @ 50mm

[nominak]

Ok... so I was playing around with it earlier... LOVE IT... Flash photography is awesome.

[MidTxWRX]

Check out Zack Arias and his lighting workshops

http://zackarias.com/