{"id":9163,"date":"2016-03-30T12:23:26","date_gmt":"2016-03-30T12:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.wordpress\/?p=9163"},"modified":"2019-07-24T01:09:50","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T05:09:50","slug":"building-the-home-studio-part-3-flashes-light-meters-and-backgrounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/building-the-home-studio-part-3-flashes-light-meters-and-backgrounds\/","title":{"rendered":"Building the Home Studio Part 3: Flashes, Light Meters and Backgrounds"},"content":{"rendered":"
All images by Dawn M. Wayand unless otherwise noted.<\/em><\/h6>\n

Light is crucial in photography. Don\u2019t believe me? Turn out all of the lights in your room, close the blackout curtains, make sure there is absolutely no light coming from anything in your room. Now try to take a picture.Is focusgiving you issues? Don\u2019t give up. Turn your focus to manual and now try. I bet you still get nothing. Without light, there is no photograph.<\/p>\n

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Light of any amount from any source is necessary to create an image.<\/em><\/h6>\n

You can create and shape light as you wish to convey the mood you envision for your end result, but you must always have some sort of light – no matter how little – to create a photograph. We covered continuous lights in our last article of this series<\/a>. In this article, we will move into the convenient and portable flash or \u201cspeedlight\u201d.<\/p>\n

Speedlights<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Though a decent strobe can be less expensive than a good speedlight system, I wanted to start our flash lighting topic with speedlights first because many of you may not start off working in a studio environment. Some of you may be going to client homes or offices. Some of you may also be shooting outdoors. Due to their size, speedlights can be a much more portable and convenient solution for lighting a scene than a strobe. I dive deeper into the actual advantages, disadvantages and functions of using a speedlight in my article: Quickstart Guide to Speedlights<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

NIKON<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Flashes-100.JPG\"<\/p>\n

My Nikon SB-700 Speedlight.<\/em><\/p>\n

I am primarily a Nikon shooter, and while I currently work with the Nikon SB-700<\/a> (an older, but \u201cstill kicking\u201d Nikon model), like most upgrades, the latest Nikon SB-910<\/a> is a nice upgrade from the SB-700 in that it provides a longer flash duration, a quicker recycling time and greater lens coverage as noted below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Comparative Features<\/strong><\/td>\nNikon SB-700<\/strong><\/td>\nNikon SB-910<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flash Duration – M1\/1 (full) output:<\/td>\n1\/1042 sec.<\/td>\n1\/880 sec.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quicker Recycling Time – [using NiMH (eneloop) batteries]:<\/td>\n2.5 sec.<\/td>\n2.3 sec.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Greater Lens Coverage – (FX-format, Auto mode):<\/td>\n24-120mm<\/td>\n17-200mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/td>\n$326.95<\/td>\n$546.95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Depending on what you are shooting, how quickly you are shooting and how far away you might shoot your subject, the semi-minor differences might make a difference to you to warrant the $120 difference for the newer model.<\/p>\n

CANON<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Canon-Speedlite-600EX-RT-1.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Adorama.<\/em><\/p>\n

The industry standard speedlite for Canon shooters is now the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT<\/a> at a $469.00 price tag. Unfortunately, and unlike the wireless Nikon speedlight, the Canon speedlite requires the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT<\/a> at an additional $280.00 to fire the speedlite – physically – off-camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Canon-Speedlite-600EX-RT.jpg\"<\/td>\n\"Canon-Speedlite-Transmitter-ST-E3-RT.jpg\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Features<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flash Duration (at full power):<\/td>\n0.0018 – 0.0023 sec<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recycling Time:<\/td>\nApproximately 0.1 – 5.5 seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Coverage – (Full-frame):<\/td>\n14 mm – 200 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Price:<\/td>\n$749.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

NISSIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Nissin-Di-700-Air-Kit.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Adorama.<\/em><\/p>\n

A current third party model that has comparable features to both Canon and Nikon flashes, but has radio capabilities at a fraction of the cost that I am a bit impressed with at the moment is the Nissin Di 700 Air Flash Kit at $299.00 which comes with the Commander and is made in Nikon<\/a>, Canon<\/a> and Sony<\/a> versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Features<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flash Duration:<\/td>\n1\/800 – 1\/30000 Sec<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recycling Time:<\/td>\n0.1 – 4 Sec<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Coverage – (Full-frame):<\/td>\n24 – 200mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Price w\/ Commander:<\/td>\n$299.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Flash Accessories<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Batteries<\/strong><\/p>\n

Batteries can be a big investment over time if you go with regular alkaline batteries. However, if you go with NiMH rechargeable batteries, they are better for the environment because they are reusable, they help the flash have a better recycle time and they are less expensive in the long run. Panasonic Eneloop AA Rechargeable Batteries<\/a> are $19.99 for a pack of 8, but are high-performance and be reused up to 2,100 times.<\/p>\n

\"Flashpoint-Packs.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Adorama.<\/em><\/p>\n

For extended use in the field, a battery pack could be a good idea as well as they are also rechargeable, they can triple the duration of the flash and they allow for a faster recycle time. Flashpoint Blast Power Packs<\/a> are decent budget power packs that run between $269.95-$349.95 depending on if you want an extra battery with it or not. They are available according to your brand of flash.<\/p>\n

Flash Brackets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flash brackets are mainly used for events but they can be a little cumbersome for the average user. They are used because they typically place the flash a little higher than the line of sight, which helps to avoid red eye.<\/p>\n

\"Flash-Bracket.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Adorama.<\/em><\/p>\n

With flash brackets, you are able to rotate the camera but keep the light in the same position. The Custom Brackets Digital PRO M Rotating Camera Bracket Kit<\/a> is the standard for those that use them. At $379.95, if you are an event photographer, it just might be a good investment for you.<\/p>\n

Flash Modifiers<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

On and Off -Camera Flash Modifiers<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many tools out there that can be used to shape the light of both on and off-camera flash. There are things such as:<\/p>\n