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Tangents

03 – flashguns

my gear
cameras | lenses | flashes | accessories | Quantum | video light | Think Tank

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Nikon:

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight (B&H)
This is the top Nikon flashgun, and improves on the SB-800 in a number of ways, incl the way the flash-head rotates 180′ to either side, and the ease with which the wireless TTL menu is accessed.  In my opinion these and other improvements, make this a solid upgrade over the SB-800.
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Nikon SU-800 Speedlight Commander Unit (B&H)
Wireless TTL flash will open up a wider range of possibilities in lighting in comparison to just using on-camera flash.  Even though you can use your Nikon SB-800 to control other Speedlights, using the SU-800 is so much simpler.  With the SU-800 you don’t have to go into a menu to change settings or enable the unit, like you would have to with an SB-800.

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Nikon SD-9 battery pack (B&H)
I would highly recommend using a battery pack of some kind when you use a flashgun.  The SD-9 will really help your flash photography by recycling your SB-900 faster, and thereby give you more consistent exposures from frame to frame.

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Canon:

Canon 580EX II Speedlite (B&H)
The on-camera flashgun I most often use and would highly recommend over any other, is the Canon 580EX II.  Even the previous model would make an excellent choice.  What sets this apart from any other Speedlite, is the ability to rotate 180′ either way.  This opens up a lot more opportunities in bouncing your flash off other surfaces.

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Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter (B&H)
Wireless TTL flash will enable you to be more creative in your lighting, by enabling you to position your Speedlites as off-camera lights. This will open up a wider range of possibilities than just using on-camera flash.  Even though you can use your Canon Speedlite to control other Speedlites as wireless TTL controlled flashguns, using the ST-E2 is so much simpler.  With the ST-E2 you don’t have to go into a menu to change settings or enable it.

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Canon CP-E4  Compact Battery Pack (B&H)
I would highly recommend a battery pack like the CP-E4. They really help your flash photography is in giving you more consistent exposures.  This is because the faster recycling of your flashgun would allow you to shoot faster than with the flashgun recycling from the usual batteries.

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Sto-Fen Omni-bounce for Canon 580 Speedlites (B&H)
Of all the light modifiers available, I find this one to be the right combination of price, size and effectiveness.  It is small enough to fit in your pocket; light enough to allow you to still swivel and rotate your flash-head as you please, and simple enough to use. .

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Batteries:

Sanyo Eneloop batteries
You do need batteries that recharge (as opposed to disposables), and you also need batteries that can give you enough power consistently.  The Sanyo Eneloops are renowned for their their very slow self-discharge rate, and for their 1000 charge life-cycle.

Pearston NiMH rechargable batteries, with charger (B&H)

What I specifically like about the Pearston charger, is that it charges each battery individually, and also warns you if any particular battery has become a problem.  This is a very important point that is easy to overlook. The batteries themselves have a very high rating, so they last much longer than most.

If you’d like to just order the Pearston NiMH batteries, here are the links for:
- the 10-pack Peaston 2900 mAh batteries, or
- the 4-pack Pearston 2900 mAh batteries.

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Quantum Turbo SC battery pack  -  (SC = Slim & Compact) (B&H)
For more juice than the battery packs with rechargable batteries, I use the Quantum SC battery pack.  As the name says, it is slim and compact – yet offers great capacity.

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Filter sheets:

Rosco Cinegel #3442 Filter – 1/2 Straw CTS – 20×24″ Sheet (B&H)
Rosco Cinegel #3441 Filter – Full Straw CTS – 20×24″ Sheet (B&H)

Since I frequently gel my flashguns to bring the flash WB closer to Tungsten / Incandescent, I use these gels that I cut up and tape to the top of my speedlight’s head. One of these sheets (which – at $6.50 - aren’t expensive), will give you a lifetime supply of these filters.  If you use flash indoors where Tungsten lighting dominates, then these filters are an invaluable part of flash photography. Highly recommended.

The Full CTS will bring your flash WB down to around 2900K, more or less neutralising the look of the Tungsten light.  The 1/2 CTS will bring your flash WB to around 3800K, which will leave your backgrounds still with a touch of the warmth of Tungsten lighting.

next:  other accessories that I use …

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