Comments on: A feature guide on using Speedlights and triggering systems

By: Chriss

Chriss — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:33:42 +0000

Thanks Mate, Ok lets get the Orbis on the go then……….

All the Best, Chris.

By: damien

damien — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:37:29 +0000

Hi Chris, The way to create a ring flash look is to use a ring flash adapter like the Orbis. It will fit on your Speedlight and give you the look you are after. There are other techniques I use but you can always tell if I’ve used on camera flash by noticing the shadow under the chin. If it’s not there I’ve probable used an Orbis I hope this helps.

Damien.

By: Chriss

Chriss — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:22:07 +0000

Hi Damien, could I please ask you for a small peice of advice, when taking on camera flash with a speedlight I get an ugly shadow behind the model. I´m shooting around 1 metre infront of her and her position is basically right on the wall, I have seen on your images that ther is no shadow, do different surfaces help with this problem?
Basically I´m looking for more of a ringflash effect….
Any help would be Fantastic….Chriss.

By: damien

damien — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:42:37 +0000

Hi Stef,

As far as I know your camera does not support remote triggering with it’s pop up flash. It’s worth checking the manual though. Damien.

By: Stef

Stef — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:15:51 +0000

I need your advice please! I have a canon 450d and speedlite 430EXII. Can I set the speedlite to slave mode using the camera’s inbuilt little flash? Hope you can help. Thanks

By: Wing Liu

Wing Liu — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:39:07 +0000

Is the Nissin Di866 compatible with Mini TTL-1 and Flex TTL-5 and mix of 580 EX II and 430 EX II ?

By: Nigel Bayliss

Nigel Bayliss — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:14:35 +0000

Just an observation on the rechargeable batteries you use for your speedlights. I also use them…and they are an excellent product…good value for money. However, as with other rechargeables, after a year or two of use, they lose their ability to fully recharge. (also, they are 1.2v as apposed to 1.5v for an alkaline battery). What happens when they start to lose their full charge capacity is that if the flash is being used off camera, an infrared trigger from say an ST E2 isn’t recognized, and the flash won’t fire (..normally the infrared on the front of the speedlight ‘pulses’ when in slave mode, and when it is in ‘contact’ with the ST E2). However, if you put the flash back onto the camera hotshoe, and switch off slave/master, the flash will still work, which might get you out of an awkward situation! So, in summary, great product…but keep a set of alkaline batteries in your bag just in case!

By: damien

damien — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:46:41 +0000

Hi Simon, The new Video production has been signed off by me and is now in the hands of the replicators. There will be a Blue-Ray high definition version of the 2.5 hour production and a standard definition version on DVD for those who have yet to get a Blu-Ray player. Players are less than £100 now and the difference in quality is staggering. Preorders for both disks will be taken from the end of the month and we will guarantee delivery by courier in time for Christmas. A pre order offer will ensure the early bird really does catch the worm. Regards, Damien

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:37:36 +0000

Hi Damien,

Any idea of release dates for the new DVD ?

Will it be pre or post xmas……

Thanks
Simon

By: damien

damien — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:56:15 +0000

Hi Stuart,

Sorry for the delay in replying. It’s great to hear from you and I hope you are well. I’d use your pop up flash for the ‘big pictures’ where you can take a few frames if you get blinks and use an SC29 off camera flash cord in conjunction with the Sto-Fen type diffuser that came with the SB-900 for everything else.

However, the Pocket Wizards are likely to be without a focus aid so it is very likely that you will want to use a SU-800 on top of the Mini TT1 both to allow full control of the flashes and to give you the focus aid beams I’m fully expecting to be using my SU-800 with the new Nikon Pocket Wizards when they come out.

So to sum up, you probably won’t regret spending £229 on an SU-800. You can buy one here for that bargain price.

I hope this helps.

By: Will Pateman Photography

Will Pateman Photography — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:06:49 +0000

love the black and white treatment of the girl in leathers,
great contrast and a great shot

By: Stuart Schofield

Stuart Schofield — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:32:15 +0000

Hi Damien
I use a D700 + SB900 – weddings only
Should I buy the SU – 800 or wait for the nikon PWs next year ? Seems to be the same approx price
Whats your view please

By: damien

damien — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:53:46 +0000

Hi Bob,

The solution is the excellent SU-800. It is the beez neez of infra red triggers. There is another solution too for near camera triggering: Julie uses the SC29 coiled lead with her SB-900 and D700 at weddings. The SC29 has a built in AF illuminator and is a well made bit of kit.

Regards, Damien.

By: CoventryBob

CoventryBob — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:02:09 +0000

Welcome back Damien
Glad to see you are keeping up the high quality blogs – particularly since I use both the SB800 & SB900 for my weddings. If you don’t recommend triggering the remote flashes with the pop up flash (albeit only acting as remote) – no new PW’s available for Nikon yet so what is the solution?
Have a great time in Tuscany
Regards to the top team at Lovegrove.

By: Andrew Gosling

Andrew Gosling — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:46:19 +0000

Hi Damien,
thanks for the reply. I’d forgotten about the AF assist beam. £8 is not bad for Canon, even if it is only a bit of red plastic.

BTW, if anyone finds one at Nunney Castle – it’s mine!