5 replies to this topic

[genevievephotog]

Not sure if this question goes here but I'm looking to change from continuous lighting using umbrellas to just using softboxes or monolights. I've seen a couple of answers but I'm still a bit confused. Not sure if I will explain correctly of what exactly I want to do, but I will try. I have a D7000 and an SB700 and wanted to know what's a good sfotbox that is compatible with both. I know I can use the on camera flash to trigger the speedlight but not sure I want to go that route. This will be for in studio portraits by the way and maybe some outdoor portraits. I also had another question about wireless flash triggers that would be compatible with my equipment also, but not sure if this would go here. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Daniel]

I am in the same boat as you. I am just learning or teaching myself about studio lighting myself. I bought 2 umbrellas and am using the SB910's with them so I am going with flash lighting for now. I have a third flash and it is the SB600. I also have a disk reflector with stand . I also bought a Manfrotto Backdrop stand and am starting with a grey backdrop for now. Instead of using the flash for the trigger I am using 4 pocket wizards. I am having fun experimenting with this set up but hope to buy a soft box in the near future. Hope to post some pictures in the near future. 

 

Not sure if your SB700 is powerful enough for any bigger soft boxes but might be for the smaller ones. 

[K-9]

If you're just doing portraits with a softbox off to one side of the model, you don't really need triggers.  You can trigger it with the D7000 in commander mode (custom setting e3). If you want to be more creative and are going to be further from the model, or at a sharp angle from the softbox, you'll want to get the triggers.  I recommend Phottix Strato TTL if you need TTL  http://www.phottixst...anon-nikon.html, or the Phottix Strato ii if you don't mind manual (it does have a TTL pass through mode on the transmitter) http://www.amazon.co...ttix strato ii.

[Daniel]

Forgot to mention the PocketWizards are  TTL enabled as well, also there not cheap.  249 $ per Wizard. 

[Brazeal]

The softboxes really depends on your budget.  I bought a cheap 60" Fotodiox Octabox and a couple of 24X36 softboxes off Amazon and used those for awhile, but they are not very portable and take up too much space when I'm not using them, so I ended up breaking them down and putting them in the closet.  I got in on the recent $49 deal for the 7ft Wescott umbrellas, and I really like them.  Very soft light and they fold down just like an umbrella and work great with my Einstein 640.  Joel Grimes uses these alot for his shoots.  I also bought the front diffusion for $29 to make it more of a softbox.  To use flashes though, you would really need to buy a triflash mount and use three flashes to fully fill the large umbrella.  I have the mount, but I have not had the time to test it out.  These big umbrellas are great for shooting big groups or for shooting kids that won't sit still.  I have a SP Systems 37" foldable octabox scheduled for delivery today, that I scored for $29.99 from Wolfe's Camera (now OOS).  This one is regularly around $99 and is compared by some to the Elinchrom Deep Octa, which is very expensive.  I'd recommend checking B&H and reading the reviews for all of the softboxes that are within your budget. 

 

Regarding triggers, the PWs are great, but expensive.  I went with the Yongnuo 622N triggers and just bought the newly released 622N-TX controller.  The triggers are TTL and HSS capable with compatible flashes, and you can adjust the power levels for certain flashes.  I bought 2 triggers for $80, the controller was $69, and Yongnuo 565EX flashes are around $100, which gives you TTL.  For HSS, you have to move up to the 568EX. 

I'd recommend checking out flashhavoc.com for great reviews on triggers and flashes. 

[Ron]

As you can see, there are as many different ways of working with off camera flashes as there are photographers. The bottom line, of course, is how well a system works for you. Unfortunately, experimentation can be expensive.

 

You already have a great camera/flash combination. The D7000 can serve as a commander for the SB-700. For indoor work you might be able to get away with just bouncing your flash off of a ceiling or wall (provided they're white). Bounced light has a lovely soft quality that's perfect for portraits. If needed you can use the built in bounce card to kick a small amount of light directly at your subject. You can also use your on camera flash for this but you may want to reduce the output somewhat. 

 

Outside is a different story but you may be able to shoot direct flash in sunlight and have it look OK. It's nice to be able to check exposure and lighting effects on the spot.

 

For my own work, I use an old SB-28 flash. I shoot through a Westcott Rapidbox softbox employing the optional reflector that's turns the Rapidbox into a beauty ring. Of course exposure is manual with this setup but that's not really a problem and the light produced is gorgeous.

 

Because I'm cheap, I use a Strobies optical/radio trigger set (set to radio) to fire the flash. It's not as nice as some of the others mentioned. Particularly the Pocket Wizards. But, for what I do, it works.

 

--Ron