Jan 24, 2010, 01:52
Using a flash bracket and cable, to get your flash a bit above and to the side, is infinitely preferable to mounting a flash on the hotshoe or using the pop-up for nightclub work.
No red-eye and a more pleasing "look".
I use a nice manual flash--Sunpak 383Super (Recently discontinued!! WTF??) with Cactus V2s triggers, plus 2 small optical slave flashes from Quantaray, also discontinued.
The Cactus and Yong Nuo and all other radio triggers like CyberSynch and even most Pocket Wizards will only tell the flash when to fire, so it's manual flash adjustments and manual mode on the camera.
This is actually preferable because you really learn how to use your gear instead of letting computer chips make bad decisions for you.
The newest Pocket Wizards and the also new Radio Popper brand triggers allow CLS communication between camera and multiple flashes over long ranges, but you can get the same results line-of-sight if you want to invest in an all-Canon or all-Sony/Nikon etc system using their pulsed flash communication modes.
Expensive.
Your assumption that a brand-specific cable retains full control is correct.
It's a great way to start with off-camera flash.
For your indoor shots with or without flash, the main thing is a wide aperture.
Get a 50mm F1.4 or F1.8 prime lens.
They are usually the least expensive lens you'll find from any brand, and the extra light you get equals much faster shutter speeds that can make a huge difference in the "keeper" ratio.
No red-eye and a more pleasing "look".
I use a nice manual flash--Sunpak 383Super (Recently discontinued!! WTF??) with Cactus V2s triggers, plus 2 small optical slave flashes from Quantaray, also discontinued.
The Cactus and Yong Nuo and all other radio triggers like CyberSynch and even most Pocket Wizards will only tell the flash when to fire, so it's manual flash adjustments and manual mode on the camera.
This is actually preferable because you really learn how to use your gear instead of letting computer chips make bad decisions for you.
The newest Pocket Wizards and the also new Radio Popper brand triggers allow CLS communication between camera and multiple flashes over long ranges, but you can get the same results line-of-sight if you want to invest in an all-Canon or all-Sony/Nikon etc system using their pulsed flash communication modes.
Expensive.
Your assumption that a brand-specific cable retains full control is correct.
It's a great way to start with off-camera flash.
For your indoor shots with or without flash, the main thing is a wide aperture.
Get a 50mm F1.4 or F1.8 prime lens.
They are usually the least expensive lens you'll find from any brand, and the extra light you get equals much faster shutter speeds that can make a huge difference in the "keeper" ratio.