Lighting noob!

[MattUK]

Hey there,

The recent portrait theme appears to have highlighted the need for me to get a flash gun - there's always one more bit of kit that I "just have to have", after all!

So I'm looking for a little assistance with a few of the basics please:

I have a Nikon D7000 by the way.

1)

Nikon Speedlite SB600 http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...tml?cm_vc=PPZ1
vs
Jessops 360AFD http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...7558/show.html

Now I know that the Nikon will be far superior, but I'm wondering if it's worth the large price jump for someone like me? At the moment, I'm a total beginner with flash photography, and will just be looking to try things out, do the odd portrait / product shot here and there.

2) With either of the above, do I need a remote trigger? I've done a bit of research, and get the impression that my D7000 has a built-in commander mode that means I won't need a remote trigger?

3) I'm also looking at getting a fairly basic list of kit:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Socket-Ballh...=2FVEWT0HY9RV3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lastolite-Um...=2FVEWT0HY9RV3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photography-...=2FVEWT0HY9RV3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-02...=2FVEWT0HY9RV3

Is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance for any help

[silversnapper1]

Hi Matt,

I am fairly new to this too so maybe not the best person to advise but I do have an SB600 and it is an excellent camera. I am now looking to buy a second flash and have had THIS one recommended.

There was a thread around here somewhere a sfew weeks ago that put me off the Jessops flash.

The SB600 will work without triggers on the CLS mode but that is not the easiest to set up. Again, I have seen THIS video

I know that it relates to the D80 but the principle will be the same with the D7000.

Finally, I also had THIS place recommended for reference and the quick look that I have taken so far it looks great.

Good luck with your choice, tell us what you decide and then show us the results.

Edit:-

I forgot to mention that, if you go to the Apple i-store, there are a load of free podcasts from Lastolite on there showing how to use their products.

[MattUK]

Thanks Steve, I appreciate your help.

So does the Camera emit a radio signal through CLS mode? Or Infra red? Or does it use the camera's own flash to activate a light sensor on the strobe?

And you're right, that Strobist site is awesome

Cheers!

[silversnapper1]

Hi Matt,

From what I understand, the CLS system works by the on camera flash triggering the remote flash.

[MattUK]

Any other lighting pro's out there?

[chris-p]

I'm also very new to flash. In fact, just treated myself to an SB900 at Focus on Sunday.

However, the other half bought a Nissin Di622 which is only £100 and is a better specified gun (I think) than the Metz and it's cheaper than the SB600. We've been playing with that the past couple of days and it's great, highly recommended.

With my Nikon kit (hers is all Canon - pah!), I've had no trouble at all with my D90 and SB900 using CLS. I don't know how it would work with an SB600 but it's a piece of cake with the 900.
As Steve said, it triggers the strobe via the cameras own pop-up flash but you can "mute" it so that it only triggers the main strobe and doesn't flash into the exposure itself.

On the D90 all you need to do is go to the custom menu "e2" (Flash cntrl for built in flash) and change it from TTL to Commander. Commander mode allows you to then set groups of flashes (of no relevance if you've only got one strobe) and the channels.

If you set the built in flash to "--" it won't fire but it will trigger the external CLS connected flash. As I've only got the one flash I'm using group A (wouldn't matter though) and channel 1 and I've set group A to TTL so that the camera controls everything for me.
The idea is that you can set several flashes in each group and have each group firing differently.

If you're not in the mood for CLS there are loads of wireless triggers out there. Pocket Wizards are usually considered the best ones going - you'll pay for it though. Alien Bees are also very good but also expensive.
All is not lost though because, along with the Nissin Di622, the other half also got an Interfit Strobies iSync 4 which is a bargain at £45 and will trigger flashes using IR or radio. Extra receivers are about £30 so you can expand the system quite easily as well.