Strobists: How do I get started?
I currently have a Nikon D200 and I need help with starting with strobe lights…
1) I'm only 17, and have a VERY tight budget, so what do you guys recommend me to start on? ($300 max)
2) Can someone explain the whole "wireless TTL or something" to me?
3) What softboxes are in my budget?
2) Can someone explain the whole "wireless TTL or something" to me?
yes i'm sure someone can, to me its automatic marketing garbage, i don't know how to use it and have no desire to,
3) What softboxes are in my budget?
have a look on ebay, i use difussion panels and screens, you can make them yourself for a few dollars
Strobists: How do I get started?
1) I'm only 17, and have a VERY tight budget, so what do you guys recommend me to start on? ($300 max)
get one or two no name "manual" flash units off ebay, for around $10-15 each, get a wireless flash trigger set up to fire them, get one or two light stands -that lot should run $100 - 150,
make your own reflectors, make your own screens (from $2-25 each depending on how you make them and the sizes), get some rechargable (8)AA batteries and a charger ($in the usa? $20?)
light stands maybe $us20 each off ebay
most of these things you can get from ebay and thats where i would get them,
watch tutorials on youtube, - you don't need to waste money on marketers flashers and things, - - its what you know not the brands you know… In dis game i find,
ask about specific items for more info
An SB600, small softbox and bounce reflector should wipe you out. You can find all the information you need here http://www.nikonusa.com/...ashes.page. In that info, somewhere, is how to use the SB600 as a remote with the D200 as the commander. Now you can get a good start and save for the SB900.
Wireless TTL is nice to use for a quick setup. You set the camera in commander mode, and then set the flash as a remote. With only one flash, it would probably be better to use a sync cord and a bracket. The wireless TTL is good for using multiple flashes.
Look for a used SB-600 (175.00), an SC-17 cord (25.00), Home Depot for some aluminum bar stock for a bracket (15.00) and a Lumiquest Soft Box III (35.00). Get stainless steel 1/4 20 bolts and some black spray paint, and you have a decent bracket for cheap.
Here is what I would get if I were you to start.
Cheap Remote Triggers: http://cgi.ebay.ca/...35acfeb626
40$us
You can also get a kit with less receivers if you want.
Cheap Manual mode only flashes… Grab AT LEAST 2 of these:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/...4aa547470a
43$US each (so 86$)
And then you need at least one light stand and a multi purpose umbrella
Around 180$ (at least one light stand, one multi purpose umbrella and one umbrella mount).
So about 300$.
Next, head over to strobist.blogspot.com and read his two lighting tutorials. They are probably the best lighting primers on the net.
ETTL = Electronic Through The Lens meetering. So the camera reads the light that comes through the lens and tells the flash how much light it needs. Some remote trigger systems (PocketWizards to the name the defacto industry standard) can transmit that information wirelessly.
The flashes I quoted you above do NOT do ETTL or TTL at all. YOU have to set the power output manually.
Strobist is about Off Camera Flash.
You can control your flash output by manual adjustments or let the camera do the job. For this, there must be a communication between your flash and your camera (Nikon calls it Creative Lighting System, CLS). For the flash to estimate output power it has to read the ambient lighting conditions. This is done by a reading of the ambient Trough The Lens (TTL) and when it is done wirelessly it's Wireless TTL or iTTL for canon. Of course, all of this is based on the fact that your camera and your flash are compatible.
If you are on a budget, I would really recommend the manual way. First, it is a lot more cheaper and second, but most important you will learn and master your light and not let a piece of equipment, how expensive it can be take decisions for you.
You could start with a manual flash (the Lumo Pro LP120 i have, costed me $120, but it is kind of hard to find now, or a old Nikon SB-28, or the Vivitar HV285 all of them are in the $100 range on Ebay), a pair of wireless triggers (Cactus v4 for $60) and modifier and stands (Wescott umbrella, $30, umbrella stand $20) add a few accessories (gel pack, Bongo jump, etc) for less then $50. You should be under your budget and be very creative.
Of course your best resources are the Strobist 101 on Strobist.com and the Strobist group on Flickr.