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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Has anyone used the "Cheater" with a softbox?
Dan Staudacher, Photographer
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Essexville | MI | USA | Posted: 8:44 PM on 08.25.05 |
->> The SportsShooter link http://www.arenastrobes.com/LocationLightingKits/sscheater.html
looks like an interesting set up if it can get the job done. It seems like a camera strobe just wouldn't have the power to illuminate a 16 x 20 softbox. Well, maybe indoors, but the batteries would probably lose their juice before you got many frames shot. Anyone had any luck with it?
Thanks,
Dan |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 9:05 PM on 08.25.05 |
->> I have used something like this I had made for several years, since my first EOS film camera in 1993.
A friend took an off-camera ttl cord, put in a connector and made a 25-foot extension.
I've used the ttl cord with the extension "naked" (with no light control device attached) as well as with various size softboxes.
I have even used it with two flashes inside a softbox in ttl mode (using a speed ring that has two shoes).
While I like the freedom the STe2 gives me, in daylight the IR often doesn't work. Also the flash inside a large softbox often won't "see" the IR.
If you're like me and not handy, having someone else do the work is often well worth the price. This is something I always show when I give talks on lighting ... especially during the "down, dirty & quick" part of my talks. It is a really cool thing and really works!
Trust me.
The Kahuna. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 9:10 PM on 08.25.05 |
->> And ... for power, I use mAh rechargables most of the time. I like to keep things simple and light.
But if I know I need lots of "pops" then I'll hook the 580 EX strobes up to a Dyna-Lite Jackrabbit. It has two ports so when I connect two strobes inside the softbox I can power both off of one battery pack. Shooting TTL is what makes this attractive ... at least to me. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 11:56 PM on 08.25.05 |
| ->> You know, you can get nearly the same effect with a good ol' fashioned umbrella and it's a lot easier to transport... |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 1:42 AM on 08.26.05 |
->> Actually ... there is HUGE difference between an umbrella and a good softbox for portraits.
I usually use a grid to control the spill, giving me a soft, directional main light.
An umbrella just throws light all over in my experience and the softness and quality is not the same as a good softbox ... no matter which size in comparison.
CONTROLLING the light is often more important than softening it ... at least that's what my limited knowledge of lighting and portraits has taught me.
Throwing "soft light" all over a subject is just too easy ... and often it lacks depth, character and contrast.
But I digress ... the topic here is utilizing a cool tool, the extended off-camera ttl cord.
I have a compact Domke Bag with three Canon Speedlites, the Chimera double hotshoe speed ring, the Canon STe2 wireless trigger AND my home-made off camera ttl cord.
While this certainly does not replace my usual Dyna-Lite kit (2 - m1000x packs, 4 heads, 1 bare tube head, 3 grid spot holders and other assorted light controlling devices) ... for a location shoot where I am moving around (like someone on the beach or on a running track) or a CEO that will only give me 7 minutes to make his portrait, my "Small Ball" portrait set up works for me.
The ability to shoot ttl gives me more options when pressed for time or the conditions are changing during the shoot.
Also to have a lighting kit in a small bag you know you can depend on is a good thing.
Even if you want to use an umbrella.
Mahalo!
The Kahuna. |
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Michael J. Treola, Photographer
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Neptune | NJ | USA | Posted: 10:13 AM on 08.26.05 |
->> I agree with Bert. There is a HUGE difference in the quality of light from a softbox and an umbrella. I use both on a regular basis as a quick and dirty lighting setup and prefer the softbox more because you can control the light way easier then an umbrella.
I'd much rather have control of the light over quanity/softness of the light. This to me makes all the difference in the world in having photos that are unique and use creative light to those that are "just lit"
Dan- you'd be surprised as how much light a small flash can throw. I've done more then a few ligthing setup where I was without power and had to use a portable kit.
A few of these times the jobs were outside (usually on a golf course), at the worst time of the day where I had to overpower the sun, and the system did quite well...... Granted the strobe was closer to the subject then normally but the results were the same.
The one thing that looks a little flaky to me is the speedring rig on the Cheater system. It's looks way to unstable for this shooter. I'd much rather use the twin hotshoe Chimera speed ring that can be used in a single or double flash configuration then have industrial rubber bands holding my flash in the ring.
Lately I've returned to the good old Vivitar 283's. These along with pocket wizards on small stands have given me back the freedom of no wires. Though TTL is important to me on some shoots a good light meter and knowledge of exposure gets me to the same placewith the 283's just the same.
Enough ramblings.....
Tree |
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Jonathan Castner, Photographer
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Longmont | CO | USA | Posted: 11:11 AM on 08.26.05 |
| ->> I do a LOT of "5 minute executive portraits" and my main lighting kit for these things consists of 4 Nikon SB26's, 2 unbrellas, 2 softboxes, stands and clamps et al. I use Chimera softboxes and their model 2795 is the ticket. It has an aluminium bracket that places your SB or EX flash right in the middle of the speedring - no rubber bands! Since I am mostly shooting these indoors I don't need 1.21 gigawatts of flash power - I usually only want about f/5.6 but can get that easy with a larger softbox or F/11 with a small softbox. I use NiMh batteries and also an SD-8a battery pack for faster recycling and it's SO much easier than lugging around the monolights. I am usually using more than two lights for these so it's all controlled manually and triggered with my PW's. |
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Dan Staudacher, Photographer
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Essexville | MI | USA | Posted: 8:58 AM on 08.27.05 |
| ->> Thanks to all for the input. |
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Randy Janoski, Photographer
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Chapel Hill | TN | USA | Posted: 10:02 AM on 08.27.05 |
->> Dan, I've been searching for a link that shows the basics of construction an extension cable using DIN5 connectors, I can't find it and it's driving me crazy!
Anyway I've made several. The first one with the DIN5's with a 15' Cat cable and then I made two up, 24 foot ones using just the ends from Canon flash extension cables.
I really like the one piece ones better. I want to make one up with a "Y" at the flash end for two flashes, just haven't got around to it.
Pat (Patrick Murphy-Racey) makes these up and also now Paramount Cords makes them.
P.S. I "quizzed" Paramount before I made mine because I was worried about the length I wanted and they told me they hade made and tested their extension cables to 120 feet with no problems. And they are just using Cat cable also. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 12:51 AM on 08.29.05 |
->> Hmmmmm ... I had an extension made for 50 feet and it would fire the strobe but TTL did not function. The speedlite would fire, but dump the entire charge.
I picked 15 feet for the next test and the 580 worked great on TTL. So I didn't press my luck.
Paramount says they've done "tests" up to 120 feet in length but do they say the strobe/ camera works consistently in TTL mode?
If it does, then I'm not sure what the difference the wiring of my cord is verses theirs. Also my extension is made from connectors for microphones and has a nice locking collar on it and the wire is a heavy duty brand used for audio/amps/microphones. As I said, it was made for me and I am no expert in audio hardware so I am unsure of the type and brands.
But it works and works TTL consistently.
Mahalo! |
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Randy Janoski, Photographer
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Chapel Hill | TN | USA | Posted: 9:14 AM on 08.29.05 |
->> Carl and Robert et all,
Carl, YES those are the instructions, the one I saw and read was from a different source.
Robert, I did use the Cat 6 cable (it was a bit harder to find here in Nashville) on the 24 foot cables I made. I have had no problem with them ETTL, ETTL II.
When I made up the first ones using the DIN 5 connectors I did experience some no fires and misfires after about 6 to 8 weeks of usage.
I would think that the microphone connectors would be fine since they are so robust. Paramount did tell me they used a very high quality, heavy gauge and flexible Cat cable in the ones they make, but I couldn't find anything better than Cat 6 in my research so I think what they told me was just a marketing statement. |
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Randy Janoski, Photographer
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Chapel Hill | TN | USA | Posted: 9:24 AM on 08.29.05 |
->> I'll add this also as I just remembered...
In first talking with Paramount I did ask them with any long cords they made if they had to put some type of inline booster, the tech said not and went on to explain, in electronic jargon above my head, why it was not necessary with the type of signal data being transferred through the cable. |
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