> Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2002 22:07:08 -0600 > From: "Alex" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: EOS ETTL and softboxes > > > "Studio" and "wireless 550 EX" don't go together. > > No proper pilot light, not enough power, no repeated > > fire power. Firing shoe mount flashes in fast sequence > > at full power (or near that, you want to use diffused lights) > > will certainly result in early thermal overload or even > > destruction. > > Michael, why all the hostility towards ETTL and wireless > flash?
See some of the reasons above. TTL works only in very few narrow limited situations. For the tremendous money one pays for several 550 EX flashes you might as well buy dozens of WOC slave flashes with then far more power and durability plus a proper flash meter. This will give you far more consistent images and much more control over the image. > I've read some of your previous comments on the subject > (seeking some of the same information as the original writer > here), and they too are quite negative. Which results from the fact that the brochures lure you into buying this extremely expensive stuff with a promise it can never hold. > I'm not trying to start a flame war here (I'll put on my > asbestos suit anyway), No need to..... > but to me, wireless ETTL seems like a good solution for people who > want to do some "light" studio work, but don't need a full-fledged > studio lighting setup. That's it, *it seems*. For light studio work you can get far better suited material at far lower prices. > You mention that there's "no proper pilot light"--well, the > modeling light function gives some idea of what's going on, That is not even near a rough idea in my opinion. I'd rather clamp a desk light next to my flash as a pilot light then. > and besides, you can always take test shots (film is cheap, > after all ^_^). Yes, but unless you are fully digital you won't know what you are doing until it is too late. I guess you can't make your model wait until the cabbie returns from the 1 hour pro lab, can you? > As for repeat fire capability, I don't think that's a > big issue, since (at least in my case) I'm not ripping > off shots at 4 frames per second. You don't need to. Using heavy diffusion in large softboxes eats flash like nothing. You will need full power almost all the time. One flash full power every seven seconds (not unusual when shooting people) is very risky business. I have had a molten flash unit from that. No 550 EX, though. > I don't think anyone is trying to argue that a couple of > 550EXes are a replacement for real studio lighting; the > wireless flash system is just a highly-portable and straightforward > way for non-professionals like myself to approximate such a setup. As outlined above, TTL (and worse: E-TTL) are only good in flat frontal lighting. For sophisticated lighting you need more control than the E-TTL lottery. You can have that for far less money. > Are there other limitations of the system that I'm not > aware of that are influencing your opinions (limitations > that would make it unsuitable even for hobby purposes)? The money you have to fork over. I have just finished outfitting my new studio and will work on the DIY lights guide in January to some extent. The WOC slave flashes and other cheap things will be discussed at great length plus sample images. I guess the thing will be online by the end of January. Watch the list, I will announce it, and I think it will answer most of your questions. -- Michael Quack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
