Karen Nakamura wrote:
> You'll find the 580/550EX are too weak for real studio work with
> umbrellas or softboxes unless you get the REAL CLOSE to the subject.
I've been following this thread, and this statement stuck with me most
closely.
I strongly disagree with Karen's comments. I use my 550EX flashes with
umbrella frequently for studio work ("real" studio work -- I'm not sure
what you're definition of real studio work is, Karen, but you're
statement is so vague that it's not clear what you mean by "real"). I
earn quite a bit of extra money using a 550EX/umbrella setup in studio
and on location, and have a lot of happy customers based on the images I
deliver to them. And the setup I use is much more portable and easily
set up than any other studio strobes I have ever used.
Most of my work with the 550EX flashes studio-style is with individuals
or couples, but I also shoot small groups. One of the examples of a
group photo done with the 550EX and umbrella can be seen here:
http://www.ruscelli.com/group_photo.htm
The setup I use (to address Alan Bell's original question) can be seen
here:
http://www.ruscelli.com/canon_550ex_flash.htm
I've posted this link to this setup before (please, no comments about
the flash being so close to the umbrella. It's only shown this way
because that's the way I store it in the corner of the room, with the
umbrella racked in for space saving reasons. I rack it out for real
use.)
It is true that if you buy a 550EX or 580EX strictly for studio work and
add in the cost of all peripherals, you'll be spending quite a bit for a
portable setup. However, if you already own the flashes for use in
other situations, you won't spend that much for the peripherals to
enable you to employ the flashes for studio use.
Al Ruscelli
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