New to artificial light- please help me assemble a kit

[Csacwp]

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I'm brand new to using off-camera lighting, and after doing a lot of reading I am confused about what I will actually need for portraits. I'd like to start with one or two lights- Flash Gordon here already recommended the AD200- which verison works with the SL, and does anybody else have a recommendation for a different type of speedlight? I know I'll need a light stand, soft box, and a wireless transmitter of some sort like a Pocketwizard. There are also adapters that hold the components to the light stand, backup cables to connect to the flash in case the transmittor fails on a shoot, etc. If somebody would be so kind as to list out everhthing I'll need, I would be most grateful. Looking forward to taking my photography to the next level.

[zakzavada]

https://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

 

Best resource you'll come across for all things related to off camera flash. Highly recommended.

[Csacwp]

So I'm confused- can I buy an SF-64 and use it as on on-camera TTL flash, and then also use it off camera and have it function the same way a LumiPro or Godox AD200 would using a wireless trigger like a Pocketwizard?  Does the SF-64 mount onto a stand like the AD200?  Also, why is it so much more expensive than these other units?

[LocalHero1953]

https://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

 

Best resource you'll come across for all things related to off camera flash. Highly recommended.

+1

 

Read it from beginning to end, then you'll be able to ask more targeted questions.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

In basic terms you have two options for lighting.

 

1. TTL: The camera and flash work together to automatically calculate the appropriate light output. Only available with Leica flashes at this time and no wireless off camera options. You can get off camera with a Nikon type cable (pins are the same, protocols are not so you can't use a Nikon flash). Up to 10 meters on eBay.

 

Leica flashes are expensive because there are no other options avaliable for TTL flash so they charge what they want.

 

TTL is very useful in dynamic situations like where your subject is moving or the ambient light conditions are rapidly changing.

 

2. Manual: The camera simply triggers a flash and you are responsible for controlling the flash power. Wireless options are readily available. You can control multiple flashes from the unit you put in the hot shoe. With Leica you are mostly limited to a top shutter speed of 1/250. Options are available to go over this but they're another level of complexity as not many support Leica HSS. Cheaper than TTL.

 

Manual control is useful in situations where you have total control over your lighting. Indoors or in studio for example. If you're using multiple lights or a range of modifiers then you're probably in a place where it suits manual control.

 

3. Mixed systems: Some lights do both TTL and manual control. But not many will do this with Leica. Only Leica flashes support TTL with Leica cameras. The Godox AD200 you mention does do TTL but not with Leica. The AD200 would be a manual system on your Leica. If you own a Canon, Nikon, Fuji or Sony system you could use the AD200 on TTL. Just not for Leica. For example my X1D supports the Nikon flash system. I can use my AD200 in TTL on that camera, with the right transmitter ( I almost never do as I prefer full manual anyway). On my Leica I have to use it as a full manual system.

 

4. Using Leica TTL flashes as manual off camera units: Yes you can. Transmitters/receivers are available and are cheap. The only down side is that you'll need to control the power output from the back of each flash rather than the transmitter on the camera. It works fine but is less convenient, especially if a flash is out of reach. Also much more expensive.

 

Gordon

[Csacwp]

So in theory I could get two Leica flashes, use one of them off camera for HSS, and the other on-camera as a modeling light to focus? Alternatively, I could buy a Prophoto B2 and use it for HSS and as an on-camera flash, but on camera it wouldn't have TTL? Seems like neither option is great, but it's probably better to manually control the flash power on-camera rather than off.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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No. I don't think that will work. You'd need a cable that also has a pass through shoe to mount two guns and have TTL for the OCF. They exist in Nikon pin but I'm not sure it would work with Leica flashes.

 

I've not needed much help to get SL lenses to focus in studio. If you did need it a small LED light might be the better solution. Pop it on a clamp on the stand holding your flash and you'd be set.

 

Gordon

[Csacwp]

Thanks Gordon. The Prophoto B2 looks excellent since I can use it on and off camera, and it has HSS. I shoot M lenses only on my SL so ability to focus is paramount.

 

It looks like I will need:

B2 + battery pack

Light stand

Soft box

Some way to operate the flash off-camera from my hotshoe. Pocketwizard? I've been looking and I see tranceivers but no triggers. Some say two in one, which is a little confusing to me.

 

With all of that I should be set for indoor and outdoor lighting with one light?

[FlashGordonPhotography]

HSS can be a real problem with Leica. Just because a flash supports it doesn't mean it'll work with a Leica. Do you research before hand to make sure that HSS does work and that the transmitter also works with HSS and Leica.

 

Also you might be better off considering a three way umbrella as your first light shaper. A three way can be used as a brolly, shoot though and softbox. Cheaper and lighter as well as easier to set up. Bigger for softer light. Smaller for more defined shadows, depending on what you want.

 

Gordon

[Csacwp]

It looks like the only option for off-camera HSS with Leica is the new Priolite transmitter and either the MBX 500 Ultra or MBX 1000.  I'm guessing the 1000w would be far too strong for indoor use, so the 500w is probably a better (and more portable) option for an indoor/outdoor HSS strobe?

[Csacwp]

I almost forgot that I do have a large collection of ND filters.  Would the image quality be the same if I used those and a manual (Non-HSS) flash?  Then I could use the B2 and the Pocketwizard to set them off.  I guess I would need 3 and 6 stop ND's?

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Should be if the filters are good.

 

Just be careful of reflections and flare which you won't see till after the shot.

 

I occasionally use my Lee filters for the same reason and have no problems.

 

Gordon

[geetee1972]

 

Alternatively, I could buy a Prophoto B2 and use it for HSS and as an on-camera flash, but on camera it wouldn't have TTL?

 

I use a Profoto B2 on my SL but there is no HSS, well not beyond 1/250 anyway. Other Profoto transmitters will do HSS up to something like 1/8000. It's also a fully manual only option.

[geetee1972]

 

I almost forgot that I do have a large collection of ND filters.  Would the image quality be the same if I used those and a manual (Non-HSS) flash?

 

This is how I do it and it seems to work just fine:

 

Latoyah, Up all Night - The Politics of Experience by Greg Turner, on Flickr