Light setup options

[Anbesol]

Need to make a decision on lighting setup options. Option A adds two light quartz 250w continous kits, or option B is a second Minolta 3600HS bounce to be combined in wireless with my present. The second bounce flash would sure be a heck of a lot more practical and convenient, but that takes a very distant back seat to light coverage. Will those quartz lights provide me with much better light coverage? Has anybody here any experience strobing two 3600's wirelessly? Also, could the F42AM/F58AM be used in combination with the 3600HS (i.e. F36AM) in wireless mode, if both were wireless and the stock flash up?

Thanks!

[Anbesol]

btw I'm using the words 3600HS and F36AM interchangably, since as far as I know they are identical devices just with different logos.

*edit: also considering Minolta 5600HS, if would work wirelessly with 3600HS...

[Anbesol]

Well I took the quartz for a test run and I'm quite less than impressed. Light coverage was decent but couldn't cover distance very well, the umbrellas were cheap fealing cloth with thinly woven strips and poorly geared metal, the tripods had some cheap spring as a very poor imitation of air-cushioning, the case was abysmal, flimsy and would fall apart once you remove the gear. I thought I was being spoiled by the manfrotto, the pelicans and white lightnings I work with, but these continuous kits were horrible on the very distant opposite end of the spectrum. The build of a kit under $500 was just like you'd expect - barely gets the job done.

I am sure the second bounce is the way to go, I am not interested in having a heavy powered light studio like 800watt strobes or anything. I don't need the f-stop latitude, and ISO 400 is OKAY for me!

Still can't confirm whether or not the F42am/F56am or 5600HS are wireless compatible with my 3600HS. Would then have to pick up two in that case. If anybody knows if wireless mode works across different bounces please let me know! (I'm looking at you, Canuck!) Also, can someone explain to me why the F42am is more expensive than the 5600HS? Considering the cost difference ($250-$300), do I even need to look at the F42am, or will the 5600hs's do me better at a better price?

[Canuck935]

Hi Anbesol,

Sounds like that quartz kit is pretty bad.. Ok really bad.. Anyways, I am actually using two wireless flash units, and I've been pretty happy with the results thus far. You can indeed use any combination of 36/42/56/58 flashes wirelessly, but the catch is that you can't have one on the camera to use as the trigger for other wireless units unless it's the 58 (and even then it may only work as the controller on the a900, but I can't remember for sure). Like I said, I'm using two units wirelessly with my a700. I have a Sony HVL-F56AM and a Minolta 3600HS(D). The 42 is probably more expensive because it is a current model and the 56 is discontinued. However, the 56 is still fully compatible and packs more punch.

Let me know if you need further clarification on anything. Good luck with the hunt! :thumbsup:

[Anbesol]

AAAaaah thank you Canuck, I knew you would know the answer! Good good! I'll be picking up the 5600HS (or F56AM, whatever) here shortly then.

[Anbesol]

placed on order, spent the extra to get it here by wednesday, yay I'm excited to use it. Canuck, compared to my 3600, how much of a stop advantage for light coverage should I expect this thing to give me?

Oh yeah and I made it the 5600hs d, for some reason the f56am is a few tens pricier, just for that logo...

[Ultra Magnus]

how are you guys running your wireless flashes? I had far less than stellar results using the built in wireless in anything other than ideal settings. I found the whole line of sight thing really limiting and annoying, so I went with old Nikon SB's and fleabay triggers, though cybersynchs are very high on my list.

BM

[Canuck935]

I haven't really had any issues. With the 56 it's easy to swivel the body around so the sensor is facing my camera. The 36 requires a little extra thought when positioning. Indoors I've never had any problems, even when the flashes were out of the line of sight. It's outdoors in bright light where I've run into problems, but for me those situations are rare.

[Anbesol]

Wow, you know what, I'm thinking about getting yet another 3600HS/F36AM - as a hair/background light. Do You suppose I'll run into issue running a setup of 3?

[OldClicker]

I use two 42s with my A-350 and it's built in flash in all kinds of conditions, but they are always forward of the camera with the IR window pointing at it. I don't see why it would have any trouble with three or even 10. (I suppose there is some minimum power that will blow out the scene if you have too many.)

Somehow the IR signal will have to get to/from the one behind the subject that you are using as a backlight.

TF

[Canuck935]

3 wireless flashes you say? Well then Gary Friedman has the perfect article for you!

Click!--> 3 wireless flash studio

EDIT:
While I'm at it, here's Gary's article on the wireless flash system

:thumbsup:

[Anbesol]

Wowzas! Thanks for the link Canuck. Thats really cool how he set that up, I'm a bit hesitant to have 2 flashes aimed at the backdrop, but I'd also prefer a colored backdrop to a white one. I'd rather have one main and one fill aimed towards the subject and one light aimed across the backdrop (illuminate backs/hair and backdrops).

He brings up a good point about manual control on flashes too, now I'm sure a second 5600 would be a better investment than another 3600 for a 3 light setup. I carry the studio equipment for my work, and it *fills* my very massive cargo area (Aztek, huge cargo room). It sure is appealing to be able to do what those do in such a smaller size.

*edit - TF - does the F42 have manual control options?

[OldClicker]

*edit - TF - does the F42 have manual control options?

Yes it does.

Good summary of the flashes. (Though you probably already know, others may not.)

http://www.mhohner.de/sony-minolta/flashes.php

TF