The Basics Of On-Camera Strobes
I’m using the phrase “on camera” to distinguish between portable strobes as well as the ones that are used for indoor use that require a wall plug for power and built-in lighting fixtures for modeling.
I am hesitant to label them “portable” since I can be sure that if you buy an assortment of monolights or studio lights, the next thing you’ll use them for is to start making use of the outdoors. Photographers are good at waiting for the light to come, but great photographers control it. To stay focused, I’m planning to stay using strobes on-camera.
A single strobe in the camera’s hot shoe could be extremely helpful. Many photographers prefer mounting their portable strobes on a bracket. However, this practice is used less frequently nowadays. There was no direct connection between the camera with strobe. Today, the camera and the strobe are constantly communicating to minimize glare and reflections and provide even soft lighting.
The benefit of an on-camera strobe that works well is it is still possible to place it inside an umbrella or softbox and make use of it indoors. You’ll need to move close to the lighting of your subject, and with the exception of a battery-powered strobe isn’t going to be able to match that power from a plug-in.
It is the Brand Name Products
The top of the line is top brand models like the Canon 680EX RT ($499) as which is the successor to the 580 EX II, along with the Nikon SB-910 ($559). These are expensive, but they are costly because of a reason, and this is because they provide high-quality lighting and reliable images. It’s not a problem that if you press the button, the strobe won’t go off. The camera’s communication lens, strobe, and camera combine to create stunning photographs.
It’s actually higher than the brand name strobes available using models like that of the Quantum Qflash, which are basically a battery-powered studio flash. These are fantastic lighting, but they’re expensive, in my opinion.
Second Tier Strobes
The two major brands of camera equipment also have less powerful models, such as Canon 430EX II ($259) and the Canon 430EX II ($259), and the Nikon SB-700 ($326). There is a loss in power, but you will still receive lighting that is able to communicate with the lens and camera to provide close-to-perfect lighting.
3rd Party Strobes
Yongnuo is rapidly becoming the most well-known brand in 3rd party camera strobes, which are compatible with Canon as well as Nikon’s digital meters. Yongnuo was plagued by issues that were related to capacitors in the year 2011/2012, which they have been able to resolve. However, it’s best to buy the capacitors from a store that has a good return policy should you receive the cement.
The Yongnuo 565EX ($159) promises to work with Canon or Nikon’s electronic metering, but I can assure you from my experience that it isn’t always a reliable connection. But I’ve shot pay-per-view jobs using Yongnuo’s equipment and have had great results. I also have backup flashes to take to the shoot in case anything goes wrong.
Third-party strobes are great for beginners or for pros. With enough spare equipment, they can be used as a substitute for one piece of equipment that falls over the line.
