Digital SLR - flash/lighting questions

[gixxer1000]

Folks, as I mentioned in a previous post thanks to your advise and encouragement I decided to buy a Digital SLR (D70) which arrived today

I am aware of the focal length adjustment when using non digital lenses, but was wondering about flash/lighing.

* will my Speedlight SB-28 work fine with the D70 too, or do I need to make adjustments (of perhaps get a new flash)

* I was about to also buy either the Elinchrom EL 500/500 or Bowens Eprit 500/500 studio lighting kits - will they work for digital, or should I perhaps look at something else.

Many thanks, Geoff

[simpo two]

Can't comment on the studio stuff but the SB28 will only work with certain functions - you may have to use it on manual mode.
The only two Speedlights which support all funtions of the D70 (namely, iTTL and CLS) are the SB600 and SB800. However, see how you get on with the SB28 - if you can juggle flash exposure, you might be OK for studio work as you'll have time to work out the settings.
Oh and welcome to the flock

[luca brazzi]

gixxer1000 said:

* I was about to also buy either the Elinchrom EL 500/500 or Bowens Eprit 500/500 studio lighting kits - will they work for digital, or should I perhaps look at something else. Many thanks, Geoff

They work perfectly well with digital. I got the cheapest flash stuff possible, getting the Jessops Portaflash Studio stuff from Ebay, and am thrilled with the results. When it comes time to upgrade, I think the best value while still being fantastic quality is the Bowens stuff you mentioned. In fact, this is what I intend getting...


Esprit 500/500/500 Three Head Kit
3x Esprit 500, 3x Manfrotto Lighting Stands, 2x Wide Angle Reflectors, 1x Bowens Softbox 100. 1x Carry Bag For Softbox 100, 1x 100cm Silver Umbrella, 1x 100cm White Umbrella, 1x 500 Kit Bag For Heads, 1x 500 Kit Bag For Stands, 3x Modelling Lamps, 3x Mains Leads, 1x Sync Leads, Instruction Manual
BW-4150
Esprit 500/500/500 Three Head Kit (UK)
Includes UK mains lead
£1039 on warehouseexpress.com

3 Heads are much more useful than 2.

1. Main light
2. Fill.
3. Background / hairlight.

Ideally, I'd like 4/5 (1 hair + 2 background)

Remember to factor in a good lightmeter, and a remote trigger to sit in your hotshoe so you can do without cables to trip over.

Ed Hasler has just kitted himself out with some studio stuff too, so he might pop into the thread and add some thoughts.

LB

[V6GTO]

I don't know about the physical connections between a D70 and the stuio kit, but if that isn't a problem then there shouldn't be any others. Once your white balence is set to flash the pictures should be fine.
Anyone with a name like gixxer thou is very welcome here!

Martin.

[luca brazzi]

One word or warning.....and I know this is a problem with Canon digital at least...

If you use a cable connection from the camera to a flash unit, there is a risk of frying the electronics as the trigger voltage may exceed Canon's threshold of 6V. Not sure if this occurs on the Nikon stuff.

I got round it, and achieve much greater flexibility, by mounting a flash trigger on the hot shoe, which emits a tiny flash (covered by a red filter) which is detected by the slave cells on the studio lights. It allows me to take the camera off tripod and move around, changing height and position easily, and with no worry about tripping over cables.

LB

[simpo two]

luca brazzi said:

If you use a cable connection from the camera to a flash unit, there is a risk of frying the electronics as the trigger voltage may exceed Canon's threshold of 6V. Not sure if this occurs on the Nikon stuff.

I've read of just this happening with a Vivitar flash on a D70 - puts out 120V IIRC!!

Lots of bits here:
www.europe-nikon.com/category.aspx?countryid=20&languageid=22&catId=101