Test the light box Tristar, solutions to trigger flash cobra
October 10th, 2008
When we try to have a portable solution, light, autonomous artificial lighting a minimum working example in a portrait, flash cobra is self-evident.
This allows you to walk around with a mini mobile studio in his camera bag, the goal is obviously not replace a real studio, but to provide a solution for specific needs, the benefits are many:
- It is relatively inexpensive (there are flashes of great opportunity for cobra 50 euros)
- It's very "portable", small, lightweight and above all independent
Of course there are disadvantages:
- Compared with studio flash is not playing in the same league in terms of power and recycle time (time needed to "recharge" between two shots)
- Accessories are less developed (light box, honeycomb, snoot etc ...)
And there are solutions to mitigate these disadvantages:
- To reduce the recycling time: It invests in high quality batteries (GP 2700 for example), there are adapters for some flash, you can also mount in sensitivity, approaching the light source of his subject, etc. ..
- In terms of accessories, professionals are currently developing various accessories (snoot, ringflash adapter), but nothing prevents you achieve yours! Need a snoot placed three quarters to bring out the hairs of your model? The leaves are cut from a box of spaghetti and it slipped over the head of your flash! site Strobist and Diyphotography are real standards in terms of crafts and ideas.
Some manufacturers have realized the need for portability of a class of professionals and have begun to develop specific products for photographers "nomadic".
In this article I will talk to an accessory that seems to me very useful as part of a portrait: the little box in light of Tristar (There are other manufacturers making this type of product)
So I ordered two boxes of light at the site of Tristar Missnumérique , they are sold 55 euros each.
Everything is delivered in pizza boxes that have apparently suffered during transport.
It mounts like a standard light box, then we just scratch the veil spreading to the front of the box.
The advantage of this type of diffuser is to increase the area of lightning and generate a softer light with shadows smaller.
The support of the box has a classic shoe to attach the flash on the box, you can then adjust the height of the box over the flash head.
Importantly the box is mounted on a tripod studio because no thread for a tripod classic, if you want to mount your camera tripod it will be essential to find an adapter.
Once installed the flash it looks like this:
The triggering of flash:
To trigger remote flash there is a lot of solutions that all have advantages and disadvantages, the key is to know your needs (cables, no son, storage automation, ect ...) and your budget to determine that the solution will be able to satisfy you.
The wireless system of Nikon:
If you have a box with a Nikon flash flash driver or allowing the control of other flash (eg SB800) and a recent flash (SB600, 800, 900) you can initially do without accessories.
If you have a case "pro" it has no flash, it will turn to either a controller or flash type SU800 allowing the control of other flash
- Advantages: Nothing to buy, it works quite well in optimal circumstances, we work in "remote control" the measure of light is kept
- Disadvantage: The lame and the flash must "see" (information is sent to IR), the pre-flash (used for measuring flash light) can be annoying, the system works poorly in daylight.
The trigger cell Hama:
A small accessory 15 euros which is fixed to the shoe and the flash that is triggered based on a flash
- Advantages: It works with any flash and any case capable of emitting a flash (so even a compact ...), the price!
- Disadvantage: It really works with a flash, the cell must receive the lightning (in the sun it's a waste) if you are not alone in making flash quickly becomes tedious. The metering is manual.
The sync cable:
A non-proprietary cable does not cost very expensive on ebay, the case and the flash must have a catch, noted that there are also cables that connect to the flash shoe.
- Advantages: Cheap, the flash is provided.
- Cons: Cable length, loss of automation in most cases.
The wireless system from other manufacturers:
Pocket Wizard is the Rolls in terms of robustness, its scope is enormous, we are working on several channels. PW currently dominates this market.
Note that the challenger " Radiopopper "said store automation of each brand, we should take advantage of in PW (on the cheap!) coupled with automated systems specific to each brand, a product promising to follow!
There are also available on ebay radio cells at very attractive rates, but the returns in terms of reliability are quite negative.
- Advantages: Robust, lightning is provided, the scope is enormous.
- Cons: Very expensive! and does not preserve the automatic (except in Radiopopper)
Conclusion:
There is so far not a perfect system (I'm waiting to test Radiopoppers), each system has its advantages and disadvantages, so choose a solution based on the type of photos to make for example:
For the indoor sports: Pocket Wizard to the scope, strength, ability to use multiple channels. If we cover a basketball game and we see that the flash set on the edge of the field is too strong it will be necessary to run the flash to set it. (Good in practice for this type of coverage is rather working with large flash attached to the stands, but basically you get the idea).
Posed for the portrait indoor: The system of Nikon multiflash allows for remote flash settings directly on the main flash. ect ...
The ultimate would be a trip with multiple radio channels that retains the ability to make adjustments directly on the master flash is what provides Radiopopper, so I can not wait to try these new accessories.
In practice
I had the opportunity to test these boxes during a marriage for the cover of the evening, outside the classical picture moments before, I proposed to set up a mini studio to produce images more festive, more eccentric to close the album.
Those present have played the game beyond my expectations, I worked with the same kind of angle and the same exposure that allowed me to focus my attention on the management of people in the picture.
Here are some pictures of the mini studio improvised late night.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:59
It's great!
I just bought the kit halogen Kaiser H, 2 x 1000w with dimmers, 2 bowl 2 softbox, 700th TTC ... Excellent, but it heats up and the processor it can be annoying ...
These boxes will do the trick flash for travel ...
In addition I have the feet of the kit. Thank you for the plan!
The downside, in addition takes on the remote cells, it does not work with pre-flash, inconsistent with a wireless system. No complementarity. In addition, some boxes do not disengage the pre flash without the flash, so the flash can take part in the scene so disturbing even if we can reduce it.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:19
Stupid question but ... Where did you put your boxes on the first picture?
October 10th, 2008 at 9:41
Thank you for the review Ben, I just buy one and is very convenient.
2 points by small cons:
Regarding the use with SB-900 flash support is too thick, I have the file in order to insert the SB-900!
For those without lighting up, I bought a manfrotto spigot like this ( http://www.teamworkphoto.com/images/manfrotto/119.jpg ) which allows all of a screw fastening quick example or directly on an equal classic (2 different threads). A little more than 3 € to save buying a tripod
People are released from the marriage apparently, very nice result
October 11th, 2008 at 9:17
The principle of radiopoppers looks interesting indeed ... I just want to help saying that the Elinchrom Skyport system works very well and cost a little cheaper than PocketWizard. This is one I use normally, and it works very well!
October 11th, 2008 at 11:06
Hehe, I ask myself / ais the same question!
October 11th, 2008 at 11:52
I recently purchased the solution without triggering son "Ebay", I must say that the price is rather good, far from the PW is on, but it really helps out honorably.
the only downside to it triggers high speed (greater than 1 / 200) is very uncertain, it is activated but not necessarily synchronized.
That said, it is very entertaining series. hat the artist!
October 11th, 2008 at 1:24
Ju: I am not very fan of continuous lighting, AC consumes a max, it is not as powerful as the flash heater and AC too
The system of pre-flash with Nikon is disabled (it is enough to switch to manual and reduce its power to prevent it écaire the scene. For other brands I can not speak
Betrand: In my hand
long pause and I was lighting the car and other items using the test button flash.
The purpose of the picture is rather to indicate the place.
Cedric Raket: Yep, I've heard a lot of good also for a lower price to PW
jean: jean thank you for your return
October 11th, 2008 at 1:41
Nice gym that Ben
October 11th, 2008 at 9:30
You have lit the car with a blue gelatin or is it just the large difference in color temperature between the bulb and your flash with the contrast gives this impression?
October 12th, 2008 at 7:23
Thank you for the info!
@ Plouche.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:40
Super Ben,
On pre lightning is actually very annoying for the model, but Mr Nikon spoiled us with the AE lock button parammétrable function of D3 (maybe even on the D300?) And a pressure sufficient to stop annoying person shooter like crazy.
A +
Fred
October 12th, 2008 at 7:26
Thank you for your information on the box and triggering flash!
In any case I would insist on the pictures coming out of the ordinary, beautiful and full of energy!
October 12th, 2008 at 7:31
Bertrand: Thank you
Dati: It's just the temperature that differs
delphine: with pleasure!
Fred: Yep, very true!
Shooter: thank you
October 13th, 2008 at 4:32
Uh, I would not go for the service but obsessed with the 8th picture in the series, the girl will not be very happy to note that we see her white panties on the picture!
Otherwise, a fun series and thank you Mr. Canon, do not always allow the management of remote flashes from the camera!
October 13th, 2008 at 6:58
Superb article that takes away the hesitation on the trade-off for a mini-cobra-studio (I ©
), It's really generous of you to share all this with us.
See ya
October 14th, 2008 at 24:03
Cool! Good idea the studio session.
Personally, I received mine a week ago, and I found it quite small.
So I ordered a Westcott then 70cm and 127cm from another! (The lighting is by reflection on a silver background to provide coverage). Strongly that my model is fit for a session.
If not for your readers equipped gun, forget the ebay trigger (limitation of sync x), I opted for the pw and no ttl is not a problem.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:42
Thank you Ben.
I am also looking for a system of this kind, but cheap, I watch the output just like you trying to find a viable alternative
Bye
October 14th, 2008 at 3:42
lomoseb> Why do you say that the ebay triggers would not work? Following my recent changes, I had found 97% reliable outside ... and since I received the ST-E2 so I have worked with.
Very nice studio with this sofa, it does it very well!
October 16th, 2008 at 10:35
@ Electronik: Well I tried two versions of the V1 and trigger the V2S. The first works very well with the K10D. By the way Canon: The V1 worked about (flash nuisance) and the V2S well except that it limited the sync at 1 / 160 (instead of 1 / 200). In fact these povertywizards vary the transfer of information with the channel. Also on the 5D I had a frame of banding at the top of pictures (randomly). So yes the pw are a bit expensive (110 € / piece) but for 100 € more I find an equivalent to three 540ex flash, remains to make the calculation
and find a real interest in the TTL.
October 20th, 2008 at 1:51
[...] Valerie and Lawrence have contacted me to cover his wedding Oct. 18 on the advice of Gabriel that I covered the wedding in June. [...]
October 28th, 2008 at 9:17
In the end, and in practice with what you bump the time to order your flash?
See u
November 20th, 2008 at 2:01
I love it!! Simply ... To hear you, there is no need to stress i was not to buy in the last cries light box but a little layer and crafts and The case is made ...
THANK YOU THANK YOU ...
November 25th, 2008 at 12:13
[...] You can also see on the site of Benjamin BROLET a field test of a solution [...]
November 25th, 2008 at 8:57
Hello,
Again a very nice little scéance
It would be interesting to see a picture without editing to get an idea of what this system in the stomach ... I was just thinking to turn to this style of solution (my studio stuff is heavy and bulky)
I thought of the Lastolite kit esybox who do that for a little while. I do not know if you had the opportunity to test the Lastolite? I'd be interested to know the differences between the two, as the resemblance seems obvious
Good evening
David
November 25th, 2008 at 8:58
Oh, I forgot ... You have tested on small objects or a plate? It would also be interesting
November 26th, 2008 at 7:55
letmeshoot: There is no such thing as a retouching images, merely adds to the contrast in Capture One, I can not see edit all the images of a marriage by a
.
Lastolite's just for the sticker on the box that is different
This is also a lot of packshot!
November 27th, 2008 at 3:10
Update of my message, I found the answer in your articles ...
Otherwise ... Benjamiinnnnnn !!!!! So what?!
Articles are where!?!
We faiiiiimmmm!!
November 27th, 2008 at 11:42
Thank you Benjamin
It's good to know that, because Lastolite's pretty exorbitant price level (a few hundred euro to 2 kits)
I still think a solution Photoflex style for more autonomy - long hesitation in perspective.
In any case I love the small wedding in the session chair, really nice and original.
it must be fun to participate! Bravo!
They had a good time guests
November 27th, 2008 at 2:11
We're hungry!
November 28th, 2008 at 3:18
Hi Ben ... first time I left a message here ...
Even if I go regularly ... 
I think everything has been said about your photos ... always very clean shots ... What good work! and in addition you seem to make you very happy! (Even if it is not easy) it makes me really want to take photos when I look at your tofs ... 
All that to say ... before the last (9), makes me think of a great photo of Salvador Dali taken by Philippe Halsman in 1948 ... "Salvador Dali With Flying Cats" Here if you want to see what it looks like ...
Anyway, Nice work, good luck ...
December 8th, 2008 at 11:55
[...] For me to try a light box (for a test, read the excellent article by Benjamin [...]
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:22
[...] Extra photographer who took pictures for funny [...]
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:28
[...] Cobra keeping the studio tripods with small boxes in light of LumiQuest (read the article on the subject), the weight and bulk is already greatly reducing, but not enough to [.. .]
February 8th, 2009 at 1:07
Hello,
It's really nice to give us this super good plan mobile studio!
But I have a clarification to ask you: what you are using flash? A SB 800? Finally 2 SB 800! For I believe that you are equipped with Nikon. And as one of the comments indicates that the SB 900 is a bit big for the system, I would like to know if the SB 800, it works or not!
For installation on the carrier, you said what exactly? A support with a swivel adapter and flash cobra? Or something else?
Thank you for your answers. I'm just dropped next flash stuff ... I work in natural light only ... So I put the flash, it gives me the tournic!
And bravo for the pictures, it's great fun!
February 8th, 2009 at 24:10
Hello Cecilia,
For now I use a SB600 and SB800, if you use a system other than Nikon to trigger (IR cell, Pocket Wizard, Skyport ..) no matter the brand of your flash. The SB900 is a great flash also for this type of configuration it offers more power but also shorter recycle time.
Support comes with the boxes, so no need other accessories outside tripod and boxes
February 8th, 2009 at 7:01
Ben thank you!
I think to turn to an SB 800 because of price and also its size (SB 900 seems too big in the words of Jonathan who has the support of the flash file). As for the remote release, I will follow your advice and take that of Nikon. It comes with the purchase of the flash or it must be ordered separately?
Thank you again for the info to me a great support.
Do you have a website to see more of your work?
February 8th, 2009 at 7:30
Cecilia: The purchase of SU-800 is only necessary if your case does not allow remote flash control to verify depending on your hardware. And it is indeed an accessory sold separately (250 euros).
Otherwise I have no other website than the one where you are.
February 8th, 2009 at 11:57
OK, thank you for that clarification ... size!
I go with my D 300 and D 200 my, what they offer me.
Thank you again for everything and I hope one day you can make it as good service by giving you good advice!
Ia orana and soon, perhaps on the web!
March 12th, 2009 at 6:04
Hi Benjamin,
You are certainly aware ..
But I just saw on the net that the new Pocket Wizard went out and he managed to TTL o)
http://www.cyrilbruneau.com/blog/2009/02/nouveaux-pocketwizard-minitt1-et.html
@ +
Olive
April 20th, 2009 at 10:10
Hi Benjamin,
Just a little info: There is a solution at Nikon not too bad and cheap (€ 15 delivered) for enclosures with a built-in flash = This is the accessory SG-3-IR
This blocks the flash of the box, but not the IR. So it is possible to "control" another slave flash, no "crush" the light on the subject.
I do not know what that would do against the system light box that you present (the slave flash it receives the IR flash?)
This is ... hoping to bring qquechose ...
July 25th, 2009 at 6:29
Hi Benjamin,
Is it possible to find accessories for Cobra Flash store in Brussels?
Genres light box, honeycomb etc ...
thank you
October 1st, 2009 at 24:53
A solution for the budget very effective
I ordered my kit received in 8 days! Everything was perfect!
http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=17028&cat=298&page=3
a solution for flash super cheap and effective
a small internship in Paris to learn to master if necessary!
http://www.jrphotographie.com/stage-photo-a-paris.php
A +
David
October 16th, 2009 at 1:05
[...] 430 EXII and the Alien Bees B400 super efficient. To disseminate a little Magic Square Softbox (advised by B. BROLET), and Large by Paul Buff. Left: Alien Bees B400 Flash Box + Lumer Paul Buff [...]
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:01
Very nice this test of these small light boxes! I bought the same and have issued me with photos here: http://www.chassimages.com/forum/index.php/topic, 67764.0.html
See you soon!
December 11th, 2009 at 8:50
Little additional info on this old topic. I just bought 2 VIVITAR 285HV flash and I highly recommend this type of configuration. It is very cheap (about € 60 each) are given for a number of high-guide (120 head) and are easily adjustable. I triggered via pocket wizard and I admit that it is extremely reliable.
January 7th, 2010 at 10:58
Hi all,
Posed a set PW TT1 and TT5, I wondered if the receiver Flex TT5 + falsh the Cobra did not pose a concern for installation at the frame of the softbox?
January 11th, 2010 at 24:34
Greg78: this is not a problem, you can adjust the height of the boxes according to your flash mount, there are also double claws that allow to install a flash with his side PW
April 30th, 2011 at 2:05
Very interesting article a friend sent me. I am thinking to buy a mobile you like this.