Canon Speedlite System Digital Field Guide

by Corsentino, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781118112892
• ISBN10: 111811289X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-08-07
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Digital SLR sales continue to increase, and the first accessory consumers want for these cameras is an equally capable flash. Lighting is also the most important aspect for a Photographer to learn when understanding what aspect of lighting can make a good photo or make a bad one. The booklets that come with these Speedlites only hint at the creative effects you can achieve. That's where the Canon Speedlite System Digital Field Guide, Third Edition comes in. It gives detailed, real-world information on using these Speedlites illustrated by full-color examples and demystifies the complexities of using multiple Speedlites. Using this information, readers can create an inexpensive, wireless, studio lighting system that is portable enough to fit in a camera bag. This field guide also covers other Canon lighting system components such as the ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter, Macro Ring Lite and Macro Twin Lites.

Author Biography

Michael Corsentino is an award-winning photographer, Adobe Photoshop Adobe Lightroom expert, author, national speaker, and workshop leader based in Northern California. His blend of photojournalism, fashion, and editorial styles have made him an in-demand portrait and destination-wedding photographer.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. xiv
QT
Quick Tour	p. 1
Getting Up and Running Quickly	p. 2
Taking Your First Photos with the Speedlite	p. 3
Exploring the Canon Speedlite System	p. 9
Features of the Canon Speedlite System	p. 10
600EX/600EX-RT	p. 11
600EX/600EX-RT specifications and features	p. 11
Main components	p. 14
Function buttons, dedicated buttons, and Select dial	p. 17
600EX/600EX-RT accessories	p. 19
580EX II	p. 20
580EX II specifications and features	p. 20
Main components	p. 22
Control buttons and Select dial	p. 26
580EX II accessories	p. 27
430EX II	p. 28
430EX II specifications and features	p. 28
Main components	p. 29
Control buttons	p. 32
430EX II accessories	p. 33
Other Components of the Speedlite System	p. 34
270EX	p. 34
270EX II	p. 35
320EX	p. 35
OC-E3 Off-Camera Shoe Cord	p. 36
Speedlite transmitter ST-E3-RT	p. 38
ST-E2 wireless transmitter	p. 41
Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX	p. 43
Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX	p. 44
Setting Up Your Speedlites	p. 47
Power Requirements	p. 48
Non-rechargeable	p. 48
Rechargeable	p. 48
Flash Modes	p. 50
E-TTL II	p. 50
E-TTL	p. 51
Manual	p. 51
Multi-stroboscopic flash	p. 52
Zoom position	p. 54
Auto Zoom Adjustment for APS-C Sensors	p. 56
Adjusting Flash Exposure Compensation	p. 56
600EX/600EX-RT	p. 57
580EX II	p. 57
430EX II	p. 57
AF-Assist Beam	p. 58
600EX/600EX-RT	p. 59
580EX II	p. 59
430EX II	p. 60
LCD Panel Illumination	p. 60
Custom Functions	p. 60
Setting Custom Functions on the flash	p. 61
Setting Custom Functions via the camera	p. 68
Auto Off mode	p. 69
Flash Photography Basics	p. 71
Studio Strobes or Speedlites?	p. 72
Color Temperature and White Balance	p. 77
What is Kelvin temperature?	p. 77
Choosing the white balance	p. 77
White balance presets	p. 80
Balancing for the ambient light	p. 84
Using Bounce Flash	p. 85
Why and when to use bounce flash	p. 86
Camera and Speedlite settings	p. 88
Explaining Flash Exposure and Specifications	p. 89
Guide number	p. 89
Aperture	p. 92
Distance	p. 93
Guide number ÷ Distance = Aperture	p. 93
Sync speed	p. 93
Second-curtain sync	p. 94
Fill flash	p. 94
Using Your Flash Off Your Camera	p. 99
How the Speedlite System Works Wirelessly with Your Camera	p. 100
Overview of Wireless Flash Setup with the Canon Speedlite System	p. 101
Step 1: Choose a flash mode	p. 101
Step 2: Choose a wireless mode	p. 101
Step 3: Choose a channel	p. 102
Step 4: Set up groups or slave IDs	p. 103
Step 5: Adjust the flash ratio levels	p. 103
Setting Up Master and Slave Flashes	p. 104
Masters	p. 104
Slaves	p. 116
Setting Up a Wireless Manual Flash	p. 120
600EX/600EX-RT in Manual mode	p. 121
580EX II in Manual mode	p. 123
Setting slaves for manual flash	p. 124
Using Wireless Multi-Stroboscopic Flash	p. 127
Setting Up Channels and Groups or Slave IDs	p. 127
Channels	p. 127
Groups	p. 128
600EX/600EX-RT	p. 128
580EXII	p. 130
430EXII	p. 131
Setting Flash Exposure Compensation	p. 131
Setting FEC with the 600EX/600EX-RT set to Master	p. 132
Setting FEC with the 580EX II set to Master	p. 132
Setting FEC slave flashes	p. 133
Testing and Modeling Flash from a Slave Unit	p. 134
Remote Release from a Slave Unit	p. 134
Linked Shooting with Radio Transmission	p. 135
Using Your Speedlites with Radio Triggers	p. 137
Using your Speedlites with Pocket Wizards	p. 137
Using your Speedlites with RadioPoppers	p. 139
Setting Up a Wireless Studio	p. 141
Introduction to the Portable Studio	p. 142
Cables, Cords, and Triggers	p. 143
Extra-long E-TTL cords	p. 143
Custom cables	p. 145
Cable releases	p. 145
Tethered shooting	p. 145
Radio triggers	p. 146
White Balance and Filters	p. 146
White balance and the ExpoDisc	p. 146
Neutral density filters for wider apertures	p. 148
Light Modifiers	p. 148
Reflectors	p. 150
Gels	p. 152
Grids and snoots	p. 154
Diffusers, small flags, and bounce cards	p. 155
Umbrellas	p. 157
Softboxes	p. 161
Beauty dishes	p. 166
Ring flash	p. 167
Specialty brackets	p. 168
Backgrounds and Background Stands	p. 168
Seamless paper backdrops	p. 169
Collapsible backdrops	p. 170
Muslin backdrops	p. 171
Canvas backdrops	p. 172
Contemporary backdrops	p. 173
Backdrop stands	p. 173
Motorized backdrop support systems	p. 173
Space Considerations	p. 174
Setting up for indoor shoots	p. 174
Setting up for outdoor shoots	p. 177
Traveling with Your Wireless Studio	p. 179
Camera cases and bags	p. 179
Portable light stands	p. 180
Lighting Concepts and Patterns	p. 183
Concepts of Lighting	p. 184
Studio lighting	p. 184
Portrait lighting types	p. 186
Mood and drama	p. 195
Lighting patterns	p. 196
Using Speedlites for Outdoor Locations	p. 205
The prefiight	p. 208
Remembering light theory	p. 208
Setting power output	p. 208
Modifiers and Their Qualities of Light	p. 209
One Light, Two Lights, Three Lights!	p. 213
One light	p. 214
Two lights	p. 221
Three lights	p. 227
Posing Basics	p. 231
Developing Your Style	p. 234
Positioning the body	p. 234
Positioning the hands and arms	p. 236
Paying attention to the details	p. 238
Positions to Avoid	p. 240
Planning Poses	p. 241
Traditional posing	p. 242
Editorial posing	p. 243
Glamour style	p. 245
Rules of Composition	p. 247
Keep It Simple	p. 247
Silhouettes	p. 249
Limiting focus	p. 251
The Rule of Thirds	p. 252
Field of View	p. 254
Leading Lines and S-Curves	p. 256
Symmetry	p. 257
Resources	p. 259
Websites and Online Learning	p. 259
DVDs and Video Downloads	p. 260
iPad Apps	p. 262
Books	p. 263
Workshops	p. 263
Trade Shows	p. 264
Magazines	p. 264
Associations	p. 264
Light Modifiers	p. 265
Light Stands	p. 265
Reflectors	p. 265
Brackets	p. 266
Lenses	p. 266
Radio Triggers and Remotes	p. 266
Backdrops and Support Systems	p. 266
Cords and Cables	p. 267
Equipment for Tethered Shooting	p. 267
Filters	p. 267
Bags and Cases	p. 267
How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker	p. 268
The Gray Card	p. 268
The Color Checker	p. 269
Glossary	p. 270
Index	p. 279
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