[Steinar1]

I have just bought this DVD on Amazon and want to draw your attention to a fabulous product. If you use Nikon flashes, you should definitely invest in this DVD, which shows how to use Nikon cobra flashes in a host of different situations instead of investing in heavy, expensive studio equipment. One of America's best professional photographers, Joe McNally, takes you through various situations indoors, outdoors and for portrait as well as full set photo. Try to find it in the UK to reduce shipment costs. Good luck <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[wojtt]

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1300706791' post='6992']

I have just bought this DVD on Amazon and want to draw your attention to a fabulous product. If you use Nikon flashes, you should definitely invest in this DVD, which shows how to use Nikon cobra flashes in a host of different situations instead of investing in heavy, expensive studio equipment. One of America's best professional photographers, Joe McNally, takes you through various situations indoors, outdoors and for portrait as well as full set photo. Try to find it in the UK to reduce shipment costs. Good luck <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[/quote]





I kind of thought along the same line, but after trying it out I found out there's just no way to replicate the same results as with studio lighting. CLS is great when on the move, and you don't want to bring along the studio gear or just can't do it.. But when actually working in the studio there's no way I'd prefer the (SB 900) speedlights to the studio flashes, not the same power and light distibution, nor the capability to work for a couple of hours (overheating of the SB's).

[wojtt]

BTW, what works great for me on the SB-900 is a "Gary Fong Lightsphere"-like dome and a Lastolite "EzyBox" Softbox, those are really worth having, to avoid the typical bang-on-the-face flash look .. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Steinar1]

Have you really tried to use it with several flashes, reflectors and/or accesories? This is a guide for people who move and not for people who work in one permanent studio. If you condemn it the way you do, maybe you have not really tried all the possibilities? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' /> Far be it for me to suggest you don't know what you are talking about <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> but the DVD is really informative and quite surprising in what you can achieve with cobra flashes.

[mst]

Well, judging from the images wojtt posts here, I'd prefer real studio light, too. It's just way more powerful, and yes, light distribution is an issue, too. You just can't fill a large octobox or strip light with a SB-900.



However, for smaller subjects, like product shots, the SB-900 combined with light modifiers like the Ezybox (love it, too) is great. And this is where CLS becomes really convenient. Btw.: the small R-200 flashes, intended to be used as macro lights, work great as fill, background or effect lights.



Anyway, McNally is certainly one of the great CLS gurus out there, even though he sometimes rather comes across as "Master of Desaster" <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> His books are a great read, too.



David Hobby (strobist.com) is another excellent instructor concerning pocket flashes (and lighting in general). He just released a set of DVDs (Lighting in Layers) which I consider to order.



-- Markus

[Steinar1]

Look, I think we all agree that a studio set up is preferrable. This DVD just tries to show what you can do with cobras, IF you are on the move. One certainly does not exclude the other <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> It is well worth a look!