Hey guys! Currently I shoot with Yongnou YN560-IV speed lights and/or an AB1600 triggered by RF-603N II transceivers. Been shooting that way for a year but I'm looking to upgrade in order to achieve:
1) High Speed Sync
2) At least one speed light with TTL for events (not what I normally shoot, but I'd like the ability to shoot w/ flash quickly)
3) Remote output control of both the speed lights and the AB (no more taking a hair light down, or climbing, to adjust power)
- Also a caveat that I'd *prefer* to stick to Alien Bees, I've already got the strobe and two modifiers w/ grids. Moving to another system is at least partially money down the drain!
I believe simply upgrading to the Yongnuo YN-622N-TX should give me TTL control and remote manual adjustments, and then I'd just need to switch to YN568EX speed lights to get TTL on my flashes and be able to control them manually and remotely while in-studio. Sound about right?
My strobe solution I'm kind of confused about, I'm trying to figure out how to get remote adjustments and HSS out of my alien bees but it seems tricky. Will that same Yongnuo YN622 get me both, or do I need to look into some other brand (which gets trickier, if PW comes up I've got more questions haha)? I keep reading that HSS speed sync isn't possible on ABs (or it is, but complicated). Find it hard to believe so many people are using it without it though!
I think the only way to remote power the Bees is with this:
http://paulcbuff.com/csrplus.php
Oooh that is a bummer if that's so. I am hoping to stick to the PCB strobes but a more universal kit of triggers. I'll probably have to reach out to PCB at some point and confirm some of this
May I ask what you generally shoot with this setup? Weddings?
No primarily I'm shooting studio portraits with this setup now, but I'm trying to prepare my kit for other opportunities/situations as they come up.
Thus far it hasn't been an issue because my lights haven't really left the house, but I'm trying to incrementally improve.
I'm curious why you need HSS if you're shooting in your home studio?
Also, you're using YN560s, why not use one of those as your hairlight. Then you can remote control it. Shouldn't need that much power for hairlight.
That's what I was referring to trying to get the kit ready for other situations, such as shooting with strobes outdoors and using HSS :).
Yeah I believe I could use the 560s remotely if I switched triggers, I would probably just upgrade one to the 568 for the TTL
Ahhhh, I gotcha.
I've honestly given up on using strobes outside and sometimes even for indoor shoots. I have 4 speedlights and various softboxes and umbrellas for them. They do the trick. Easier to move around and setup. If I really need the power, then I'll go rent some battery operated strobes.
As for TTL, I have an SB-700 that I find I'm using less and less now. Manual speedlights are more consistent. But I agree sometimes you need the TTL flexibility so I have to have one standing by. :)