Beginner Speedlites controlling them.

Hi guys.

Quick breakdown of what I currently have.

D3300, Nikon 50mm1.8, the 35-55 stock lens, 3 softboxes with stands and boom, a cheap tripod, Neewer 32" 5 in 1 reflector and cabled shutter release.
I am now looking for a speedlite. I know bugger all about speedlites having never used one before. I am wanting to combine it with the softboxes to give me more control over lighting my subjects. So, I am looking at the Neewer range as they are in my budget. I want a speedlite (or 2 ) that have power settings and can be fired by my D3300 and would I need a commander 'thing' attached to my camera to control the settings of the speedlites without having to keep walking to them to alter them manually.

Any ideas. Like I said, I am new to lighting and speedlites especially.

They have to be compatible with my D3300 though. If you need any more information please ask.

Put simply:
Yes, most cheap speedlights will work as slaves to be triggrrrd by your built in flash.
You’d set the speedlight power manually, use S2 Slave mode (so they ignore the pre-flash) and off you go!

Simple but:
The built in flash will believe it’s doing the lighting and wrestling with it to stop it spoiling your shots can be a pain.
Also, your off camera lights need to ‘see’ the flash in order to be fired, this can also be a pain, having to move lights so they’ll fire rather than where they produce the light you want.

The better option is using radio triggering, you can put a wireless transmitter in your hotshoe and a receiver on your remote lights.
Or you could buy something like the Yongnuo 560 flashes with built in receivers and have a slightly more elegant setup. (You might pay slightly more for the flashes but less than a flash and receiver)
Then there’s less batteries, and less connections to go wrong.

droolinggimp said:

I am wanting to combine it with the softboxes to give me more control over lighting my subjects

Click to expand...

If you mean you’re wanting to add speedlights to a system of continuous lit softboxes, there’ll be some technical headaches. If you mean you want to put the speedlights into the softboxes to replace the continuous lights, that’s amore sensible solution.

The continuous lights are not very bright, and they’ll continue to be not very bright if you add flash, the flash will just bully them and spoil your carefully placed soft lighting.

I think we need to understand what you mean by “give me more control”.

Thanks for the reply Phil V . regarding your first post, the radio triggering is what I probably meant. So that would control the flashes yes and allow me to change the settings remotely?

Second post, I would use them in the softboxes or get some umbrellas at some point. (I am still learning and experimenting with lighting in my home). I would still use the Boxes as continuous lighting and the flashes if the subject or style requires it.

Edit: The 'more control' is power settings not having boths softboxes on constantly so I can change the settings and experiment until I am happy. With the boxes I have to move them around more. I only have a small room to practise in currently.

one of these

2 of these

Like I said the speedlights might be a bit more expensive, but once you add triggers, it makes sense

Cheers. I'll have a good look at them.