Strobist - SUNPAK 120J PROFESSIONAL

[wahgongzai]

hi all, just to share a "radio trigger test" with the 120J that I did a few weeks ago.

There are two + 1 ways (that I know of) to control ambient light, one is to shoot at small aperture (F11,16,22) to limit the amount of light, but you need to combine a few hot shoe flashes or a minimum 200Ws strobe to compensate it. You can refer here to know more by the great one light master Zack Arias.

The other way is to shoot at higher flash sync speed to cut down the ambient, I prefer this method, Why? Using higher flash sync means that I can use less powerful flash... This method have a catch though, most of our DSLR only have flash sync ranging between 1/160, 1/200 and 1/250. So how to shoot above flash sync, well you can switch to medium format or buy a used Nikon D40,D70,D70s,D1, D1H and D1X. There are also some prosumer compacts like the Canon G9 and G10 which can sync above 1/500. But lets just concentrate on DSLR cams.

Before I go in-depth into the testing scenario, some of you may ask what is the + 1 method? For the +1 method, you can refer here which I learn from the great Yoda of Strobist, David Hobby.

As mention before on page 1 thread two,my Sony A100 have a sucking flash sync of 1/160 :sticktong. So after waiting and waiting... I finally got my hands on a used D70. This cam simply rock my strobist world. I finally got to try things that I can't do... Shooting at flash sync at 1/1250

Yes sir, you are not reading it wrong. Flash sync @ 1/1250sec. The pocket wizard truly can sync @ 1/1250sec with the Nikon D70, now come the other surprise, I own a few China-made PT-04, normally these trigger according to manufacturer only have flash sync of 1/250.

These PT-04 can also sync @ 1/1250 with my D70, surprised!

The Radio Triggers

I will be using the Pocketwizard Transceiver and "Ishoot" PT-04 trigger.
Sorry for the badly taken photo, I only got less than 30 mins to get everything done and returned the PWs. So everything must chop chop.

The Test setup

Very simple setup, two black boards acting as base and background, a 120J+grid mount onto a boom with power set @ 1/16 the lowest power setting. Please ignore the reflector in the image. The reflector was not used during testing. Nikon D70 mount on tripod with a Tokina 28-70 F2.8. All the images are taken with a wide aperture of F2.8 to illustrate the change of ambient light when I increase the flash sync. I try to placed the product as closed to the windows as possible. The time is between 1155 to 1230hrs. Very bright sunny day.

I will updating shortly with the results and my personal thought for this test. Do stay tuned

 

[wahgongzai]

Okay now lets continue with the results that I got.

I created an animated gif for you to see the transition of ambient light better. From 1/30 to a whopping 1/1250sec. See the different :bsmilie:

Now with the PT-04, To my surprised, it sync at 1/1250sec just like the Pocketwizards. However I like to state that there are a lot of variation of "PT-04" alike in the market. So result may different from the one and other.

Different setup, 120J+ grid aim at a white wall @ 1/1000, 1/1250 and 1/1600.

With Pocketwizards

With Ishoot PT-04, I notice more color shift @ 1/1250. Not sure why, but I am not bother by this though.

Personal thoughts: The Nikon D70 maximum flash sync limit with Pocketwizards and Ishoot PT-04 is 1/1250 sec, which to me is very very impressive. This does not mean that you should go get a Nikon D70 or D40.

The latest Nikon SB, Canon EX and Sony flashes does support high speed sync which work very differently. If you wish to find out more you can refer here. Photographer Paul Duncan did a fabulous job explaining in detailed.

I bought it because it give me more freedom to experiment with cool stuffs that I always wanted to do. Example like trying to fight the 12pm Sun with just one SUNPAK 120J or to freeze a basketball player driving a layout in mid air "low key" shot in late afternoon sun outdoor! All these are things I am going to try in the near future and will share with you guys once I am free.

BTW, just to clarify. This test is not done to prove that the "Pt-04" is as good as the Pocketwizards. In my opinion "Pocketwizards" are still the best remote trigger device. I rented the pocketwizards and used it on field, very reliable. I remember I have no miss fire during the whole day shoot. I always wanted t get these but the price is stopping me from doing so. However I will still placed these on my "wished" list and hopefully in the future I do own one set.

The PT-04 is put to test is because currently these is what I can afford to own. So if you are on a budget and you own a Nikon D70 or D40. You can used this as a reference. Recently I have bought two set of Aputure TrigMaster MX3C as I am looking into longer range radio triggers. The MX3C however can only sync @ 1/1000 sec with mine D70. I will try to do a test on these and post here....once I am free.

Hope you guys find it useful.

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[djugashvili]

thanks for starting this thread. Just wondering if you have any idea if Sunpak is making anymore such strobes? Visited their website but they seem to be doing more hotshoe flash and only the G Flash strobe is the strobe they have in their line of products now.

 

[wahgongzai]

Just wondering if you have any idea if Sunpak is making anymore such strobes?

SUNPAK have ceased production of 120J... everyone from all over the world including me do hope they will consider reviving this classic "barebulb" flash.

 

[wahgongzai]

A personal shoot that I did a few weeks back... been busy so have not gone through all the photos yet. Will try to post more in the future if I am free.

Model is Sherina, a very soft spoken model. She have long legs that make her look like a "barbie doll". The shoot was done in the evening during the "heat wave" period. My living room was super hot like a microwave even we have two fans and all the window opened. I am sweating like a "pig", Wyn the stylist/assistant also sweat quite a bit :sweat:... Sherina never show any sign of discomfort and perform liked a "ace" from the beginning till the end :thumbsup:. Everything went well, the model is beautiful, I have a great stylist but the wardrobe kinda of sucked... This is my fault, I am the one who purchase the wardrobe with my great "fashion sense"and the wardrobe is one size bigger than the model... Luckily I have Wyn who solved all the mistakes made by me, and made the shoot happened.


Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[george671]

Great Post Wahgongzai...Good job on the drawing as well...
Cheers

 

[raytoei]

many thanks for this thread. i am a newbie 120j ttl user, having bought this with a tr-iia from keh.

still learning but a bit slow, thanks for all the examples, very helpful.

raytoei

( http://www.modelmayhem.com/raytoei )

 

[wahgongzai]

Thank you George671

Great Post Wahgongzai...Good job on the drawing as well...
Cheers

Thank you RayToei, very good BnW works :thumbsup: :thumbsup:. Really like your 1st pic the "doll hair" model, do you give art direction in posing or you just let the models do their own thing (freestyle posing)? Looking forward to you sharing with us your works and light setup.

many thanks for this thread. i am a newbie 120j ttl user, having bought this with a tr-iia from keh.
still learning but a bit slow, thanks for all the examples, very helpful.
raytoei

 

[wahgongzai]

Just to share another two images. Same setup two lights on left and right. The second pic, I think I pumped up to 1/4 power for both lights.

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[wahgongzai]

Hi all, have a super super fun time this month when I did a few "first time/new" thingy for my TFCD photoshoots.

This is the first time I did a shoot with two models on the same day, first time the shoot that have 5 people involved, first time we have a professional makeup artist to collaborate in the shoot, first time I try out a new backdrop for my "home setup" and first time I tried out a new light setup with new softboxes. A lot of first times :bsmilie: LOL

The model is Vanessa, very young, beautiful and tall model with tons of potential. This is the "first time" I meet her but she is so friendly that we all enjoy her presence. I also have the honor to work with makeup artist Xavier Sim. Although he looked young (physically), he is very experience with a stunning work portfolio. Extremely helpful dude and offer some good tips on what I should prepare before the shoot.

The setup is quite straight forward, just two lights on left and right, placed close to model to give a super softlight and a interesting catch light in the eyes. Its something like the classic clamp shell aka 1to1 setup, but instead of top and bottom the lights are on the sides. I have no idea what setup name is this? I myself called this the "snake eyes" setup... Yap I know not a very flattery name. The term "snake eyes" came from an old timer whom I known many years don't fancy this setup. He called it unnatural and the eyes look like snake... From then this snake eyes term got stuck in my mind ever since.

I other hand really like this type of catch light in model's eyes, and from time to time I saw this catch light appear in Japan cosmetic ads when I go shopping with my wife at Watson. Recently National Geography have written two articles (Twins and The Hadza) where all the models is shoot with this setup. Its sort of a "mug shot" approach but I simply super loved it.

Lastly, I will liked to say many thanks to Vanessa for being a great model and Xavier Sin for doing a fabulous job in making the models stunning. And to my old friend Wyn who have donated her time to help out the shoot as a stylist/photo assistant/art director/VALS... Yes she is simply just a super amazing person :angel: many many thanks to you too.

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[wahgongzai]

Yes, its Friday and counting down to a New Year. Still a lot work to be done... No time to rest. Anyway just to share with you guys another two setup.

Still two lights but I moved one of the light to the back of the model to give it a rim... Maybe I should adjust a bit more higher so I can lit the top part of Vanessa's hair. Mistake made but a valuable lesson learn

Just one light, tuned down the power so I can shoot @ 2.8 to get a more shallow DOF and less light hitting the backdrop.

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[wahgongzai]

Hi all, as we are counting down to welcome the year of the dragon. I will share with you the other shoot I did last month on the same day.

Got the honor to work with Kristen again, and this time the theme is Bridal. Original idea was to do a outdoor shoot in the late afternoon and try out one of my big toy the 180cm Parabolic. Got everything packed, arrange transport and etc. Checked weather report and it said that it was going to rain in the early afternoon, great.

However, mother nature is always unpredictable... It only started to rain @ 4pm when the make up was done and lasted until 7.30pm. The outdoor shoot was scrapped, and we have to stay indoor. Anyway, beside the weather... the shoot went great, model Kristen as usual perform like a ace and MUA Xavier Sim did a great job on hair and make up.

Simple setup, I reduced the power to 1/8 as there were light bouncing everywhere especially from the back.

Same setup, but I pull back the lights to cover the full length shot.

That's about it, wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New year

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[wahgongzai]

Hi all, just to share another photo I really like personally. I was checking exposure/lights when I swapped camera from Nikon D70 to Sony A100. While Wyn was doing her hair, I took a few test snaps. I remember I asked Vanessa to relax as she was doing an amazing job, she deserve to rest for a while.

One of the test snap was this photo, don't know why I like it so much maybe its "the moment, her smile and Wyn hand (will be much cooler if I have not crop her little finger) in the frame". Do anyone of you also have some "test shots" that turn out to be one of your favorite? I know I do :bsmilie:

Anyway while I was checking out pondly.com I came across these photos by famous Celebrity Photographer Martin Schoeller. I have spoken to numerous photographers from CS, none of them know the "TRUE technical name" for this "snake eyes" setup. If anyone know the name please share with us.

Lastly, in the future I will have things like "120J Mini Tips" to share with you all. This coming March, I will be shooting another personal projects after months of planning and research, stay tune for that also. Cheers

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[wahgongzai]

A teaser BTS pic from a personal project that I did two weeks ago. Sort of testing my strobist extreme where I used 7 lights (original idea was 9 :faint for this setup and also made two models "in tears" :cry: during the shoot. Stay tune for more updates next week.

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

 

[SVG84R]

A teaser BTS pic from a personal project that I did two weeks ago. Sort of testing my strobist extreme where I used 7 lights (original idea was 9 :faint for this setup and also made two models "in tears" :cry: during the shoot. Stay tune for more updates next week.

Continuous Fluorescent Light (Technical), Photography with Continuous Fluorescent Lights

7? wah...share your lighting setups..haaa.. i will be in tears setting the lights up...

 

[wahgongzai]

7? wah...share your lighting setups..haaa.. i will be in tears setting the lights up...

LOL :bsmilie:, I agree, its a nightmare to squeeze 7 lights into a 4x3m space.

 

[wahgongzai]

Hi all, sorry for the late post. Been busy lately.

Let's get started, I have always wanted to do some personal projects since few years back. And finally this year I decided that I will/must embark on my FIRST one. The photo project is called "LACE". Simple idea with simple props (laces), this project will be on going till end of 2012 and hopefully I can photograph 10-11 models and compile everything into a "personal project" book at the end.

Beside doing LACE, I decided that I will try out and hopefully learn a few unique/signature light setup used by few World Renowned Photographers that I admire. The first one is Jill Greenberg. Her crying babies and animals series were simply mind blowing. I know beside lighting, a certain amount (or some said a lot?) of Photoshop fairy dust were applied to the images. Who cares? I just want to learn the stuff I really like.

So why seven lights? Did GB really used 7 lights? Nobody knows as her photo shoots normally contained little info on lighting. However the good news is, if you Google it you will find a bunch of "reverse engineering" light diagram from photographer all over the World. After going thru all of them, I decided to come up my own modified setup cause of gear used and available floor space.

Below its the setup:

I have two problems when setting up, one is I only have 5 radio receivers and two I only have white and black color backdrop. I solved problem 1 using an old tech device that having sitting inside my "S" box for years. Optic triggers, I have not used these more than a decade since my Lasalle school days, great memories. I attached one on the 120J on a boom, one on the 120J hiding behind the model and the third one on the 5400HS. One receiver is on the other 5400HS, so now with just one receivers I can triggered 4 lights. As for the color backdrop? Simple just used color gels.

I need to go back to work... will update more next week.

 

[SVG84R]

thanks for sharing..this is good stuff...
would a "clamshell" setup together with wall lightings give u same results?

 

[wahgongzai]

would a "clamshell" setup together with wall lightings give u same results?

Clampshell... hmmm, I have used this setup a few times. Great "beauty light" for ladies. Its have it own unique look to it, very different from Jill Greenberg look (my personal opinion). BTW what do you mean by wall lightings? You mean light reflected by the wall?

Based on research, sometime Jill Greenberg used 3 lights (two reflect umbrella+one ring light) as main which it created an interesting catchlights in the eyes. Not sure whether it have a name for it, I called it a "Mickey Mouse" catch light. Take a look at her famous crying babies, and you will see one circle and two big ones on top each side. I not sure whether this main was the big contributor that give it the "LOOK". As mention before, I didn't get to try out during the shoot. I will definitely tried next time and see what I get on my side.

 

[wahgongzai]

Hi everyone, more updates for the "LACE" shoot.

Model is April, a special gal who have the "X-facor". Behind the camera, she is a warm, friendly and humble "next door neighbor" gal, but once in-front the camera. KAPOW!!! she is a confident, sophisticated and professional model. In short, all cameras love her (photogenic). After the shoot, Wyn told me she have a "special gift" when in-front of the camera and I nodded my head hard continuously.

For this project, We also have the honor working with professional MakeUp Artist Miss Ronalou Lau from Australia. Talented and "model like" MUA who have impressive and beautiful works (FHM been one of them). And stylist, who else... My old friend Wyn. She help out the most in this shoot, doing multiple roles like being stylist, assistant and even doing hair. Basically she is a super woman.

Updated the diagram, forgot to include the info on the hair light.

Will like to say a big THANK YOU to April, MUA Ronalou Lau and Wyn who have help me kick start this project and make it happened. thank you thank you