My gear

[Randell John]

Canon 5D Mk II x 2off
Canon 50mmL f1.2
Canon 28 - 105mmL f4
Canon 28 - 70mmL f2.8
Canon 70 -200mmL f2.8
Canon 100mmL f2.8 Macro
Canon 580 EXii x 3off
Manfrotto B058 Triaut Tripod
Manfrotto CR322 Heavy Duty Head
Pocket Wizard Plus ii x 4 off
27 in iMac
13 in Mac Book Pro
Canon 450D
Canon 50mm f1.8 EF-S
Canon 18 - 55mm EF-S
Canon 55 -250mm EF-S

 

[Darren Bradley]

Great kit, Randell!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Oooooo 50mm f1.2 - nice!

Do you do some multi-flash set ups for portrait work with the 3 x 580s?

 

[Hamish Gill]

Nice setup!
Always wondered how well a 50mm 1.2 af focuses ... How fo you find it?

 

[Randell John]

I don't have any problems with the 1.2's AF, but i must admit that I usually use manual focus anyway. It's such a nice simple lens to use and gives beautiful results at f4.
I take 60 % of my wedding photos with this lens, its lovely.
Its insanely expensive, especially when you compare it to the EF-S 50mm 1.8, but I just had to have one, so I saved like a conservative government to own one. I think it my favourite lens. I have used the 85mm 1.2 and thats really nice, but I found the focal length a little long for shooting in small rooms, so I zoom by foot instead with the 50mm when I need to.

 

[Randell John]

I have used multi light set ups in the past with the 580's, I have a set of Strobie light modifiers.
The key light is used with a shoot through umbrella.
I fit a honeycomb grid and aim that at a simple backdrop to give a little bit of seperation and I put the third one up high and slightly behind the subject fitted with a snoot and mini grid, as a hair light.
I'll then use a silver/gold reflector for fill. Got some o.k shots doing this I'll try and dig one out for you.
I've used the Canon Master/Slave I/R set up to fire the back and hair lights, but I didn't always work especially when using a shoot through umbrella. I then started using Cactus V4 radio trans/recs, they work quite well, but don't always fire. But recently switched to Pocket Wizards Plus II's, and find them fantastic. They always seem to fire.
I've also been experimenting with using my studio lights (3 250 Elemental Genesis), with my 580's as kicker/hair lights. I've had mixed results but I'll keep on going. The Studio and 580's all fired with a Pocket Wizard and Main Strobe I/R triggering mix and match. Oh and one of my new toys I've recently bought - An Orbis Flash Ring, - Great fun.