accessories
my gear
cameras 
lenses 
flashes accessories Quantum
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Lighting accessories:
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Pocket-Wizard Plus II Tranceiver
If you need to use off-camera lighting that you trigger remotely with radio transmitters and receivers, then you will gravitate towards the Pocket-Wizards. They have become an industry standard for a reason - simplicity of operation, reliability and range.
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Umbrella Bracket
And if you want to connect your flash to a light-stand, and to an umbrella, then an umbrella bracket is a necessity. And they aren’t expensive either.
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Hot Shoe Adaptor
If you have a flashgun that doesn’t have a PC terminal, (for example all Canon Speedlites before the 580EX II), then you’re going to need one of these little devices to enable a Pocket-Wizard to trigger your flashgun.
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Nikon AS-10 multi-flash adapter
If you want to mount your SB-800 to a light-stand (or a quick release), then you could simply use the plastic foot that came with your Nikon Speedlight. But if you want something sturdier (even though fairly expensive) to mount a Speedlight to a light-stand, then the AS-10 makes a good alternative.
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Stud Adapter
If you need to attach your Speedlight (via the plastic foot that came with it), to a lightstand, then you’re going to need a stud adapter like this.
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Umbrellas
To soften the light from your flash, you need to turn it into a larger more diffuse light source. Of all the items lighting accessories available that will soften your flash, the umbrella is probably the most accessible and easiest to use of them all.
45″ white satin umbrella, with removable black backing
45″ white satin umbrella
The white satin umbrella allows you to shoot flash through the umbrella, or bounce it. The black backing makes the other umbrella more efficient, and also prevents lens flare if you shoot from a position behind the umbrella.
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Softboxes - Photoflex Q39
To mount a softbox to your Speedlight, you have numerous options. Here are the softboxes I use:
Photoflex Litedome Q39 - 16×22 (small)
Tthis is the softbox I use during the workshops I present. It is compact, but offers a much wider spread (and hence softer light), than direct off-camera flash would.
Photoflex Multidome Q39 - 24×32 (medium)
I use this when I need a larger softbox with a Speedlight, or with a Quantum Q-flash.
This one softbox also has an additional baffle inside, unlike the small Q39.
With either of these softboxes, you’re also going to need:
- a speed-ring to mount the softbox,
- a shoe-mount connector for the Q39,
- a way to mount it all together. I use the Quantum L-bracket.
A sturdier option than the shoe-mount connector and any other bracket to hold this together, would be the Magic Slipper.
Although it is simpler to use and more elegant, it is more expensive.
An alternative to getting all the individual items, (although it is quite expensive),
is to simply get the Westcott Small Softbox With Magic Slipper Kit.
Although it is more expensive an option than slapping various items together, it is much sturdier.
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Softboxes - Westcott Apollo
Westcott Apollo Softbox
An alternative to the Q39 softoboxes, and one that is perhaps easier to set up, would be the Westcott Apollo. All you’d need here as an additional item, is an Umbrella Bracket to hold the Speedlight to the center rod. Very simple to set up and break down.
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Camera bags & cases:
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Tamrac 5769 Velocity 9x Photo Sling Pack
A camera bag that is easy to sling off the one shoulder, and very comfortable to carry. Since it doesn’t hang directly on your shoulder, but more against the outside of your shoulder near your upper arm, it causes fatigue less fast than other shoulder bags.
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Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Bag
A fashionable bag that is very roomy. I use this to carry everyday equipment around in when I travel. Or you may prefer it in a more demure black version.
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And when I work and need something roomy to carry all my equipment securily, I use this Tamrac roller case.
For travelling with my equipment on aircraft, I transfer my essential gear to a Think Tank Airport Security camera case.
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