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Release Date: 2009-04-27
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| Features• Teaches you how to make the Canon Speedlite your most powerful camera accessory
• For all users of Canon Speedlites, amateur and professional
• Illustrates and explains how the Speedlite?s controls work, step by step
• Contains copious real-world examples, indoors and out
• Features Tim Mantoani, professional photographer of celebrities, sports figures, fashion, and products
Not what you think it isI agree w/another reviewer, the title is misleading. 98% of the time they are using additional equipment, light stands, multiple flashes, reflectors, filters, etc. while in a studio setting. It was a helpful DVD on lighting but didn't teach me much about my flash and how to properly use it by itself and in various conditions. Its basically, "heres a model in our studio. Ok, now shes on a beach but we still have our reflectors. Heres some still life back in the studio." The first 20min is a lighting primer before blowing through the flash's buttons w/o a thorough explanation on each one. They went through certain things far too quickly and spent more time than necessary on other subjects. For example, I didn't need to see multiple times how to change a setting through the camera's menu or on the flash itself. They do give demos but they weren't sufficient enough for me and the flash was never used stand-alone other than to show you that it gives horrible pictures by itself. If this DVD taught me one thing, its that I need to buy more equipment.
A more accurate title would have been "Using your Canon flash in a studio setting" or "Unlocking your flash's potential" because obviously to get into lighting and really take advantage of the versatility of a Speedlight, you must buy additional equipment and take the flash off the camera. The flash is just one of the tools they use to get the pictures they want and it happens to be a Canon 430/580EX. You would not let your friend borrow your flash one day and hand them this DVD along with it, thinking it will teach them how to use it because it won't. They'll just sit there thinking, "oh, thats nice but I don't have any of those things..." and "hey, could you slow down when you go over the controls, what they do and how I should use them? More comparison photos would also be nice."
As for production values, well, it's fairly drab presentation and I'd have appreciated voice overs while showing them taking pictures instead of having to stare at the guy talk, constantly switching his eyes from the camera to nearby cue cards. You look at him seemingly for 1/3 of the DVD. The rest of the time is spent in the studio or looking at the back of the flash and it's buttons. So is it worth the coin ? Ehhh, its decent and helpful information on LIGHTING but you're able to find this sort of information for free online at various lighting/strobist enthusiast sites. Its not a complete waste of money but this DVD could certainly use a new name.
Great Source of informationThis product gives excellent overview of the canon 580 EX II and 430 EX II speedlite flashes. It also gives you tips on using lighting in a studio or outdoor settings. I found the information to be very valuable in learning the uses of my canon speedlites. This DVD is a must for any begining or itermediate photographer who has purchased the canon speedlite.
Solid info, straightforward deliveryThey may not win any awards for their acting, but information is delivered in a clear, easy-to-understand manner by a female voice-over and male host. There is just enough variety to keep it watchable and enough non-engineer plain-English spoken to translate the manual into knowledge you can use. I was an Art Director looking for deeper knowledge of my 580EXII and this DVD helped tremendously. I'm very tech savvy, but the Speedlite is still a bit cryptic until explained function-by-function. I've read the manual repeatedly and I have 3 other books on Strobist-style lighting, but this is the only source I've found that actually explains all the foundational info to get the most out of this awesome light source. Within hours of watching I was taking better shots and focusing on the creative rather than fumbling through the technical aspects.
Almost necessary.Unless you know enough about flashes, Canon's thought process behind how they make their products and advanced understanding of the science of light then the manual that comes with the 580 EXII is not going to help you at all. It might, but if you're like me some visual education to go along with the reading is what you need. The information is clear and concise and will have you using the advanced features after one viewing and feeling comfortable with how everything works.
Only if you have a studioThis DVD is not good. The major step by step example they have in this DVD are inside of the studio WITH a lot of special equipment that regular household WON'T have. They do NOT teach you how to use the flash in regular daily using bases. The concept they teach is SIMPLE! They do NOT teach you real technic on the 2nd curtin shot, or some other special shots. They only teach you how to use PROFESSIONAL SETTING on stupid simple shot. If you are wondering how to use your SPEEDLITE in your house, on your cat, dog, children, or anything that won't hold still and move constainly, this DVD teach you NOTHING! You can not apply anything this DVD teach you unless you own those equipments like extra stand, special tripod for reflacting board... If you do not have the equipment I mentioned, this DVD can not help you. You also need to have a flash light extented core... if you do not have it, forget about this DVD...
I think this DVD sucks!
The real educational DVD should teach you how to use ONE SINGLE 580EXII or 430EXII and your DSLR WITHOUT any other aditional accessories to shot picture well in live situation. NOT studio shot, NOT with all type of expensive professional accessories that people usually do not own.
I think they should have change the title to "Apply SPEEDLITE to Studio Shot", this title is more likely explain what this DVD really is.
Product DescriptionYour new EX II Speedlite from Canon can be the most powerful accessory in your camera bag Understanding how the Speedlite controls work is important, and this DVD takes you through its operations, step by step. Your host, Tim Mantoani, demonstrates these fabulous flash units in a series of real world examples. Whether you use one Speedlite or a hundred, Tim’s approach will help you create the best photograph possible. This DVD picks up where the manual leaves off, helping you to integrate flash photography into your image-making arsenal. Tim Mantoani has been a professional photographer for over twenty years. Shooting everything from professional athletes and celebrities to fashion and products, his work has appeared in numerous national ad campaigns and magazines. Format: NTSC video, All Regions.Running time: 65 minutes
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