Hi, I just use the standard plate - fits neatly to the camera's tripod mount (doesn't get in the way of the battery door on my K-r), and then clips into the B-Grip hanging on my belt or rucksack straps (I have the travel kit which adds the rucksack strap compatibility).

The standard plate fits some tripods, for others there's an adaptor (I think it fits on top of the tripod plate and the standard B-Grip plate clips into that). I don't have one but have seen it in action -seems to work nicely.

I quite fancy the hand strap - its a hand grip that fits into the standard B-grip plate. Not sure if it'll affect access to the battery door though so want to check one out first.

Cheers, davey.

I love my B-Grip. Goes on my belt when I'm travelling light, goes on my backpack strap when I'm gear'd up. Much more comfortable than a strap when I'm spending a full day with the camera. I want to get the hand strap for it in time for next years festival season.

Cheers Russell, that's a good idea - I had a quick look and as you say there are loads of vivitar flashes out there, and switching between a couple is a good idea. I'll have a read up on the different models and add this solution to my list of possibilities, thanks.

Thanks for the info Matt, lots of common sense, wisdom and experience in there. The suggestion to set a little below ambient and use P-TTL sounds like a great place to start if I go for a fancy new flash. At the moment my referred modern flash is a Metz with the secondary flash. Oh, and I've bought your e-book - sounds like just what I need!

Cheers guys,

davey.

Wow, thanks very much for the responses and advice - much appreciated!

Russel - thanks for the tip. Yes, I like manual and have never used any automatic settings on my camera. If I can get used to it then I would prefer to go manual on the flash too. But I think its probably best I get a flash that will also do the automatic stuff just in case I don't get on with it or can't react fast enough to changes on the stage. The one on ebay looks fab... but too big for me - most of my work is in London and I use public transport to get there. I think I need something smaller.

Matt - I agree entirely - I don't like flash. Part because its distracting for the performer and audience and part because I generally don't like lots of the results I've seen. But I suspect good well balanced flash use will generate good shots while poor flash use will probably give poor shots. My lens is pretty fast (but depth of field becomes a problem so I usually stop down a bit). I always go manual and RAW for exactly the reasons you suggest. I'm rather hoping that in a small venue with low ceiling I can bounce a flash for an effective fill, or use direct with a lower power. I always shoot higher ISO - I've got a pretty nasty tremor so have to use fast shutter speeds - I rarely get to shoot as slow as 800 or 1600 and its more often 3200 or 6400! At the big events there's usually enough light to get some results. At the smaller venues that's not always the case and I hate to come away with nothing. Thats a big part of why I'd like to try a flash - so I can get some sort of results on occasions when otherwise I'll get nothing. I think its going to be a steep learning curve to get the best out of it though.

David - I've not tried white eneloops. They aren't much lower capacity than the black ones and I believe they hold their charge for longer. Next time I renew a set I'll try a set of whites - it'll be interesting to compare and it'll save a few quid too. Good point - with flash I might get away with a slower shutter speed than I can usually manage. Want to try that! And yes - I've admired Cabstar's work for a long time!

Thanks again for all your suggestions. Just in case anyone's interested, here's what I've been doing to date - all band stuff from the last few years:
link

Cheers, davey.

Hi all, wondering if I could call on your experience?

I've been shooting gigs for a few years. Mainly bigger venues (Hammy-O, Albert Hall, Brixton etc) where flash isn't permitted, but occasionally I shoot in smaller venues such as clubs or pubs as favours to friends.

I usually work on the stage or from the pit, so close or very close to the performer.

I've been asked to shoot two local events next month, both are going to be poorly lit and both are as favours to the performers / organisers - so I'd be able to use flash and would probably need it.

So, now might be the time to spend some money. I use a K-r, I prefer to work fully manual, and most of the time I use a Sigma 50-150 F2.8 as I like to go in very close and its my only decent quality lens! I've never used flash!

I'm on a budget and don't want to spend more than £200. Best contenders so far are the Metz 58 AF1 and the Sigma EF610 DG Super. I prefer the Metz for the better reviews on its user interface - as I won't be using flash often I don't suppose its controls will ever become second nature, so an easier interface seems a good idea. I also like these flashes as they are powerful and have a high feature count - I'd rather spend more and waste features then spend less and find I'm missing the features I really need!

So, firstly, I'd appreciate any opinions from owners of these flashes, or any suggestions for alternatives. Thanks.

The second question I have is on battery life. I quite expect to use black Eneloops and already have 16 of them. I was a bit worried about a review of the Metz that suggested 50 shots on eneloops and the batteries would be well on the way to being drained. I do tend to take a lot of pics and can't imagine its going to be easy to be switching batteries too often when trying to hide behind the PA speakers on a stage! So, any recommendation on a flash that will keep going for a while between sets of batteries?

Wow, sorry - long message! Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your wisdom!

Cheers for now, davey.

Rear button for me. Enforced choice as I have a tremor - my hands won't do half a press on the shutter - its all or nothing! But I think I'd go with rear button even if I had the choice. I like to compose my shots using the centre focus point and then recompose and keep shooting for a few shots and I wouldn't be able to do that with the half shutter press.

I have no doubt that for quick focus and single shot then the shutter half press would work best for most people.

I'd imagine that the best option is to become proficient with both methods and use the best option depending on the circumstances at the time.

Cheers Tony, lens arrived safely this morning - well packed, clean, and obviously well cared for. Thanks very much.

All the best, davey.

Thanks very much Tony, payment sent.

All the best, davey.

Hi Tony,

PM sent offering asking price if still available.

Cheers,

davey.

I have mine set to shake the sensor on startup. Feels a bit violent but it didn't harm my old GX10 and seems to do no harm on the Kr.

I used to use a rocket blower to clean out odd bits of dust - but I had a bit of a disaster with one a few months ago. The blower got some dust in it - so instead of cleaning out one or two specs my blower added about a dozen - nasty!

I wasn't brave enough to wet clean my sensor so I got a friend who has done it lots of times to help out and it all came up clean and fine again. He recommended a blower with a filter on its inlet - that way it should never be adding dirt to my camera - so I got one of these:

link

I keep it in a zip lock bag just to help keep it super clean - I've used it a couple of times and it hasn't caused me any problems - so fingers crossed!

Cheers, davey.