If you go to any photo trade show, the number of LED makers far exceeds the number of strobe and flash makers. We’ve had brands like Bowens fold in recent years, even though their mount is the de facto standard for lighting modifiers. Even small flash makers aren’t immune to this, with Cactus, one of the first to get a trigger and flash combo that worked across a huge range of camera makers. This triggers the question, is flash, be it studio strobes or hotshoe flashguns, dead?
Well, it might be for some photographers. When working with flash, you can’t see the results before you shoot. Even in a controlled studio environment, where you have the modelling lights mimic the flash power, it’s still an approximation. You also need to communicate between the camera and the strobe, meaning expensive wireless triggers, or awkward cables. Not to mention learning how to use the flash, set groups and channels, turn on and off beeps – it’s kind of a steep learning curve for a beginner. And at high power you have to wait patiently for the recycle time.
