One Light, Six Looks with Pixapro PIKA200

I've been using the Pixapro PIKA200 since earlier this year and find more and more that it's the light in my bag instead of a off-camera flash Speedlite!

This is a kit I've put together which will fit in the average camera shoulder bag or backpack such as a the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 50 or Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW.

I'm pleased say that Pixapro now have a similar kit available to buy online (some items are personal to me) https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/product/pixapro-pika-ttl-portable-pack-flash-kit/

A versatile, lightweight & compact off camera flash kit

KIT LIST

• Pixapro PIKA200 aka Godox AD200, bare bulb & fresnel heads
• ST-III flash trigger
• 14cm 120º degree reflector which doubles as a spill-kill for use with a umbrella
• Collapsible shaft 43" translucent shoot through umbrella - folded size is important
• 48cm 3-in-1 multi-purpose octa soft box 
• 5-in-1 pop-up reflector
• Compact folding light stand
• The SPIG - useful when working with a lighting assistant or VAL (Voice Activated Light stand) to attach your light to a painters extension pole to use as a boom or even a bar clamp
• Gel Clip - a simple accessory to hold colour correction or FX gels in front of the fresnel head
• Rosco Strobist Collection gels in a credit card holder for convenience

ONE LIGHT, SIX LOOKS

Here's a studio test showing the look achieved with each modifier - the key light PIKA200 was essentially in the same position & distance from Max for each set-up:

14cm 120º degree open face reflector which also doubles as a spill-kill when lighting with a umbrella.

43" translucent shoot through umbrella with 14cm reflector to ensure light doesn't spill outside the umbrella - the umbrella could be closer for less contrast.

43" translucent shoot through umbrella, plus silver/gold side of a 5-in-1 reflector just out of frame to give shadow detail & a less contrasty look.

48cm 3-in-1 octa soft box, open face only. The shadow on the wall approx. 2m (6ft) away is created by the edge of the soft box. Backgrounds don't have to be evenly lit!

48cm 3-in-1 octa soft box, beauty dish deflector in place. Notice how the background shadow changes with the introduction of modifiers to the octa reflector.

48cm 3-in-1 octa soft box, beauty dish deflector & front diffusion. This is when a beauty dish becomes a soft box.

48cm 3-in-1 octa soft box, beauty dish deflector, front diffusion & egg crate grid which controls the beam and reduces spill on the background. Adding the egg crate grid also reduces the light output so the flash power needs to be increased by about 1 stop.

Remember, these images were created with the bare bulb head on the PIKA200 - other looks can be created with the fresnel head in place, so you're not limited to just six!

Here's a link to a short video which includes behind the scenes BTS frames:

One light flash portable compact kit- from Ian Pack on Vimeo.

My thanks to the ever patient Max Dugdale King for modelling.

That's it for now and don't forget if you really enjoy lighting to visit and join The LIGHT Side - a place to learn, be mentored, nurtured and learn about light, lighting and photography, whatever your level or experience.

My thanks to Yang Wu, Ling Tan & team at Pixapro for providing such great service. If you're in the UK do support them as they do offer a 2 year warranty on their products and it really does save a pile of hassle by not dealing with a overseas supplier of potentially unknown provenance who may not be there when you need them . . .

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