Technical Support wrote:
You can use the sun as a fill light, but remember the color temperature will be different than the flash. This is because the blue sky is your light source, not the "white" sun. You could try using action mode on the E640, as this will cause the color temperature to rise (go blue) as you dial down. You can then white balance to this blue color. While I cannot say there will be an exact match, it will be closer than leaving the Einstein in color mode.
Also, the intensity of the day light will be much lower than that of the flash unit. You may have to use slower shutter speeds to get the ambient to match the flash.
The PLM is probably a more versatile modifier overall, though I can't say that it will be better (or worse) than the octabox for your uses. The sole exception to that is the octa can be gridded, which is a plus for it. Otherwise, it is personal preference.
Should you be concerned about the paint? Yes and no. There is a chance it will show up., depending on placement of all the various components. If it is a wild color, it may be undesirable. If it is a warm color, like a brown or yellow, it may add some additional warmth. However, generally speaking, your lights will be so close to and directed at your subject, that by the time the light hits the walls and comes back to the subject, it will be at such a low intensity as to not be a problem.
One last question...If I wanted to save money and slowly build my studio lighting setup by using the ambient sunlight coming through our sliding glass door/windows in combination with one flash, could I produce quality light with my Canon 580 EX II speedlight mounted in the soft silver PLM? Since I won't be needing as much power for the setup I'm using, I'm thinking perhaps I could just start off buying a PLM/light stand and radio trigger to get my bearings using a flash.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Sarah
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