back alley
IMAGES
ok, honesty time again...
how many of you carry a small flash for rf use...but never actually use it?
joe
how many of you carry a small flash for rf use...but never actually use it?
joe
kshapero
South Florida Man
I used to but since I never used it, it is just sitting around somewhere.
swoop
Well-known
I do. It's nice to have in a pinch.
BillBingham2
Registered User
Honestly………..I’m sorry Senator, I do not recall ever………Well, as I am down to one RF and I don’t shot it too often…….I do carry it but have yet to use it other than a few test shots from time to time. The built in flash on the GRD gets used a bit, though I still have troubles controlling it. But with the S3, not in a real life situation.
It’s itsy bitsy though, a Vivitar 252 or Sunpak 1600, they take up almost no room. It’s kind of like carrying a few zip locks and a big plastic bag in the back of my camera bag. Just in case it’s a down pour, I’m safe. I’d rather be prepared (the old boy scout in me) than sorry.
B2 (;->
It’s itsy bitsy though, a Vivitar 252 or Sunpak 1600, they take up almost no room. It’s kind of like carrying a few zip locks and a big plastic bag in the back of my camera bag. Just in case it’s a down pour, I’m safe. I’d rather be prepared (the old boy scout in me) than sorry.
B2 (;->
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
SF-20 rarely used.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Contax TLA200 goes with the RD1 and Electros.
I use it at times for B+W in camera Jpgs.
It's a look you know
Small flash has lens FL settings for intensity.
Oh and now it's cheap. Under $50 is fine for a modern fast cycling flash.
No Bouncy Bouncy though
I use it at times for B+W in camera Jpgs.
It's a look you know
Small flash has lens FL settings for intensity.
Oh and now it's cheap. Under $50 is fine for a modern fast cycling flash.
No Bouncy Bouncy though
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
Anyone using a FONG Lightsphere? LOL. Talk about goofy.
Andy Kibber
Well-known
When I was using my M6 TTL regularly I carried an SF-20 and used it now and then.
Now I do the same with Nikon SLR gear, but the camera and the flash have gotten a bit bigger.
Now I do the same with Nikon SLR gear, but the camera and the flash have gotten a bit bigger.
BillBingham2
Registered User
I was doing that years ago with the small old rapid fixer bottle, a bit of chrome tape and some elastic. Used to use it on my 192 for years. Built some differnt ones for my 252 with old frosted/clear bottles, had a lot of fun.
The size of the light source does make a difference in the quality of the light. Goofy but look at the shadows and look of the light it gives.
B2 (;->
BobPS
Established
I often carry my Sb22 (an a canon of shoe cord) with me espescialy when I know I'm going to be in a low light situation since my fastest lens is a 50 summicron and the fastest film available here is ISO 400 film. But, honestly, most of the time if I can get a shutter speed of 1/30 or 1/15 with my 28 elmarit, I do not use flash.
I don't use Fong lightsphere but I use a small demb flash diffuser on my SB22.
Bob
I don't use Fong lightsphere but I use a small demb flash diffuser on my SB22.
Bob
charjohncarter
Veteran
I have all my cameras (at least those with the possibility of pc flash) fitted for flash by remote. Leica IIIf, RolleiflexT, Agfa Isolette II, Diacord Gs (2), and then the endless RFs from the 70s (some 60s). I use them all the time, outside, inside, fill, bounce, my experience is that they work with more latitude than digital. I even use my DSLR as a flash meter; chimping.
I use the CyberSynchs by Alien Bees or Buff. I also have some of the ebay remote radio triggers; which do work but I'm not confident so I only use them with digital. Here is my DIY ringflash at work with a DSLR (I just used it to fill here):
I use the CyberSynchs by Alien Bees or Buff. I also have some of the ebay remote radio triggers; which do work but I'm not confident so I only use them with digital. Here is my DIY ringflash at work with a DSLR (I just used it to fill here):
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
I'd be grateful if you would tell me how to use a digital SLR as a flash meter.
charjohncarter
Veteran
I shoot the subject after I've set up the lighting, make lighting adjustments. Then set the DSLR to the film ISO, have the DSLR on manual and dial in the best F stop by looking at the display on the back. I then set the manual film camera to the same settings. Of course, the shutter has to be in relation to what type of flash you are doing: ambient light, sun synch, or fill flash. So in general if you are using a focal plane RF you need a strobe with a high GN and a film with a low ISO. It sound complicated but it is really the same as a flash meter AND you have the histogram and a visual, which to me makes it better.
Gumby
Veteran
Yes, it does. My flashmeter requires only holding it up with the button pressed, then read the aperture number from the display.
To answer Joe's question: I use flash when a flash is required... regardless of camera type.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Ahh yes, but you can also see where the light is going, and at what strength. You can read the histogram for blow out areas, and you incidentally get the aperture. I find it great for fill and ambient light flash. I do agree that a flash meter is a benefit and easy, but you can fool a flash meter just as you can fool TTL flash metering, and Auto Flash units. Besides, DSLR is just pushing a button, too (although if you have to change the f stop you do have to press the button twice).
Last edited:
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Thanks, charjohncarter. I'll have to do it a few times to properly understand.
skibeerr
Well-known
We will see.
We will see.
I am leaving on a one month trek tomorrow, in the bag is an old metz 32, dont know how many times I will use it but I have been testing it a lot.
We will see.
I am leaving on a one month trek tomorrow, in the bag is an old metz 32, dont know how many times I will use it but I have been testing it a lot.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
You might want to get a Wein Hot Shoe Safe Sync:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/245292.jpg
Plug it into the hot shoe, and you get a PC terminal. In addition it has another hot shoe on top with a voltage adapter so that old flashes won't damage your camera's electronics. Tremendously useful if you use old flash units a lot.
Philipp
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Two comments on that:
- Don't set your shutter speed higher than the sync speed of the slowest camera you want to be using. In other words, assume you're doing this exercise to get flash exposure for a FED-2 (supposing such a thing likely). The camera has 1/30 maximum flash sync speed, so don't shoot your test picture at 1/250 flash sync speed just because the DSLR supports it, or you might get the ratio of ambient to flash light wrong.
- Basically what you have to do is to take a picture in order to take the same picture again. This method needs special circumstances to be useful, since you've already got the picture from the DSLR.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Right, FP shutters are a problem for flash, especially as film speed rises. I thought I would like DSLR flash photos, but I don't, to clinical and marginal skin tones (you have to screw with those gels which I don't like doing; I DSLR it and shoot Portra and use a Rollei, Isolette, DiacordG this solves the shutter synch too), at least for me.