Flashin' with my ghetto M8

B

brandonskinner

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Local time
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Aug 25, 2011
Messages
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The M8 is my street shooter of choice. I use my 15mm Voigtlander (21mm equivalent) and a radio triggered flash to capture personalities in an up close and personal way a la Bruce Gilden, etc. The only problem I have is my hot shoe is occupied by a pocket wizard and setting the viewfinder on top does not give a realistic enough view of the scene I'm shooting.

Which led me to this...
m82.jpg

m81.jpg


50 cents of velcro and a $10 cold shoe, stuck to the top of my M8. It's worked so far, but I know my days with this are numbered and it's only time before something goes wrong. I'm considering *gasssp* Super Gluing the cold shoe to the top plate but would much much prefer the boys at MatchTechnical to create a solution to accomodate the billions of us who need this :D

If anyone else has a good solution, as Ross Perot says, "I'm all Ears".


Untitled by Brandon Skinner Photography, on Flickr

Patrick's by Brandon Skinner Photography, on Flickr
 
I have to look into this radio controlled flash thing one day. I like the idea. Also, I had a look at your flickr - I like what you do with your Heliar. I have to use mine more ...
 
Trust the force, Will!

Trust the force, Will!

Have you tried doing without the external VF? Given the amount of darkness at the corners of the frame, framing cannot be critical to composition, can it?

No external finder is going to give you an accurate view at that close distance and that focal length, especially given the physical displacement.

Perhaps the best solution is to seek out Obi Wan Knobi and learn about the force. Barring that, try some concentrated practice sessions chimping to get the feel of what the lens will see when used at specific short distances without too much dallying in the VF.

FWIW, in North America, it should be easy to get a type of glue (loctite) that is only semi-permanent.

If VF you must, consider getting your hands on one of the new CV 21/25 VFs. The housing is metal, the size is smaller.
 
noimmunity said:
Have you tried doing without the external VF? Given the amount of darkness at the corners of the frame, framing cannot be critical to composition, can it?

No external finder is going to give you an accurate view at that close distance and that focal length, especially given the physical displacement.

Perhaps the best solution is to seek out Obi Wan Knobi and learn about the force. Barring that, try some concentrated practice sessions chimping to get the feel of what the lens will see when used at specific short distances without too much dallying in the VF.

FWIW, in North America, it should be easy to get a type of glue (loctite) that is only semi-permanent.

If VF you must, consider getting your hands on one of the new CV 21/25 VFs. The housing is metal, the size is smaller.
Click to expand...

Seems to me he is doing ok with it as is...
 
Not sure if it's much of an issue or not, but it looks like the external viewfinder is covering up the little window that shows battery life and frame counter. I imagine it may cause problems if you try to put glue over the top.
 
noimmunity said:
Have you tried doing without the external VF? Given the amount of darkness at the corners of the frame, framing cannot be critical to composition, can it?
Click to expand...

Yeah, with the exception of my last two shots posted to Flickr I have shot everything by guessing. It works out ok but I would prefer to use a little bit less guesswork.
 
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