Help using flash with my M9

[padraigm]

HI all,

First off I never use flash 99.99% of the time even though I have a Canon 430EX from my canon days. I have been asked by a family member if i could bring my camera along ( I am sure no one has ever had that happen to them) and take pictucers during their daughters special event. So i will mostly use available light etc but I want to use my canon flash for some of them. I put it on around the house to try out. Set the speed to 180 and adjusted the power of the flash and or set the aperture to get what I wanted. Is there anything else I should consider? Any basic tips? Again i just want to use it for a few shots so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[tlitody]

the basic calculation is:

flash guide number / distance = Fstop

so if GN =30 and distance = 5 meters then you have 30/5 = 6 = F5.6(closest) for normal exposure.

Don't know your flash unit but assuming you can adjust power output, then setting at 1/4 power would mean opening up aperture by another 2 stops so that would make it around F2.8 at 1/4 power. And if you just want it for fill then reduce power another two stops on top of that so 1/16th power at F2.8 or 1/4 power at F5.6 or full power at F11.

The math is quite simple providing you have time to set focus, check distance and set aperture and power to give you what you want.

That all asumes you are in manual flash mode. If in auto then you have to follow instructions for your flash unit. I don't know if M9 can do that with canon flash unit or not. Someone who has one will need to chime in on that.

test out the theory before you do the event.

 

[charjohncarter]

One easy way to use flash with indoor or lower light outdoor events is to set the flash on auto mode. With that flash I don't know how to do this but read the manual. When you set the flash on auto you then can decide on an aperture. Now set the aperture and flash to whatever (F4 say) then take an ambient light reading and set the shutter to that number. Indoor light in America is usually ISO400-1/60-F4, so maybe 1/60 and ISO400. But you decide. Now you will have the background light and you can use you flash to freeze movement and subtly highlight your images. At times I shoot the ambient underexposed about 1/2 to 1 stop this further highlights the subject. The purpose of all this is to NOT have those black backgrounds, and to give you mobility by not having to figure GNs all night long. The most actuate method by far is the manual setting, but it is hard when doing informal shots.

 

[leicashot]

Gotta disagree with using auto. Firstly the M9 won't work with the Canon flash with TTL and secondly auto is erratic and inconsistent. Setting the ambient metering is the first thing to do, then as you have digital, put the flash in manual and run a few shots to see what power setting suits your environment. If the lighting changes then change your meter and flash power to suit.

If that's too difficult, go grab a Canon P&S for the event 😉

 

[tlitody]

Or get a sunpak PF20 which is auto all by itself if you want. It has its own inbuilt meter for reflected light but as you say, it depends what its pointing at as to whether you get exact exposure. But its small and light (and cheap) and will fit on your M9 without making it top heavy.

 

[charjohncarter]

Gotta disagree with using auto. Firstly the M9 won't work with the Canon flash with TTL and secondly auto is erratic and inconsistent. Setting the ambient metering is the first thing to do, then as you have digital, put the flash in manual and run a few shots to see what power setting suits your environment. If the lighting changes then change your meter and flash power to suit.

If that's too difficult, go grab a Canon P&S for the event 😉

You are probably right about the TTL flashes. I don't have one, but my Auto flashes work well with the above method. You do have an advantage of using your camera as a flash meter with digital. But with C-41 there is much more latitude.

 

[padraigm]

Thank you all for the helpful reply's. I think I will just do some test shots at the event and go from there. I hate using flash so i am not going to doing anything too flashy 🙂

Hey Kristan how do you like the Sonnar?

 

[leicashot]

The Sonnar is becoming my favourite lens very quickly. I love it's size and build quality which seems a bit above the usual Zeiss ZM lens. The rendering wonderful, and bokeh is very smooth and unique, without creating distracting bokeh.

When it comes to flash just ensure you get your ambient light right then add flash a complimentary fill. Also using a tungsten toned gel will match most backgrounds with that kind of lighting, avoiding the ugly yellow cast of daylight flash with tungsten backgrounds.

 

[padraigm]

Thanks Kristian I will do that.

Yeah the Sonnar really is special in it's own way. I keep thinking I need to get rid of it or my summilux BP pre_asph. But I just can't seem to let either go. That sonnar is wonderful with some older film emulsions like foma. It just makes pictures sing like digital can't 😉

 

[charjohncarter]

When it comes to flash just ensure you get your ambient light right then add flash a complimentary fill. Also using a tungsten toned gel will match most backgrounds with that kind of lighting, avoiding the ugly yellow cast of daylight flash with tungsten backgrounds.

That's correct, digital is very unforgiving when it comes to color balance. It is very hard in your situation because you will definitely have tungsten (or worse Florescent) and your flash.

 

[rwchisholm]

My easy off camera flash setup

My easy off camera flash setup

Here's my quick, easy, portable off camera flash setup for the M9:

1) I use a canon speedlite on manual setting.

2) i use a el cheap off camera flash controller set from midwest photo exchange, mpex.com- $40ish

3) put the speedlite on a tripod and, using some Velcro straps (or you can buy a $13 speedlite/umbrella adapter-holder from calumet) and...

4) attach a $12 semi transparent umbrella to the speedlite. Available on amazon.com. This is a great setup for attractive and easy light diffusion for shooting 1 to a couple people.

5) for backlit subjects I meter the camera off the background shoot a test shot or three on the subject to manually adjust the fill.

Takes no time to set up. It's cheap, easy and creates wonderful fill. Because you are shooting the speedlite off camera, the lighting is more natural and attractive n appearance.

I have many of these fill type shots in my Cabo set on flickr, so you can see if this would be of interest to you. Rob

 

[leicashot]

Thanks Kristian I will do that.

Yeah the Sonnar really is special in it's own way. I keep thinking I need to get rid of it or my summilux BP pre_asph. But I just can't seem to let either go. That sonnar is wonderful with some older film emulsions like foma. It just makes pictures sing like digital can't 😉

Honestly I would sell the Summilux before the Sonnar, but if you ever do want to sell the Summilux, please let me know 😀

 

[padraigm]

Thanks Ron some great pictures there.

Kristian it will be hard to break apart the BP MP.. They were made for each other..😛 Did you send the Ultron to greener pastures?

 

[leicashot]

Thanks Ron some great pictures there.

Kristian it will be hard to break apart the BP MP.. They were made for each other..😛 Did you send the Ultron to greener pastures?

That would almost be a sin, but I'm happy to get you through the ordeal sould it ever happen 😉

Ultron?

 

[padraigm]

The 28/2 Ultron at comic con...

 

[pachuco]

Here's my quick, easy, portable off camera flash setup for the M9:

1) I use a canon speedlite on manual setting.

2) i use a el cheap off camera flash controller set from midwest photo exchange, mpex.com- $40ish

3) put the speedlite on a tripod and, using some Velcro straps (or you can buy a $13 speedlite/umbrella adapter-holder from calumet) and...

4) attach a $12 semi transparent umbrella to the speedlite. Available on amazon.com. This is a great setup for attractive and easy light diffusion for shooting 1 to a couple people.

5) for backlit subjects I meter the camera off the background shoot a test shot or three on the subject to manually adjust the fill.

Takes no time to set up. It's cheap, easy and creates wonderful fill. Because you are shooting the speedlite off camera, the lighting is more natural and attractive n appearance.

I have many of these fill type shots in my Cabo set on flickr, so you can see if this would be of interest to you. Rob

I do this quite often for portraits, it works much better than on camera flash.

 

[egrossman]

I wonder how Rob's setup compares to using a Gary Fong Lightsphere (either for use on or off camera) together with a Leica SF58. I just acquired the flash for my M9 and am having serious teething problems getting satisfactory results. The Lightsphere arrives in the next few days. Granted I have been using the flash exclusively on camera.