Question: X100 and Fill Flash / Internal vs. External Flash

[bwcolor]

I've read that the anemic built in flash is partially blocked by the hood.

I know that the fill flash works throughout the shutter range.

I doubt that I would do much flash work other than fill flash.

Given that one want to use fill flash, does anyone have a take on the necessity for an external flash for use with the X100 when shooting in various lighting conditions?

Lastly, it appears that the EF-42 has autofocus assist light which probably is more substantial than in camera. Can this be used to advantage, but flash turned off.

Does the lens hood impact the built in flash functionality?

 

[skibeerr]

A small cheap manual flash would work wonders for fill flash, something like the metz 24
or similar.

wim

 

[bwcolor]

Yes, but with some of these flashes.. probably including the Fujifilm.. flash duration can be rather long compared to the duration of the shutter when shooting in bright sunlight stopped down a bit. So, shooting at 1/2000 with a flash duration of 1/500 won't give you the results that you want. Maybe a better example would involve simply increasing the distance to the subject. Just a thought.

 

[whitecat]

I thought it did not have a flash.

 

[Arjay]

Yes, but with some of these flashes.. probably including the Fujifilm.. flash duration can be rather long compared to the duration of the shutter when shooting in bright sunlight stopped down a bit. So, shooting at 1/2000 with a flash duration of 1/500 won't give you the results that you want. Maybe a better example would involve simply increasing the distance to the subject. Just a thought.

I'm pretty shure that the duration of a small system flash (like Fuji or Metz) is considerably shorter than 1/500s under virtually all conditions. The only flashes I know that have such a long duration are large and much more powerful studio-type flash systems. I think it's safe to say that the small flashes we're discussing here have burn times of less than 1/1000s. So, this shouldn't be a problem for all practical purposes.

My rather powerful Nikon SB-800 flash (former top of the Nikon speedlight line) has a maximum burn time of 1/1050s at 1/1 power. Less powerful units generally have a much shorter burn time.

So, getting back to the OP's question, an external flash (used as fill flash) could make sense if one would want to use it (a) at longer distances, and (b) at lower ISO speeds. If you're ready to use higher ISO values, then the internal mini flash will probably be powerful enough.

 

[bwcolor]

The Sunpack RD-2000 is probably the same strobe as the EF-20 and the specs show 1/500 flash.

So, how much does the hood block the internal flash?

 

[Arjay]

So, how much does the hood block the internal flash?

Yes as per the X100 user manual.

See p32 of manual:

Remove lens hoods to prevent shadows in photos taken with the flash.

 

[GarethO]

the on camera flash is crap. you are far better off not using it given the X100's high ISO performance.

i have used my sb-700 on the X100 and it works OK. the biggest drawback it that I have to hold the flash, as it is the same size as the camera and doesn't feel stable. manual flash is not an issue for me. i almost always shoot manual.

there is a commander mode on the X100, when using it and setting the SB-700 to commander you CANNOT fire remotes.

AF assist is very handy. for the X100 I wish the smaller flash had it and could be rotated left and right at the hotshoe connecting.

the bigger EF-42 does what you want it to, but it is far too big and unbalance on the X100 (if it's the same size as a SB-700).