Flash is a device which provides additional light to a scene. It can be used to help fill in a dark area of a photo, to provide light if there isn't sufficient light to begin with, or it can help to improve the composition of a particular photo, by creating your own source of light.
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1answer
29 views
What should I pay attention to when buying a second hand flash?
I am planning on buying a second hand ETTL flash for my Canon 550D.
What are things I should pay close attention to when buying a second hand flash?
For example: is there a parameter, comparable to ...
2
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1answer
187 views
How to troubleshoot Canon Speedlites that are not firing at the same time
working on some studio lighting and want to have my two Canon Speedlite 580 EX II's to fire simulatneously using Canon's built in wireless communications (i.e. The Master to trigger the Slave, but ...
4
votes
2answers
81 views
Does the diameter of openings on photographic lighting grids affect brightness?
I was kind of thinking about different grid options considering the depth vs diameter of individual openings and get to a interesting point (at least for me :-) ). Let's consider a very simple home ...
3
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4answers
211 views
How to take a picture with subject in focus but with a circular light-trace effect around it?
How to keep the Girls sharp combined with the lighttrace effect?
Thank you very much!
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1answer
114 views
How do I fix a Nikon D5000 pop-up flash which won't stay down?
My Nikon D5000 had an accident and the camera flash now doesn't lock properly and instead it keeps popping up. Do you know how to fix this, have any hints on what to look for or if there's any place ...
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4answers
233 views
Why do I have shutter lag when shooting flash in manual mode?
Why does my D40 have a shutter lag when using flash in full manual mode? There isn't a lag when shooting in any of the auto modes.
EDIT:
I'm shooting in single shot mode. It is a constant lag ...
3
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2answers
504 views
Canon 430EX vs 580EX vs 600EX-RT
I'm considering buying a flash for my Canon DSLR. I noticed the 600EX recently came out. Do you have any suggestions/opinions about the pros and cons of the new 600 flash versus the other two?
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1answer
91 views
multiple pictures give different shades for same scene and lighting
I am photographing an object 4 cm away from the camera using 5MP phone camera. It is being used in macro mode with fixed ISO 100 setting. Automatic White balance is being used along with ...
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2answers
93 views
Does a flash's TTL automatically adjust as I change its location?
I just bought a radio trigger for my flash. I was just wondering if I understood TTL correctly, as I move the flash around and changes the distance does TTL automatically try to compensate (assuming ...
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1answer
100 views
Which Canon should I buy? [closed]
I've done photography for some months now. I always borrowed an Canon 600D from a friend.
Now I got a job as a party and concert photographer. (I need to use an external flash of course.)
I'm just ...
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0answers
59 views
Why is there a black bar at the bottom of my photos when using an external flash? [duplicate]
I have been having this problem for years. Why is it that when my shutter speed gets above around 1/125, a dark bar appears in the bottom like in the photos when I use my external flash? The quicker ...
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vote
3answers
109 views
Does Rear Sync really help background exposures in darker rooms?
The "Rear Sync" setting available in some cameras simply causes the flash to fire at the end of the exposure, rather than the beginning. I thought its only purpose is to cause the blur to occur in ...
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2answers
1k views
What is the quantative relation between flash guide number and ISO?
I found that formula on the Internet:
Guide Number = (Shooting Distance * Aperture) ÷ ISO Sensitivity
Is it correct? If it is could someone please explain why ISO is related to guide number in this ...
6
votes
2answers
162 views
Why do my Cybersyncs fire my Sunpak flashes with the test button, but not the shutter release?
During wedding receptions, my Sunpak 383s fire very inconsistently. Every time I press the test button with the Cybersyncs, they fire every time. When I press the shutter button, they don't fire.
...
3
votes
1answer
491 views
Yongnuo rf-603c vs.Cactus V5 wireless trigger
I have the chance to pick up a set of second hand Yongnuo rf-603 or Cactus V5 wireless flash triggers for more or less an equal price.
My plan is to use those triggers in combination with a Starblitz ...
20
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4answers
2k views
Without modification, is the built-in pop-up flash EVER appropriate?
You can't use a diffuser, you can't redirect it, you can't adjust intensity, you can only pop that little sucker up and blast away.
Is there ever a situation where having this built-in pop-up flash ...
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vote
1answer
42 views
How might the flash mode affect the exposure program on a point and shoot film camera? (Agfa Optima Sensor Flash)
I have purchased an Agfa Optima Sensor Flash camera.
I've googled and had a read around, including the manual, and have figured out for the most part how I can expect the metering program to work ...
5
votes
2answers
123 views
Will my SB-600 work off camera with any camera?
I own a Nikon SB-600 flash and no camera. Now, looking for a new camera, I want to know if I could trigger the flash from another non-Nikon camera body.
I never use it on camera and therefore I ...
2
votes
1answer
965 views
How can I use a Canon 580EX II in manual mode in conjunction with Bryan Peterson's book on flash photography?
I'm trying to follow along with Bryan Peterson's book on flash photography using my Canon 580EX II. In the book, all of the examples are with Nikon flashes and there are some differences in the way ...
4
votes
1answer
767 views
How do I read the flash distance scale on the Canon 580EX II?
My Canon 580EX II has a distance scale running from 0.5m to 18m.
When the flash is in manual mode, a single segment of the distance scale illuminates to indicate the maximum effective range for my ...
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votes
2answers
112 views
How to remove external flash stuck on camera body?
Yesterday, after shooting I had to take the lens and flash off the camera body, but my flash 550EX got stuck and I can't get it off the body (EOS 5D).
How to take it off? I turned the ring to loosen ...
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2answers
69 views
Can Phottix Odin flash trigger work in tandem with Nikons CLS?
I'm wondering whether it is possible to still use the built-in flash while using the Phottix Odin mounted (and using it) on my Nikon camera. Physically, it seems to me that since the Odin is built ...
4
votes
3answers
73 views
What are the most important features to look for in a low budget hotshoe flash and why?
When trying to get started with flash photography, there are a lot of new options, features and techniques that a photographer gets thrown in to. When starting on a budget, what features will give a ...
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1answer
95 views
What is the minimum cost “automatic” flash that I can sensibly use with a Nikon D700
This is not intended to be a typical "equipment recommendation" question. The answer should be moderately stable and potentially useful to others.
Short:
To meet a one off need I want to buy a ...
2
votes
4answers
177 views
Does quality of light vary in different studio strobes and speedlites?
I wonder what you think about the quality of light in studio flashes or portable speedlites?
The first time I used speedlites, the light was very good. Then I purchased an Elinchrom D-Lite kit. My ...
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3answers
231 views
How do TTL flash metering systems calculate how much power is needed?
Does anyone know how TTL calculates the amount of power to put in after the preflash is done? I understand that the value is somewhat brand specific, but what is the general logic? Because if you ...
8
votes
2answers
824 views
What will I be missing with Vivitar 285HV vs. LumoPro LP160 or Canon 580EX?
I'm planning to get a hotshoe flash soon (I currently only have the onboard), and I have narrowed my choice down to several options, but I'm having a hard time deciding which way to go.
ETTL
This is ...
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votes
0answers
21 views
Will the camera compensate exposure anticipating for flash? [duplicate]
If I'm using TTL metering will the camera compensate exposure anticipating for flash? In other words, if I set my flash on fill flash and half click my shutter, what does my camera do? Does it
...
3
votes
4answers
648 views
Why is manual flash at the lowest power stronger than the TTL result?
I have a 500D with the 430EX II flashgun. I've taken two pictures with the camera in manual mode, one with the flash in ETTL mode and then in manual mode with the power to 1/64 and the flash exposure ...
13
votes
3answers
614 views
How do cheap macro ring flashes perform?
When I last checked years ago, the price of a typical Ring flash unit was approximately $500. Nowadays there are still ring flashes for approx. $500 like Pentax AF160FC, Pentax AF-140C, Canon MR-14EX, ...
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votes
4answers
458 views
How can I use a flash indoors with a really high roof?
I am using a Nikon D3200 with SB-700 flash. Typically, when taking pictures indoors, I bounce the flash off the roof or the walls. However, I will soon be in a situation where the roof is too high to ...
5
votes
1answer
206 views
What is the smallest option for a flash that can also bounce?
I have a full size Canon flash, which has a flash head that "can be moved up from 0-90°, left from 0-180° and right from 0-90°". This is a necessity for me in a flash to properly bounce the flash on a ...
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vote
4answers
350 views
How to meter for manual bounce flash?
I use a Yungnuo flash in manual mode. I use it mostly indoors, so I bounce the flash off the ceiling. What is a good approach to read the camera metering and make adjustments to flash intensity?
My ...
5
votes
2answers
451 views
Why does my 420EX Speedlite sometimes fail to start up?
I have a Canon 420EX Speedlite that sometimes won't start up. When it's not working, it behaves as if it didn't have any batteries in it... just totally dead. The odd thing is, it doesn't seem to be ...
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0answers
56 views
Why does my flash have lower power in automatic than in manual? [duplicate]
I have a Sony HVL-43AM flash. I've found that when I'm in automatic mode, when I dial the flash exposure compensation to -2EV I was able to get a much weaker flash than if I went manual with the flash ...
7
votes
4answers
556 views
How limiting are the line-of-sight requirements of Canon's optical wireless flash system?
I have a Canon 7D and 580EX II Speedlite, and am trying to make the jump into flash photography, particularly portrait work. I understand that the 7D's wireless trigger works by line-of-sight. Will ...
2
votes
2answers
67 views
How does high speed sync mode work?
Some flash units have a high speed sync mode, that allow a camera to take a
photograph with the flash while using a shutter speed that exceeds the X-sync speed.
The photo won't appear with improper ...
1
vote
4answers
157 views
Which flash modes use the least power?
Cameras have a variety of flash modes (e.g. Fill-in Flash, Slow Shutter Flash, High-Speed Sync, Rear Curtain Sync, Slow Sync Flash, etc..)
So, which are the flash modes that use the least power ...
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votes
1answer
62 views
When would I use rear curtain instead of front curtain sync? [duplicate]
What are examples of circumstances where rear curtain sync would be preferable to front curtain sync flash?
3
votes
2answers
171 views
How to avoid shadows under the eyes when using bounce flash?
How can I avoid shadows under the eyes when I am bouncing flash? The first picture below, using bounced flash, came out horrible. The second picture, using direct flash, has no shadows under the eyes.
...
12
votes
4answers
903 views
Why do we use flash in photography?
Why do we use flashes in photography, instead of simple light bulbs etc. to illuminate the scene? Why are specially made flashes used?
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2answers
85 views
How do you meter for the effects of a TTL flash
I'm experimenting with a shoe mounted flash at the moment. It's a TTL flash and yet the metering doesn't seem to account for the fact the flash will fire, making judging the correct exposure ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
Why isn't my camera's internal light meter adjusting for my external flash?
I have a Canon T3 / 1100D and I just bought a Neewer TT560 Speedlite external flash which connects to my camera's hot shoe. The camera's light meter adjusts appropriately when the internal flash is ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
I'm experimenting with film and flash [duplicate]
ok i am taking a photos with a Pentax ZX-5 camera with black and white 400 film and i just got a promaster FTD 5200 flash and i dont know when and where i should use it. and what shutter and aperture ...
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vote
4answers
139 views
What exactly does TTL flash sets its power to?
I understand that TTL flash means the flash will preflash and try to calculate the right exposure for that particular scene. That part makes sense, but what exactly is the "right exposure"? Does it ...
5
votes
2answers
244 views
What is term for the opposite of “Dragging the Shutter”?
My first helpful experiments with flash started after taking a seminar with Scott Kelby on the subject. I don't recall him mentioning dragging the shutter (but he may have). But, I do recall him ...
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0answers
70 views
sony cameras and low key photography
I have a Sony A57 and a Sony HVL-43 flash. I have been trying low key photography wirelessly, but I am struggling with the settings. I've followed settings from other sources I have found, and I have ...
0
votes
6answers
181 views
photo using no flash
I've been put into a situation where I have been asked to photograph a party in a hall where there is virtually no light. I want the photos to have a very dark backgound but the person stands out how ...
3
votes
5answers
332 views
When and why should I consider buying a speedlight/external flash?
I am just a hobbyist in photography. And I do not have specific interest areas (as of now). So while looking for different things to try with photography, I kept coming across things which require use ...
4
votes
2answers
146 views
What are the functions of the extra contact points on a Canon hotshoe?
I am wondering about the 5 contact points on the top of the Canon camera for the flash. The flash I am putting on this camera has only the center contact. What are the functions of all these other ...
