TeeTime
Leading Member
Use del.icio.us.com. Then you can tag any website anywhere for future reference.
Jerry
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Jerry
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Flash Diffuser
- Thread starter Nikoni
- Start date
cjs4760
Active member
I appreciate the suggestion.
But there are several forums I participate in (topics other than photography), and they all have the ability to add/tag favorite threads to your account; then in the account management page, you can view all your favorites.
I know here I can view all the threads I've posted to. But I'm sure it's bad etiquette to post to a thread just for the purposes of tagging it :^)
I haven't embraced the del.icio.us model - or any of the other similar ones. It's just not the way I work :^)
But thanks,
Chris
But there are several forums I participate in (topics other than photography), and they all have the ability to add/tag favorite threads to your account; then in the account management page, you can view all your favorites.
I know here I can view all the threads I've posted to. But I'm sure it's bad etiquette to post to a thread just for the purposes of tagging it :^)
I haven't embraced the del.icio.us model - or any of the other similar ones. It's just not the way I work :^)
But thanks,
Chris
ink0gnito
Senior Member
...at the wedding had an assistant with an umbrella and SB-800. He also used another SB-800 with the included stand to add light in some scenes by placing it wherever. Both were powered by radio transmitters. AMAZING "studio" quality shots. I am not planning to get an umbrella myself 
ink0gnito
Senior Member
Actually. They've gotten the domain some time ago.
Install Firefox + delicious plug-in. Tagging sites is now a matter of seconds. How can one not embrace this method?
Install Firefox + delicious plug-in. Tagging sites is now a matter of seconds. How can one not embrace this method?
TeeTime
Leading Member
I agree, except I use the IE Delicious plugin. For me, there is great value in being able to go to one place and instantly bring up all the postings on a specific topic that I've found to be interesting across many different web sites.
Jerry
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Jerry
TeeTime
Leading Member
I would think an umbrella would be a bit disruptive to the ceremony.
Jerry
--...at the wedding had an assistant with an umbrella and SB-800. He
also used another SB-800 with the included stand to add light in some
scenes by placing it wherever. Both were powered by radio
transmitters. AMAZING "studio" quality shots. I am not planning to
get an umbrella myself
Jerry
F
f8BeThereToo
Guest
For event photography I agree with OldMaster: a Metz handle-mount flash using the included Metz quick-release bracket. I attach it to a Quantum Turbo battery. My Metz is so old it won't TTL with my newer Nikons, but I don't need TTL. I use the flash auto sensor and a PC cord.
The only change I make to the Metz is to slide the flash lower in its bracket so the flash head is closer to the camera lens axis. An added benefit is that the rather large flash is more balanced and much easier to handle. If I need flash softening I add a LumiQuest Ultrasoft with the silver insert installed for added flash output; it increases the output 1-1.5 stops.
If I tended to use a standard flash like an SB-600 I would find a straight quick-release bracket like the Metz along the lines of what the paparazzi use. I have never used a flip-type flash bracket that wasn't a hassle to carry; with the Metz I just slip it off its bracket and hold it where I want it.
The only change I make to the Metz is to slide the flash lower in its bracket so the flash head is closer to the camera lens axis. An added benefit is that the rather large flash is more balanced and much easier to handle. If I need flash softening I add a LumiQuest Ultrasoft with the silver insert installed for added flash output; it increases the output 1-1.5 stops.
If I tended to use a standard flash like an SB-600 I would find a straight quick-release bracket like the Metz along the lines of what the paparazzi use. I have never used a flip-type flash bracket that wasn't a hassle to carry; with the Metz I just slip it off its bracket and hold it where I want it.
There are two products I wish could be brought back into production. The Sunpack 120J is at the top of that list. The other is the Kwik-Stand from C&R Enterprises. While the Kwik-Stand may not be discontinued, technically, it's been out of stock from the manufacturer for so long, I'm beginning to wonder if it's ever coming back.
David Ziser also recommends a similar flash on a monopod held by an assistant - the Quantum T5dr. However, if your budget doesn't allow for an assistant...
This has been coined into the term VAL within the Strobist community - Voice Activated Lightstand.
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David Ziser also recommends a similar flash on a monopod held by an assistant - the Quantum T5dr. However, if your budget doesn't allow for an assistant...
This has been coined into the term VAL within the Strobist community - Voice Activated Lightstand.
--
- Arved
I bought the Big Flip-It (with diffuser), rather than the Jumbo. As Joe says in his FAQ:
"Should I get the Big or Jumbo size reflector?
"The Jumbo size was created in response to a demand for the largest reflector that would reasonably fit on a flash. It is a style option; the lighting from the Big and Jumbo are the same." - http://dembflashproducts.com/faq/
I'm wondering if the advice changes with the SB-900, and it's wider coverage. I need to do some experimenting to look for light spill off the edges of my "big" reflector, to see if I need to upgrade to the Jumbo.
(I reluctantly upgraded - I wanted a second flash, and with the SB-900 now going for less than the price gouging going on for the SB-800, a second SB-800 was out of the question. Grrrr... Well, I my SB-800 is now set in remote mode, and I never have to go through the hellatious menus ever again)
I did have some weird light patterns in some recent flash photographs I took:
http://www.i-do-photography.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3135&g2_serialNumber=2
I thought this was from the pattern of the diffuser material used in the Demb Diffuser, but it turned out to be the tops of the chrome chair frames. I took off the diffuser, and bounced off of the walls, and this eliminated the reflactions from the chair backs.
http://www.i-do-photography.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3138&g2_serialNumber=2
(Yeah, I know, could use some levels adjustment - for illustrative purposes only)
All the best,
--
"Should I get the Big or Jumbo size reflector?
"The Jumbo size was created in response to a demand for the largest reflector that would reasonably fit on a flash. It is a style option; the lighting from the Big and Jumbo are the same." - http://dembflashproducts.com/faq/
I'm wondering if the advice changes with the SB-900, and it's wider coverage. I need to do some experimenting to look for light spill off the edges of my "big" reflector, to see if I need to upgrade to the Jumbo.
(I reluctantly upgraded - I wanted a second flash, and with the SB-900 now going for less than the price gouging going on for the SB-800, a second SB-800 was out of the question. Grrrr... Well, I my SB-800 is now set in remote mode, and I never have to go through the hellatious menus ever again)
I did have some weird light patterns in some recent flash photographs I took:
http://www.i-do-photography.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3135&g2_serialNumber=2
I thought this was from the pattern of the diffuser material used in the Demb Diffuser, but it turned out to be the tops of the chrome chair frames. I took off the diffuser, and bounced off of the walls, and this eliminated the reflactions from the chair backs.
http://www.i-do-photography.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3138&g2_serialNumber=2
(Yeah, I know, could use some levels adjustment - for illustrative purposes only)
All the best,
--
- Arved
Can I quote you on that?
Seriously - Thanks for the compliment, but in reality, I'm just "parroting" what a lot of others have said. Including you!
I think the smartest thing I've done is cite my references instead of trying to come off as a know-it-all. I'm still struggling with it all. Half of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at. Thanks to you and others (like regularly reading David Ziser's blog, putting aside the fact that he's a Canon shooter as many dismiss him) I'm making significant progress.
Thanks Sam!
--
- Arved
cjs4760
Active member
I appreciate the effort, guys :^)
When it comes to how I read/use forums, I prefer having my "favorites" reside WITH the forum/site in question.
Here's an implementation Q for you: can you truly mark a thread as a favorite on del., or only a URL? I ask, because yet another deficiency of these DPR forums is that you can't have a completely flat (i.e. on a single page) view of longer threads - pages are forced. So, each page is a different URL.
Also, other forum software (again, not DPR) allows notification (e.g. email) when a favorite thread gets updated. I would imagine del.ic.ious offers this, but wouldn't work w/ the forced paging model of DPR (once a new page was added to a thread, your URL on del. would be stale.)
This isn't the place for this discussion I've never looked - is there a forum for discussing improvements to the fourm??? :> )
-Chris
When it comes to how I read/use forums, I prefer having my "favorites" reside WITH the forum/site in question.
Here's an implementation Q for you: can you truly mark a thread as a favorite on del., or only a URL? I ask, because yet another deficiency of these DPR forums is that you can't have a completely flat (i.e. on a single page) view of longer threads - pages are forced. So, each page is a different URL.
Also, other forum software (again, not DPR) allows notification (e.g. email) when a favorite thread gets updated. I would imagine del.ic.ious offers this, but wouldn't work w/ the forced paging model of DPR (once a new page was added to a thread, your URL on del. would be stale.)
This isn't the place for this discussion
I've never looked - is there a forum for discussing improvements to the fourm??? :> )-Chris
greenmanphoto
Veteran Member
Arved,
Thanks much for this info! I used to be pretty good at judging flash settings with a manual flash (an older Sunpak 522 handle-mount flash: GREAT flash, just woefully out-of-date and no adapter for the newer cameras). However, that was quite a few years ago and I haven't been doing much in the way of flash photography for quite a while, now. This info should be pretty useful to me!
--
Sam
D300, 16-85mm, 35-135mm, N8008s
Proud WSSA Member #260!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sibeardjr
http://www.doormouse-editions.com
Thanks much for this info! I used to be pretty good at judging flash settings with a manual flash (an older Sunpak 522 handle-mount flash: GREAT flash, just woefully out-of-date and no adapter for the newer cameras). However, that was quite a few years ago and I haven't been doing much in the way of flash photography for quite a while, now. This info should be pretty useful to me!
--
Sam
D300, 16-85mm, 35-135mm, N8008s
Proud WSSA Member #260!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sibeardjr
http://www.doormouse-editions.com
Dave Beaman
Senior Member
Over my career, I have tried about everything, from a couple of Fong's Dongs (light spheres), Lumiquest type contraptions, blowup diffusers, small umbrellas (really small), simple 3x5 card, clip on diffusers. I have made more bounce things and used homemade diffusers til Moses laid a chunk.
The best and easiest to make and use is
http://abetterbouncecard.com/
That foam material is the trick. Attach it with rubber bands to your flash head and there you go. Using the wide rubber bands really does help. Get them from Petter Gregg or find them yourself. You can get some wider bands that come with some produce like broccoli
dave
The best and easiest to make and use is
http://abetterbouncecard.com/
That foam material is the trick. Attach it with rubber bands to your flash head and there you go. Using the wide rubber bands really does help. Get them from Petter Gregg or find them yourself. You can get some wider bands that come with some produce like broccoli
dave
Before I got my SB-800, I used my "old" Sunpak 555. There are days I wonder if going to the SB-800s and SB-900s was worth it - that was one terrific flash gun. Great power output (both the 555 and your 522 are more powerful), and built for the high duty cycle of professional use. I've shot many weddings with the 555 - starting on my Mamiya RB-67, and moving onto the Olympus C2100UZ digital, and even used it with my D70s.
If you were good at judging settings before, there's no reason you can't be just as good with it now. At least on the 555, the auto sensor isn't that bad at all, as is the shoe-mount auto sensor (STD-1D) autosensor. Of course, with the D300-D100's PC contact, we can simply use a PC cord to hook up the flash as well.
Of course, we won't get TTL or any of the other Nikon CLS goodies, but these old flash units can and are just as servicable with our cameras as ever.
These "old school" flash units are especially popular with the skateboard community, btw. They're valued for their power (and ability to overpower sunlight) and robustness.
All the best,
--
If you were good at judging settings before, there's no reason you can't be just as good with it now. At least on the 555, the auto sensor isn't that bad at all, as is the shoe-mount auto sensor (STD-1D) autosensor. Of course, with the D300-D100's PC contact, we can simply use a PC cord to hook up the flash as well.
Of course, we won't get TTL or any of the other Nikon CLS goodies, but these old flash units can and are just as servicable with our cameras as ever.
These "old school" flash units are especially popular with the skateboard community, btw. They're valued for their power (and ability to overpower sunlight) and robustness.
All the best,
--
- Arved
TeeTime
Leading Member
AFAIK delicious does not offer any email notification. Generally, I bookmark a single useful posting (in threaded view) on delicious. I can then, or course, change that to flat view if that is what I desire when I comeback later.
One of MY frustrations with forum histories (not just dpreview) is that frequently a linked image is central to a saved thread, and often those links are dead when I return to the thread months later.
--
Jerry
One of MY frustrations with forum histories (not just dpreview) is that frequently a linked image is central to a saved thread, and often those links are dead when I return to the thread months later.
--
Jerry
Robert Cohen
Veteran Member
Sam,
Quite true. I'll be taking some photos at a club meeting tonight and will probably be using some of your flash tips as I expect the light to be too dim and harsh for available light. I just got a Demb flash diffuser in the mail, ordered based on your favorable comments here. I might be able to try that tonight.
Alas, I'll have no assistant.
(And an assistant would be out of place and overkill for these photos.) --
--Bob
RJSPhotography
Senior Member
+1 for the demb flip it with diffuser.
samjstern
Veteran Member
play with the flip-it and don't get discouraged.
It takes a few shots to get used to it.
Use the flash comp on the back of the flash head to add or subtract flash comp.
--
Sam
http://www.samjsternphotography.com
It takes a few shots to get used to it.
Use the flash comp on the back of the flash head to add or subtract flash comp.
--
Sam
http://www.samjsternphotography.com
Robert Cohen
Veteran Member
Thanks, Sam.
--
--Bob
--
--Bob
If subject motion won't be an issue, you might find it best to have the ambient exposure one stop below the flash exposure. In other words, say a room meters at 1/30th second at f/4 at ISO 800. Set your camera for 1/30th second at f/5.6 at the same ISO 800, and use TTL (not TTL-BL) mode. The ambient exposure will prevent miserable shadows, and you'll still have your subject exposed properly. There's a "Smarticle" by Will Crocket on this over on the ShootSmarter.com web site, but it's not allowing me to login to view the site (and give you a valid URL). Pop on over and look under the list of on-camera flash articles.
Good luck on your shoot!
--
Good luck on your shoot!
--
- Arved
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