Help with indoor flash shots

[Charlie Haines]

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!

I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a 0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso 200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve things.

 

[MrScary]

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

Hi Charlie, Like you, I have same Problems....I can put both my 2 Flashguns on my 35mm cameras and take Perfect Shots everytime....But on this S602z the shots come out Perfect Rubbish Everytime...So Like you, I would Also like to know what are the best settings for Indoor shots...
My FlashGuns are----Vivitar zoom Thyristor 285 & Minolta Program 2800AF..

I have even tried with tissue paper over flash, but with, or without, all shots are out of Focus n Bright.. Lets hope someone has an easy answer..
regards...DennisR
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/mrscarecrow
S602z--Minolta 7000 35mm, Koni Rapid Amiga 200 6x7,

 

[Timothy Dunnigan]

Hello Charlie,

It would really help if you could post an example or two of the photos you shot with the flashgun.

Timothy Dunnigan
http://www.helpforfamilies.com/photos/index.htm
http://www.pbase.com/tdunnigan/

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

 

[ianR]

Charlie, is there another Auto setting on the Vivitar? F11 doesn't sound ideal for a number of reasons.
Is there an auto setting around F4 at all??

Secondly is there a zoom function on the flash? If there is use it. 4mtrs is quite a long way and the zoom will decrease the angle of spread of the flash and focus it more on the main target area. It doesn't matter if the lens is on wide angle or telephoto. The flash guides will tell you the zoom function is for telephoto but they really mean when you're using the flash at a distance.

That pixelation is often associated with under exposure. I assume you used Manual for the camera? Sometimes, the background will be like that if it's a long way behind but the main subject?? Are you sure it was ISO200 not 400?
Can you post one of the pics? It's often easier to see what's happening.
Any more info to work on??
regards
Ian

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

--
6900

 

[JAJ]

Here are a few quick tips. Use Manual/ set you shutter speed to 250 for wide angle/ 400 for full zoom/select the F-stop based on your flash recommendations. If focus becomes a problem, there are many threads on the forum dealing with this. Make sure you have the flash in auto and the power level appropriate for the distance. For bounce, drop the F-stop number a bit. You will probably get a little better color results if you set a custom white balance. A 18% gray card may give you a little more accurate color than a white card, especially with a flash. Before the shot, practice, practice, practice. That is the nice thing about digital. Also become familiar with what a well exposed picture looks like in your LCD, so you know if your getting what you want. Using the info button on preview will give you a histogram which is also useful in judging proper exposure. There have been a number of threads on this topic, so a search might get you more help. Good luck.

JAJ

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

 

[ianR]

Dennis this sounds like the ISO setting is wrong. I'm openly suspicuous of the Fuji ISO ratings and this would certainly mess everything up.

If you can, try setting the flash to about ISO130 when the camera is set to ISO200 and see if that gets it any closer. Certainly start from there.Remember the power of the flash falls or exponentially so at 3mtrs it's got something like 1/4 of the power of 2 meters. If you're 1/3 stop out at 2 meters it will hardly notice, but at 3 meters that's about 1 1/3 stops. Auto will compensate for this a bit but it'll still be wrong.
regards
Ian

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

Hi Charlie, Like you, I have same Problems....I can put both my 2
Flashguns on my 35mm cameras and take Perfect Shots
everytime....But on this S602z the shots come out Perfect Rubbish
Everytime...So Like you, I would Also like to know what are the
best settings for Indoor shots...
My FlashGuns are----Vivitar zoom Thyristor 285 & Minolta Program
2800AF..
I have even tried with tissue paper over flash, but with, or
without, all shots are out of Focus n Bright.. Lets hope someone
has an easy answer..
regards...DennisR
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/mrscarecrow
S602z--Minolta 7000 35mm, Koni Rapid Amiga 200 6x7,

--
6900

 

[Charlie Haines]

I'm trying to upload a few pics as I type this. Tried using f5.6 which over exposed the shot, but the subject was a bit clearer but still not acceptable in my books. Can't bounce the flash as the ceiling is dark blue. I am getting a diffuser via mail order for the flash but it's not here yet. Looking at the pictures I'm wondering if the reflections from the painted wall behind is fooling the flash into cutting off to soon. You might see what I mean when I can post some pictures. Never uploaded any pics before so bear with me

Took loads of shots at home when I got back and they all seem ok so it must be something stupid I'm doing wrong.

 

[ga-ga]

Alo Charlie!......
I just got back in from buying a 283 myself!.........
its awsum!......
post your pics and lets have a look....

It works just great with my 602....... and I've not found much variation on the ISO as Ian is worrying about........

the blue setting should be ok at f11 - but I would suggest generally giving 1/3 stop over ...... ie f10 instead of f11 - I'm getting good results at that!...
but generally I think you would get more flexibility at red/f5 instead (of 5.6)

this flash controls the amount of light it puts out by sensing what is reflected back from the subject - so your adjustment by 2 stops was probrably over the top....!
check that the small window in the sensor on the flash is not dirty....

regards ga-ga

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

 

[ianR]

I've had a look at the specifications for this Flash Charlie and 4mtrs is outside the Auto range at the F11 setting. 3.4mtrs would be the maximum on this setting and that's confirmed by the guide number of 37 in meters.

(If you want to go manual, you'll find at 4 meters, guide number 37 you'll need to set the F stop to about 9.)
So, use another auto setting and I strongly urge you to try F4.

Also, if people are moving don't restrict yourself to 1/125 sec. You can increase the shutter speed as fast as you like and the exposure will stay the same. All that will happen is the background gets darker as you increase the shutter speed.
regards
Ian

I'm trying to upload a few pics as I type this. Tried using f5.6
which over exposed the shot, but the subject was a bit clearer but
still not acceptable in my books. Can't bounce the flash as the
ceiling is dark blue. I am getting a diffuser via mail order for
the flash but it's not here yet. Looking at the pictures I'm
wondering if the reflections from the painted wall behind is
fooling the flash into cutting off to soon. You might see what I
mean when I can post some pictures. Never uploaded any pics before
so bear with me

Took loads of shots at home when I got back and they all seem ok so
it must be something stupid I'm doing wrong.

--
6900

 

[ga-ga]

for your hall with the blue ceiling - try this......
get an a5 sized piece of white card,
mount the flash on the hotshoe and twist it up to a full 90 setting

fix the a5 card to the back of the gun with double sided tape and bend a nice gental curve forward over the top of the gun

this will give you a nice wide diffused light souce and should give good results..........

same setting on the camera and gun - the autosensing will accomodate the bounce.....
regards ga-ga

regards ga-ga

Have had my S602 for 6 months now and I love it to bits. I mainly
do motorsport/landscape shots with no problems. A friend of mine is
having a ball in two weeks and asked if I could do some photo's for
her. I've just bought a Vivitar 283 flashgun so I said ok. Because
I'm new to photography I went to the venue last night to do some
test shots with my new flash and the results were bloody awful!!!!
I set the camera to 1/125 sec, f11 at a distance of 4 metres (blue
setting on auto). The pictures were slightly underexposed so I
knocked the aperture down to f5.6 which overexposed it.

In both pictures the main subject (my friend) came out horribly
pixelated and grainy. It almost looks like it's been taken with a
0.3 megapixel camera. I used 6 meg fine for picture quality, iso
200.

Could someone please point me in the right direction as to where I
might be going wrong. I now have two weeks to try and improve
things.

 

[Charlie Haines]

Hi ga-ga, funny you should mention those settings, that's exactly the settings I've just tried in my office - red/f5 iso 200. Seems ok in here but then again they always do. I'm still uploading the pics to a website (5 x 2.5 meg via a 56k modem so I may be a while ha ha!)

It's great to see so much response, this is only the third time I've posted here and I'm hooked.

Alo Charlie!......
I just got back in from buying a 283 myself!.........
its awsum!......
post your pics and lets have a look....
It works just great with my 602....... and I've not found much
variation on the ISO as Ian is worrying about........
the blue setting should be ok at f11 - but I would suggest
generally giving 1/3 stop over ...... ie f10 instead of f11 - I'm
getting good results at that!...
but generally I think you would get more flexibility at red/f5
instead (of 5.6)
this flash controls the amount of light it puts out by sensing what
is reflected back from the subject - so your adjustment by 2 stops
was probrably over the top....!
check that the small window in the sensor on the flash is not
dirty....

regards ga-ga

 

[Charlie Haines]

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

 

[Charlie Haines]

Bugger! looks like the website has altered the pics size and you can't zoom in without severe pixelation now. I tried to get onto pbase.com but it wouldn't connect. Oh well back to the drawing board (

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

 

[ianR]

If you send a couple of full sized ones to my e-mail address I'll put them on my sote for you Charlie.
First impression: they're better than I expected.
Ian

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

--
6900

 

[ianR]

I'll put them on my sote and my site.
Ian

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

--
6900

--
6900

 

[ga-ga]

thats a big hall!.......

don't forget if you're bouncing, the range counts as up to the ceiling and then down again to the subject you are probrably outside the 4.5 meter range for blue.....!

and if the ceiling is dark blue thats probrably less than 50% reflective so you will need to add a stop or so to accomodate that!.....
with that size of hall the on-board reflector is the way to go!.....
regards ga-ga
ps - how much did you pay? - was it new?.....

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

 

[ga-ga]

ga-ga

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

--
6900

--
6900

 

[Charlie Haines]

Cheers Ian, I'll send you a couple now )

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

--
6900

--
6900

 

[tameria11]

Hello ga-ga

I hope you don't mind a question but all your input on this forum has helped me out. I am receiving a 285 on Monday,I am brand new to flash, but my photo guy is doing some classes, should I have bought the 283 that everyone seems to be critiquing. I hope my selection was correct for the 602.I will be using it for holiday get togethers first..
Thanks
Dave

Here are a couple of pics. If you zoom in a bit you will see what I
mean. I tried to print one pic out at 6" x 8" and it is bloody awful

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1406365&uid=795863&members=1

--
Dave
http://www.pbase.com/tameria11

 

[Charlie Haines]

Ceiling was very dark blue, picture hardly came out at all using bounce. I thought this flash had bounce compensation and would increase the light?

I bought the flash new from Jessops as the one I had previously had a trigger voltage of 331V which I thought a little high after seeing various posts on this forum. Couldn't be bothered hunting around for the best deal so I just paid the £69 price tag for it. Please don't tell me how much you paid for yours, that would really finish my day of nicely. Pc has crashed 3 times today, my cd burning software won't work now, and I have to go shopping with the other half tomorrow so I'm a bit stressed out already ;o)

I have sent a couple of the pictures to Ian to post for me. Thanks again Ian

Charlie

thats a big hall!.......
don't forget if you're bouncing, the range counts as up to the
ceiling and then down again to the subject you are probrably
outside the 4.5 meter range for blue.....!
and if the ceiling is dark blue thats probrably less than 50%
reflective so you will need to add a stop or so to accomodate
that!.....
with that size of hall the on-board reflector is the way to go!.....
regards ga-ga
ps - how much did you pay? - was it new?.....