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D220 and built in flash question (pic)

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Howie Wolowitz

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I am an armature photographer and have been using the built in flash on my (lovely) D200 for lots of candid portraits.

The only problem I have is that most people have oily skin and that results in harsh highlight reflections on the image.

Examples:





(the jpg conversion has lost some of the offending highlights but I'm sure you get what I mean)

I was wondering if a polarizing filter would help (before I go out and get a few to fit my lenses.)

If so what kind should I get? Plain or circular?

Thanks,
--
Howie
 
First of all, don't use the built-in fllash :-)

Not really a joke. You can't control it. It flashes right in the subject's face without any meaningful diffusion. You're getting exactly what I would expect with a non-diffused flash straight on.

At least, if you're going to use the built-in flash, use a Lumiquest softscreen - which goes over the flash head and helps diffuse the light considerably.

Better still, buy an SB800 (or an SB600 - SB800 is better) and mount that on the camera and bounce your light off a ceiling or a wall to get indirect light on your subject. If you don't have a wall, get a Lumiquest or another brand pocket-bouncer. They're cheap.

Unfortunately, the limitation of the D200's onboard flash is the same that all onboard flashes have - you can't control them.

Hope this helps...

--
AAK - http://www.aakatz.com
 
The D200 has the option to adjust the output the onboard flash delivers. There is a + - button specifically for the flash just below the button that opens the flash itself. You can use the command dials to adjust it and see the setting change on your top LCD.

Truethfully, the front-on flash is good for lighting a pic that you otherwise cannot take but a SB600 or SB800 pointed at the cieling (or an add-on diffuser) will make your people shots turn out a lot better.

I'm an amateur as well and I've done the research and am going to get the SB600. Because the D200 built in flash can be used as the "commander" the SB600 will suit my needs very well.
 
Thanks all. I guess a diffuser and eventually an SB600 or SB800 is the answer to my query.

No one has any thoughts about a polarizing filter though? I thought they are used to reduce reflections.
--
Howie
 
RHeath said:
The built in flash can pose a problem since you are limited to very
little, or no control over it. Here is a link to something I just
picked up yesterday. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like it
will help out a lot.

http://www.lumiquest.com/softscreen.htm

Hope this helps...

Bob Heath-
Click to expand...
I looked at this, but I thought I noticed that it won't work on the D200 without a velcro strip on the camera. Is that right? I don't want to add velcro to the camera.
--
JohnE
Equipment list in profile

'My children say that I am the family paparazzi .'
 
I just purchased the diffuser and emailed them to find out if the velxro strip is required with the D200. I will post their reply as soon as I get it.

Howie
 
If i use the diffuser will I still be able to use the on camera flash in commander mode?
 
Howie Wolowitz said:
Thanks all. I guess a diffuser and eventually an SB600 or SB800 is
the answer to my query.
No one has any thoughts about a polarizing filter though? I
thought they are used to reduce reflections.
--
Howie
Click to expand...
A polarizing filter is to reduce reflections on water, metal, scenics, etc. Not normally for people's faces.

I have used a Lumiquest SoftBox on a SB800, mounted on a bracket, with good results. It is softer than using either the diffuser that comes with the SB800 or the Stofen Omnibounce.
--
JohnE
Equipment list in profile

'My children say that I am the family paparazzi .'
 
P filter is designed to reduce reflections from glass, water and metal, but I don't know if it will help with flash, because it has to be rotated to the proper angle, which will be hard to do with a light the flashes for 1/1,000 of a second!

--
Z-Man
 
Here is the official reply about adding the velcro with the Soft Screen. Sorry it's not difinative but I will report back once I receive and try it.

"It is really up to you, if your Soft Screen does not seem secure you can add
the Velcro.
It does look to me from pictures of your camera online that you would need
the Velcro strips in the front - the nameplate does not seem have space
under it for the front of the Soft Screen to fit so you might need to use a
small amount of Velcro there.
I see you ordered from us directly, the extra Velcro is now included with
the Soft Screen so you should be ok."

--
Howie
 
You know, with an X-acto knife and an old Fuji film cannister you could make your own diffuser for the built-in flash. I mean, the Lumiquest is spiffy, but a translucent cannister cut to fit over the flash may be more portable. And it gives you something to do with all those old cannisters!

BobF
--
an open shutter is the devil's playground...
 
A polarisind filter will NOT reduce relections from metal. It's one of the things that it does not work with as the reflections coming off metal are not polarised as they are from glass or water (or even painted metal such as car bodies)

They are not removed if the reflections are head-on either so they will not work with your flash. They would reduce reflections at an angle to you however.
--
Dave H
 
Bonita said:
If i use the diffuser will I still be able to use the on camera
flash in commander mode?
Click to expand...
Should be no problem. I commonly use a Lumiquest SoftBox on a SB-800 on my camera to trigger two other SB-800s.
--
JohnE
Equipment list in profile

'My children say that I am the family paparazzi .'
 
I try to use the SB-600 but I saw one of these while at the camera shop and picked it up. Here's how it looks on my D200, no velcro needed.




Howie Wolowitz said:
Here is the official reply about adding the velcro with the Soft
Screen. Sorry it's not difinative but I will report back once I
receive and try it.
Click to expand...
 
Can you post some (or link) shots with and without that diffuser? That looks pretty cool and I'm very intrested in the name, model number, price and results!

Thanks,
MG.
 
I will have to get to the shots tomorrow. It cost me $12 or so at the local camera shop. There was a stack of them in a little display next to the cash register. It's the LumiQuest Soft Screen that's been mentioned in this thread. This link was given, but here it is again:

http://www.lumiquest.com/softscreen.htm

The picture on their site made me think it fit differently than it actually did on my D200.
gnet158 said:
Can you post some (or link) shots with and without that diffuser?
That looks pretty cool and I'm very intrested in the name, model
number, price and results!
Click to expand...
 
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