verybiglebowski
Senior Member
If I am informed well, currently, there is only Profoto app that allows to use external flash with the later iPhones. There was also TricCam that worked with older iPhones but not with the current ones, and Godox had A1 flash with the same limitation.
The problem with the Profoto is obviously the price.
I got the idea to use a simple optical trigger, with an radio trigger (or pc cable) placed in front of the iPhone flash, to trigger my studio strobes.
However, there are a few problems:
1. I have the ProCam app, (the latest one time price version) that doesn’t allow me to use manual settings with 48Mpx RAW, only 12 Mpx Tiff, but most importantly, it doesn’t fire flash in manual mode, no matter the selected flash “on” mode.
2. The native camera app lets me adjust exposure to only -2 EV.
3. Neither app let me disable the pre-flash (red eye reduction) so the optical trigger reacts on the first pre flash and make the shot out of sync.
I can solve the number 3. There is an easy but cumbersome solution and a more tricky one, that I am not sure will work. The easy one is to use a black card manually, and block the light between pre flash and trigger, then lift it up before main flash fires. It sounds crazy, but it actually works, I was able to make my first flash sync shot that way. The more tricky solution is to use a trigger delay (I have some old Pocket Wizards that should be able to set the delay), but I have no idea if the iPhone pre-flash has always the same length.
Anyway, what I am looking for is an camera app, that will let me use the manual exposure settings, ideally with the 48mpx RAW, but most importantly, will fire the iPhone flash in the full manual settings if set to do so.
Now, if there is a way to disable the pre-flash, I will be a happy camper.
I am aware that a sync speed is very low, probably around 1/20s (I will test it), but that doesn’t bother me, if the main exposure is made by the flash light only.
Bellow is my first successful attempt in firing external flash (just a test shot) at 1/4s.
If I would be able to set the fastest possible sync shutter speed, and lowest ISO, I can additionally control the exposure with the variable ND and external Flash output strength.
Firing external flash with the iPhone
Any ideas are welcomed.
--
verybiglobo.com
500px.com
The problem with the Profoto is obviously the price.
I got the idea to use a simple optical trigger, with an radio trigger (or pc cable) placed in front of the iPhone flash, to trigger my studio strobes.
However, there are a few problems:
1. I have the ProCam app, (the latest one time price version) that doesn’t allow me to use manual settings with 48Mpx RAW, only 12 Mpx Tiff, but most importantly, it doesn’t fire flash in manual mode, no matter the selected flash “on” mode.
2. The native camera app lets me adjust exposure to only -2 EV.
3. Neither app let me disable the pre-flash (red eye reduction) so the optical trigger reacts on the first pre flash and make the shot out of sync.
I can solve the number 3. There is an easy but cumbersome solution and a more tricky one, that I am not sure will work. The easy one is to use a black card manually, and block the light between pre flash and trigger, then lift it up before main flash fires. It sounds crazy, but it actually works, I was able to make my first flash sync shot that way. The more tricky solution is to use a trigger delay (I have some old Pocket Wizards that should be able to set the delay), but I have no idea if the iPhone pre-flash has always the same length.
Anyway, what I am looking for is an camera app, that will let me use the manual exposure settings, ideally with the 48mpx RAW, but most importantly, will fire the iPhone flash in the full manual settings if set to do so.
Now, if there is a way to disable the pre-flash, I will be a happy camper.
I am aware that a sync speed is very low, probably around 1/20s (I will test it), but that doesn’t bother me, if the main exposure is made by the flash light only.
Bellow is my first successful attempt in firing external flash (just a test shot) at 1/4s.
If I would be able to set the fastest possible sync shutter speed, and lowest ISO, I can additionally control the exposure with the variable ND and external Flash output strength.
Firing external flash with the iPhone
Any ideas are welcomed.
--
Verybiglobo photo blog
Everything about photography incl. some field tests of cameras and lenses
verybiglobo.com
500px
