Do you shoot with an external flash?

[Big Kahuna]

Hmm... in that case you are one of the following:

1. Seldom do event shooting
2. Use high ISO for your shots
3. Use Prime lens
4. Have more than one flash... :think:

Which one?

1, 2, 3 :lovegrin: Beside that I prefer traveling light so I use pop up flash most of the time :sweatsm:

 

[Anson]

1, 2, 3 :lovegrin: Beside that I prefer traveling light so I use pop up flash most of the time :sweatsm:

If I use my pop-up flash for photo shoot, chances are the (inexperience) models would get "stars" in their eyes after a couple of shoots....

 

[airconvent]

I hate to carry so much gear. So far have only used my 360 about 2-3 times and that is for colleagues' and friends' weddings.

 

[otc]

I use my external flash mostly for macro..haha

Zec, For macro if ordinary light is available and sufficient, the colors are better without flash.

Often insufficient or when need for higher shutter speed or when longer focal length like A200, then flash is used. My imho.

Normal travelling phottography, yes, sometimes when background too bright and flash use as fill in for subject.

otc

 

[hjbyeo]

Zec, For macro if ordinary light is available and sufficient, the colors are better without flash.

Often insufficient or when need for higher shutter speed or when longer focal length like A200, then flash is used. My imho.

Normal travelling phottography, yes, sometimes when background too bright and flash use as fill in for subject.

otc

Marcus, Zec, I think for a more serious macro work, or if you want to achieve something that Leong23 did in this thread, I really think flash is extremely important. In fact, it's 2 flashes if I am not wrong, and the pictures are IMHO just :thumbsup:. In fact, take a look at his earlier macros in his APAD ... his macros are really impressive, and I don't think a typical 1 flash setup, or available light, would have been sufficient (at least consistently sufficient). See this one ...

Marcus, you are by far the most "serious" or passionate macro shooter in the Pentax team, and I still think apart from the glasses you've invested, the key macro setups are very much needed to bring your macros to the very next level.

Anyways, just my thoughts about it... :think:, so don't flame me hor.

 

[flowerpot]

Marcus, Zec, I think for a more serious macro work, or if you want to achieve something that Leong23 did in this thread, I really think flash is extremely important. In fact, it's 2 flashes if I am not wrong, and the pictures are IMHO just :thumbsup:. In fact, take a look at his earlier macros in his APAD ... his macros are really impressive, and I don't think a typical 1 flash setup, or available light, would have been sufficient (at least consistently sufficient). See this one ...

the hummingbird shot is using a high speed flash technique i think... using very very small flash power which results in extremely short duration of flash pulse which is able to freeze the super fast flapping wings of the hummingbird (60 times per sec :bigeyes u seldom see hummingbird shot which freeze their wings cos its just too fast.... have to push up the iso to achieve this... whether he uses multiple flash i dunno, but i noe having a big light source does helps...

 

[hjbyeo]

the hummingbird shot is using a high speed flash technique i think... using very very small flash power which results in extremely short duration of flash pulse which is able to freeze the super fast flapping wings of the hummingbird (60 times per sec :bigeyes u seldom see hummingbird shot which freeze their wings cos its just too fast.... have to push up the iso to achieve this... whether he uses multiple flash i dunno, but i noe having a big light source does helps...

It's not even a humming bird ... probably some kind of moth? But you shd be right about the high speed flash technique.

Really like his style of macro shots.

 

[otc]

Marcus, Zec, I think for a more serious macro work, or if you want to achieve something that Leong23 did in this thread, I really think flash is extremely important. In fact, it's 2 flashes if I am not wrong, and the pictures are IMHO just :thumbsup:. In fact, take a look at his earlier macros in his APAD ... his macros are really impressive, and I don't think a typical 1 flash setup, or available light, would have been sufficient (at least consistently sufficient). See this one ...

Marcus, you are by far the most "serious" or passionate macro shooter in the Pentax team, and I still think apart from the glasses you've invested, the key macro setups are very much needed to bring your macros to the very next level.

Anyways, just my thoughts about it... :think:, so don't flame me hor.

Bernard, just saw this shot and I love the dragonfly head and wings captured. Hmm I have only 1 flash and have not capitalise the potential of the flash .... Just thinking of ringflash.
You are right on, additional flash using wireless on two different angles and probably will give a tot to this. Will provide better shutter speed and well as a smaller aperture for better depth of field.

Anyway just started tripod and monopod for my macro and its great.

Thanks for this update.

marcus

 

[ishou80]

Yeah...I'm considering another 1-2 flash as lighting does make a differences for the end result. If we can master lighting then woo hoo~

 

[hjbyeo]

Bernard, just saw this shot and I love the dragonfly head and wings captured. Hmm I have only 1 flash and have not capitalise the potential of the flash .... Just thinking of ringflash.
You are right on, additional flash using wireless on two different angles and probably will give a tot to this. Will provide better shutter speed and well as a smaller aperture for better depth of field.

Anyway just started tripod and monopod for my macro and its great.

Thanks for this update.

marcus

... will be on the look out for your pictures. Make us proud!

 

[hjbyeo]

Yeah...I'm considering another 1-2 flash as lighting does make a differences for the end result. If we can master lighting then woo hoo~

ya... and I have no idea how to do it right now. but hey ... there's always google!

 

[ishou80]

ya... and I have no idea how to do it right now. but hey ... there's always google!

Yeah! But I cannot imagine...camera bag..2 light stands...lens..tripod/monopod..:sweat:

 

[flowerpot]

i tried 1 tripod and monopod b4, flash on tripod with hotshoe cable and camera on monopod... 20 mins im sweating all over and i din get any decent shots... :bsmilie:

 

[otc]

... will be on the look out for your pictures. Make us proud!

Ai Ya, not so fast... buy n buy means money, money. money. Also thinking of macro rail to buy in ebay.Normal shots cos unending, there will always be a better pictures taken. Ofcouse we learn from here and there/ or copycat-crude word to use:bsmilie:

i tried 1 tripod and monopod b4, flash on tripod with hotshoe cable and camera on monopod... 20 mins im sweating all over and i din get any decent shots... :bsmilie:

likely wind and as such tripod or monopod doesn,t help. Try again when air is still.

touching lights, lots of info. on diffused lights. Good to try instead of using the same method. There is no one best way. Different people use different ways to diffuse lights. Some use coca-cola can and others plastic sheets/cans or bounce card. Lets try and share notes here.

otc

 

[aosis]

i dont know how to use a flash

 

[piyoz]

Hi plannign to get one external flash, which one to get sigma ones or pentax ones?? I'm actually not a flash light person BUT some shots woithout flash are blurred cos of sometimes low light environment... Hope someone can enlighten me. Thanks

 

[scorpioh]

Hi plannign to get one external flash, which one to get sigma ones or pentax ones?? I'm actually not a flash light person BUT some shots woithout flash are blurred cos of sometimes low light environment... Hope someone can enlighten me. Thanks

Get af360fg - $320. Or you have that extra cash, get af540fgz - $600, for the swivel and that extra power.

 

[piyoz]

Get af360fg - $320. Or you have that extra cash, get af540fgz - $600, for the swivel and that extra power.

If i'm not wrong the af360 can't swivel right? Then how to not get harsh shadow?? I didn't knwo that the af540 if that ex, if i had enough $$ then i will get the af540 lor. If not then how else can i improve the blur image caused by slow shutter speed?

 

[scorpioh]

If i'm not wrong the af360 can't swivel right? Then how to not get harsh shadow?? I didn't knwo that the af540 if that ex, if i had enough $$ then i will get the af540 lor. If not then how else can i improve the blur image caused by slow shutter speed?

u can tilt up and down to bounce celing but can't swivel left and right (cant bounce ceiling in portait mode). Not a big issue for me anyway. couple it with a omni-bounce diffuser and a bounce card and you are set. imho, the 2x cost for the swivel action and slightly more power is not worth it.

 

[shunzi]

mostly indoor for the bounce effect. anyone had a sample pics for taking outdoor w/flash?