Yep. Another 717 external flash thread!

[sequitur]

mpenza .. it's a gimmick you gotta read it carefully.

it really is 37 at the same settings as the 32mz3

 

[alvin]

Hi guys!
Skipped work and got the 32M-Z2. Er what can I say I love the bounce. With the stock 717 flash bounce with some paper scraps work great, but only if the ceiling is low and the subject pretty close. Now I can work at further distances and portrait wise it's lovely.

These are my observations and understanding the flash after an hour taking photos of various trash bins (castor wheeled) below my flat: Tell me if i'm right or wrong ok?

a) 3 Auto modes, the leftmost A is for closeup photography (0.7-4m, small aperture), the rightmost A is for longer distance (1.5m-15m, opened up aperture)

b) I found that taking pictures in the middle of the range, e.g. 0.7-4m I stood about 2m from the subject (a trashbin) with the recommended apeture of 8, it was illuminated nicely, abeit with harsh shadows. I bounced in this mode, but quite underexposed so I compensated with a larger apeture (F=5.6 thereabouts) and came out nicely with soft shadows.

c) Long distance mode (the rightmost A) quite odd, the flash output seems to be much lower, needing a wider aperture (F=2), but it's very nice! If I bounce occasionally the power may still not be enough, so I swap to the middle A mode to boost the power.

d) Zoom modes: Er I think I like the wide angle 28mm one for the moment.

e) I'm using the camera in M mode right now, and matching my camera's aperture to that stated on the flash. What should the shutter speed be set to? I'm leaving it right now at 1/125 'cause it eliminates most of the effects of handshake. Seems to be good, and altering the speed doesn't seem to really change the historgram or picture, at least from my camera's LCD...

f) Comparing to the onboard flash vs the 32z-2.... I feel that in close corners and indoors, the on board performs better, in the sense I don't need to set the camera to the flash to fire, I can use my P, A, S modes. But the advantage is the bounce capability (No more white paper scraps! Yipee!), and of course much greater reach.

Questions I have:
Ok right now with the 3 A modes I only have 3 apertures to choose from, 2, 8 and 4. Will the SCA adaptor allow the flash to be set to say, F=5.6 when my camera is set to F=5.6?

I'll be using the flash at a barbeque tommorrow can't wait to see how it works out.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Regards,
Alvin

 

[Edwin]

Wow alvin, seems like the flash offers another dimension for portrait taking. Can I check with you, where and for how much u got the 32M-Z2?

I'm oso considering getting an external flash cos I find the onboard flash is a bit harsh, would like a bit of bounce...

Thanks in advance... :wink:

 

[alvin]

Edwin: I've pm'ed you the info!

I've made my own bounce card, and damn it gets better than just the bounce alone! And the range of this baby is amazing, but at the higher output levels the recharge time is quite slow.... probably because I'm using some el-cheapo alkalines.

Here's a pic showing the size of the flash...

One minor thing is, with the bounce card is when in portrait form the person tends to get hit by the light from the side, kinda side light effect....

 

[Edwin]

Hmm... Would the use of a omnibounce solve the problem of light being bounced sideways??? Anyone know is it feasible??? :dunno:

 

[Glyyde]

alvin, I would like to know the price of the flash also....

I went and asked some camera shop aronud my area.... they tell me that Sony camera MUST use back Sony flash.....

 

[alvin]

Edwin: Use a diffuser instead of bounce so you can point the flash straight on?

 

[alvin]

For those who are interested in some of the pics I took with the flash+bounc card, please *EMAIL* me @ jtalbain@singnet.com.sg

I will not entertain PMs.

Regards,
Alvin