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[OM] Re: Diffusers Reflectors and studio flashes.

Subject: [OM] Re: Diffusers Reflectors and studio flashes.
From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:53:47 -0400
swisspace wrote:

> I am going to try these (slave triggers)so bought some and now waiting 
> for shipping.
> 
> I will look for some flash guns now, 422's preferably as recommended, 
> there seem to be a lot of 433D's on ebay are they the same thing.

422's and 433D's are basically the same flash unit but the 433D has a 
fixed foot dedicated to a particular camera system.  It was available 
for OM but was also probably available in a non-TTL flash controlled 
auto configuration.  The 422 has a interchangeable dedicated foot.  The 
422 foot for OM's is the OT-1D and there is also a generic 
interchangeable foot for non-TTL auto only mode.

None of this matters if you're not going to use them on an OM since 
they'll be used in manual or auto modes instead of TTL mode.  Even if 
you get a 433D for OM (or even another camera) it will still do manual 
and auto modes.  Just ignore the TTL.

> 
> I looked in the shop and the second hand flashes are mainly minolta

Avoid Minolta unless very old.  Newer ones from about 1980 onward have a 
non-standard flash foot that does not fit an ISO hot shoe.

  - or
> maybe I should stick with olympus and look for some T32 - I am assuming 
> they are adjustable.

T-32's in manual mode have only full and 1/4 power.  Two of them 
together can provide 1/4, 1/2, 1-1/4 and 2x or approximately 200 watt 
seconds for the pair.  Lots of power but not as controllable as the 
Sunpaks and Vivitars.  These are cheaper and better for the limited 
application if you don't need the unique TTL features of the T-32.

The Sunpaks and Vivitar 285 provide excellent manual power control with 
the Sunpaks offering a 5 stop range vs 4 stop for the Vivitar.  The 
Vivitar 283 also offers manual control via an optional adapter.  Watch 
out for high trigger voltages with some 283's and 285's.  The lower 
voltage units have an "HV" suffix as in 285HV.  Makes it sound like 
"High Voltage" but they are, in fact, the low (12 volt) voltage versions).

There are also other Sunpak models that may be appropriate.  The 4xx 
series are shoe mount.  I believe there is a 444D but I don't have any 
info on it.  The 5xx series are handle mount.  Lots of power and 
built-in tripod socket on the bottom of the handle but are more 
difficult to adapt to fit the head somewhere near the centerline of an 
umbrella.  I have the 522 but there are later models 544 and 555.  Also 
the 120J and 622 pro flashes.
> 
> excuse my ignorance in all this but apart from a few snapshots I havn't 
> meddled with flash much and from what I gather it is a bit of a black 
> art - strange using that term for light.

The main learning point about flash is that there are really two 
separate exposures going on... one from the flash and a second one from 
the ambient light.  Depending on camera settings either one may prevail 
over the other to the point or near or total exclusion.

An electronic flash is so fast (in the range of 1/10,000 to 1/50,000 
second) that the flash exposure is controlled only by intensity of the 
flash and the aperture of the lens.  Shutter speed has absolutely no 
effect on flash unless it exceeds the synchronization speed of the 
shutter and part or all of the flash never hits the film.

The ambient light exposure, however, is controlled by both the shutter 
speed and the aperture.  Learing how to effectively deploy flash 
requires learing how to control these two separate exposures for the 
desired effect.

This shot, for example:
<http://www.chucknorcutt.com/party.php>
used two studio flashes to light the inside of the tent, a Sunpak 522 on 
the camera for the foreground and a long (1/4 second) exposure to allow 
time for the incandescent lights on the ceiling to register.  Thus, two 
separate exposures in one.

> 
> re reflector - my wife will be furious when she discovers all the 
> kitchen foil missing ;-)

Avoid the kitchen foil.  Generally too bright but is best when using the 
duller back side after crumpling.  Plain white foam core works very well 
and will avoid the wrath of your wife at a bargain price.

Chuck Norcutt

> 
> thanks Ian
> 
> Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> 
> 
>>hotshoe adapter with built-in optical slave such as this:
>><http://cgi.ebay.com/Optical-Slave-Flash-Trigger-Digital-Wireless_W0QQitemZ7544753723QQcategoryZ30084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting>



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