Ghosting problem using flash with a Sigma lens
Dec 29, 2017 17:00:51 #
Hi everybody, I need some technical help with a problem I am having with my relatively new Nikon D7200. I have 3 lenses, a Nikon 35mm, a Nikon 18-300 mm, and a Sigma wide angle 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC. Only when using the Sigma indoors with the built in flash, I get a dark ghosting shadow in the bottom center of the picture. This does not occur with the flash off or outdoors. I have tried using the Sigma bayonet hood or without it but the dark shadow occurs. The other two lenses under the same circumstances work perfectly. What could cause this?
Dec 29, 2017 17:11:03 #
Old Timer
Loc: Greenfield, In.
You are getting the shadow of the lens from your on board flash. If you back up to 12 or 14 you will not have the problem I suspect. Also if you have a flash try in as it sets higher and will not have the shadow.
Dec 29, 2017 17:11:36 #
jock123 wrote:
Hi everybody, I need some technical help with a pr... (show quote)
Sounds like what you are seeing is literally the shadow of the front of the lens blocking light from the flash.
This is not uncommon! All it takes is a long enough or fat enough lens.
Dec 29, 2017 17:21:04 #
I would have expected a lens hood to exacerbate the shadow. Plus, the Nikon lens is longer and would be more of a problem blocking the flash.
Dec 29, 2017 17:45:27 #
Old Timer
Loc: Greenfield, In.
Your wide angle lens focus closer than the longer focal lens. If you look through your view finder you can see how close it focus is in front of you.
Dec 29, 2017 17:53:32 #
when you use your built in flash take the lens hood off, if you still have the problem it could be that the flash is not sitting high enough with your wide lens, I have used a 12-24mm F-4 Pentax lens on a K5ii with out that problem, I use a Graslon Spark flash diffuser with the pop-up flash to spread and soften the light.
Dec 29, 2017 17:55:00 #
Thanks folks. That makes sense but my 18-300mm lens is just as long as the Sigma and it doesn’t show a shadow with the flash. Plus I get the shadow on the Sigma with or without the bayonet hood?
Dec 29, 2017 19:44:01 #
jock123 wrote:
Thanks folks. That makes sense but my 18-300mm lens is just as long as the Sigma and it doesn’t show a shadow with the flash. Plus I get the shadow on the Sigma with or without the bayonet hood?
The 18-300 might be as long, but it is not as big around.
Dec 29, 2017 21:34:18 #
Ok, thanks for all the help and advice. I need to learn to use the manual settings anyway and can use them in most indoor settings without the flash. I was worried there was some internal problem on the Sigma. It’s nice to have friends that know what they are doing.
Dec 30, 2017 01:24:37 #
jock123 wrote:
Hi everybody, I need some technical help with a pr... (show quote)
If you want to use that lens with a flash, then the best solution is to purchase an external flash and flash bracket to move the flash away from the lens. But there is another issue - neither the pop-up flash or an external one is likely to cover the 99 degree field of view without a modifier.
Dec 30, 2017 04:09:55 #
Pablo8
Loc: Nottingham UK.
If I really need to use my Sigma 10 - 20mm lens with flash indoors, I use two off camera heads(both angled to the sides of subject and diffused is better) to ensure coverage of the wide-angle the lens is producing. A built-in flash is useless with the 10 -20mm lens.
Dec 30, 2017 08:02:25 #
jock123 wrote:
Hi everybody, I need some technical help with a pr... (show quote)
Sounds like the shadow of the lens, I don't use the built in flash on my WA, Try a bounced flash , Bob
Dec 30, 2017 08:02:53 #
Thank you Pablo8. I plan to use manual settings with the Sigma indoors from now on. Not sure what “off camera heads” are but suspect they are external light sources.
Dec 30, 2017 08:08:08 #
I use a Canon 320 or a Sigma Flash#?? with my Canon 10-18, I use bounce and get bath coverage and no shadow from the lens, the shadow IMHO is a field of view/flash location problem, coverage is solved by bouncing the flash.
Dec 30, 2017 09:00:27 #
Pablo8
Loc: Nottingham UK.
bobmcculloch wrote:
I use a Canon 320 or a Sigma Flash#?? with my Canon 10-18, I use bounce and get bath coverage and no shadow from the lens, the shadow IMHO is a field of view/flash location problem, coverage is solved by bouncing the flash.
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The shadow is from the lens/lens-hood, because the BUILT-IN flash is too close to the axis of the very wide-angle lens. I don't think any built-in flash can be bounced, by tilting the flash-head, or, without the addition of mirrors, diffusers, attached to the flash.
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