Fill-in Flash Question
Jun 3, 2020 20:31:40 #
Good Evening All,
My gear consists of a D500, a 200-500 Nikon Zoom and an SB-600. I’m considering exploring fill-in flash for selected bird photography situations (BTW, never with nocturnal birds nor those nesting).
I’ve read in several places to adjust flash exposure compensation to -2 for I presume an adequately powered flash. But I believe the SB-600 is underpowered for this equipment configuration (would love to learn I’m wrong in this regard).
I also know that the max tele setting on the SB-600 is 85 mm.
Other than simply trying different settings, is there any way to guestimate the max working distance of the flash at a particular flash compensation setting on the longer lens.
Apologies if this is actually apples and oranges or I completely misunderstand how and when to adjust settings.
TY
doclrb
My gear consists of a D500, a 200-500 Nikon Zoom and an SB-600. I’m considering exploring fill-in flash for selected bird photography situations (BTW, never with nocturnal birds nor those nesting).
I’ve read in several places to adjust flash exposure compensation to -2 for I presume an adequately powered flash. But I believe the SB-600 is underpowered for this equipment configuration (would love to learn I’m wrong in this regard).
I also know that the max tele setting on the SB-600 is 85 mm.
Other than simply trying different settings, is there any way to guestimate the max working distance of the flash at a particular flash compensation setting on the longer lens.
Apologies if this is actually apples and oranges or I completely misunderstand how and when to adjust settings.
TY
doclrb
Jun 3, 2020 20:54:11 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
doclrb wrote:
Good Evening All, br br My gear consists of a D50... (show quote)
Divide the Guide Number by the aperture to get the correct distance. No need for guessing at anything..
Jun 3, 2020 20:55:26 #
RWR wrote:
Divide the Guide Number by the aperture to get the correct distance. No need for guessing at anything..
Jun 3, 2020 21:06:27 #
doclrb wrote:
Good Evening All, br br My gear consists of a D50... (show quote)
You answered your own question. Tests.
BTW, I have seen snoots with a fresnel optic panel to extend the zoom to match much longer lenses.
Seems you’d wanna cut the power down to get even a short burst like only 3 or 4 frames. Or maybe you just intend it for perching birds ?
Jun 3, 2020 21:43:27 #
User ID wrote:
You answered your own question. Tests.
BTW, I have seen snoots with a fresnel optic panel to extend the zoom to match much longer lenses.
Seems you’d wanna cut the power down to get even a short burst like only 3 or 4 frames. Or maybe you just intend it for perching birds ?
BTW, I have seen snoots with a fresnel optic panel to extend the zoom to match much longer lenses.
Seems you’d wanna cut the power down to get even a short burst like only 3 or 4 frames. Or maybe you just intend it for perching birds ?
Thanks. Perching at first. I do have an extender on order. Appreciate the encouragement.
TY
doclrb
Jun 3, 2020 21:46:11 #
Kozan
Loc: Trenton Tennessee
doclrb wrote:
Good Evening All, br br My gear consists of a D50... (show quote)
Yes, you can take the guide number of the flash in feet and divide it by the distance you are from the subject and that will give you the F-stop for what the flash thinks is the proper exposure. Go down 2 stops from there. AT ISO 200, the SB-600 has a GN of 138 feet. So if the distance is 10 feet away from the bird, you would set your F stop on 13.8 ideally which is about f11 2/3. So two stops lower would be about f22 2/3.
I think my calculations are correct. Anyway, you can can fairly close to what you want by using the GN/distance to get the initial F stop.
Jun 3, 2020 21:53:22 #
Your SB600, I believe without checking the manual, will support a high-speed sync. This is important because of your faster than 1/200 to 1/250-sec shutter speed is the the limit of many lower-end flashes and camera bodies. One of the benefits of a higher-end flash is the ability to lower the power of the flash output. When set to fire at 100%, you have the longest recharge time, a second to three seconds on the freshest batteries. When you can adjust the settings to fire at 1/4 strength or less, the recharge is / nearly is instantaneous.
Look too at a 'snoot' that focuses the flash output into a narrower beam at a specific point, another method to get more power from the same lowered flash setting.
Look too at a 'snoot' that focuses the flash output into a narrower beam at a specific point, another method to get more power from the same lowered flash setting.
Jun 3, 2020 22:00:49 #
Kozan wrote:
Yes, you can take the guide number of the flash in... (show quote)
Thank you so much. I was that guy that always wanted to see a ‘sample problem’ worked out on the board!
Jun 3, 2020 22:03:02 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Your SB600, I believe without checking the manual,... (show quote)
Great information!
TY
doclrb
Jun 3, 2020 22:11:37 #
Kozan wrote:
Yes, you can take the guide number of the flash in... (show quote)
The outdoor guide number is a stop or two weaker than the advertised g/n.
Jun 3, 2020 22:12:57 #
User ID wrote:
The outdoor guide number is a stop or two weaker than the advertised g/n.
Good to know.
TY
doclrb
Jun 3, 2020 22:39:30 #
Please. Click on the following link. It's an opinion I offered to another photographer with a similar question- you may find it useful https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/tpr?p=11261427&t=648543.
If you want natural-looking images where the natural light is not overpowered by the flash you have to establish a LIGHTING RATIO whereby the flash will provide better shadow detail without killing the middle tones and highlights. Here's a quick formula that works well.
1. Determine flash exposure for the distance using the guide number that you formulated by testing. As an example, let's say you GN is 200 at a selected ISO setting and your bird is 15 feet away. That would indicate an aperture of f/13.5 -Between f/11 and f/16.
2. Determine the daylight SHUTTER SPEED for that f/stop and you will get a 1:2 ratio. You can reduce the flash power and obtain a more dramatic ratio.
This method works especially well in sunlight, In shade or overcast weather, you will need to be able to reduce the flash power sufficiently to all for wider apertures. The same applies if you want to select a wide aperture to reduce the depth of field.
If you want natural-looking images where the natural light is not overpowered by the flash you have to establish a LIGHTING RATIO whereby the flash will provide better shadow detail without killing the middle tones and highlights. Here's a quick formula that works well.
1. Determine flash exposure for the distance using the guide number that you formulated by testing. As an example, let's say you GN is 200 at a selected ISO setting and your bird is 15 feet away. That would indicate an aperture of f/13.5 -Between f/11 and f/16.
2. Determine the daylight SHUTTER SPEED for that f/stop and you will get a 1:2 ratio. You can reduce the flash power and obtain a more dramatic ratio.
This method works especially well in sunlight, In shade or overcast weather, you will need to be able to reduce the flash power sufficiently to all for wider apertures. The same applies if you want to select a wide aperture to reduce the depth of field.
Jun 3, 2020 22:40:51 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Please. Click on the following link. It's an opini... (show quote)
Thank you so much!
doclrb
Jun 3, 2020 23:04:38 #
User ID wrote:
The outdoor guide number is a stop or two weaker than the advertised g/n.
What's an "outdoor" guide number?
Jun 4, 2020 03:48:48 #
Pablo8
Loc: Nottingham UK.
Winslowe wrote:
What's an "outdoor" guide number?
A stop or two below the advertised (indoor) GN.
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