Hatch's creative use of flash in his/her (sorry don't know if you're male or female) flower drops shot http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... .php?t=667 has me curious about how to really use my flash.
I have a Sigma DG-Super 500 ETTL Flash http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/flash ... sp?id=3257 But don't really know how to do metering, or how to use the power settings or such like. The manual just tells you what things do, but that's it really.
I'm new to this type of flash work, always used built-in flashes. This flash has a flap pull-down that makes the flash wide angle (17mm) regardless of what lens I have for example. That's fine, I can figure that out, but what about the zoom and power settings, when to use my "flash set to ETTL +1/3rd with diffuser". I don't have a slave flash so I can't do some things I'd like to do, but I need to learn more about how to use my equipment and thought this was the best place to ask.
Remember, I have a Canon 300D (Rebel) camera. the metering seems to be tied to the focusing in this camera http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_op ... nion=18477 which may need to be taken into consideration.
How to use my flash -- really
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Carl_Constantine
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How to use my flash -- really
Carl B. Constantine
Carl
Don't know the flash myself but found you some more information on it. Most of the functions seem to be controlled by the camera:-
http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/fl ... _super.htm
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/flash/500super.htm
http://photonotes.org/reviews/sigma-ef-500-super/
The different power settings can be used to reduce the power of a flashgun to use it as a fill in flash. In portraiture you have one main light that sets the exposure and another light of lesser power to fill in the shadows on the other side. It is also useful in close up photography when the flash used on full power may be too powerful.
On my old Sunpak reducing power also reduced flash duration. Reducing power does not reduce the strength of the flash just quenches it quicker.
Therefore flash duration on minimum power can be as short as 1/20,000th of a second. If you wish to film water splashes or fast moving events therefore the shorter flash duration, akin to using a faster shutter speed, can be useful. Also reduced power allows the flash to recycle quicker if you are taking multiple shots with the camera's motordrive.
In photography the worst place to have a flashgun is either built into the camera or on the hot shoe. Yes we all have them built in now but their main use is to control other more strategically placed flash guns. When you used studio lights you did not mount these on the lens axis but aranged the lighting from the sides. The only thing on hotshoe or built in flash ever brought to photography was red eye!
DaveW
Don't know the flash myself but found you some more information on it. Most of the functions seem to be controlled by the camera:-
http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/fl ... _super.htm
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/flash/500super.htm
http://photonotes.org/reviews/sigma-ef-500-super/
The different power settings can be used to reduce the power of a flashgun to use it as a fill in flash. In portraiture you have one main light that sets the exposure and another light of lesser power to fill in the shadows on the other side. It is also useful in close up photography when the flash used on full power may be too powerful.
On my old Sunpak reducing power also reduced flash duration. Reducing power does not reduce the strength of the flash just quenches it quicker.
Therefore flash duration on minimum power can be as short as 1/20,000th of a second. If you wish to film water splashes or fast moving events therefore the shorter flash duration, akin to using a faster shutter speed, can be useful. Also reduced power allows the flash to recycle quicker if you are taking multiple shots with the camera's motordrive.
In photography the worst place to have a flashgun is either built into the camera or on the hot shoe. Yes we all have them built in now but their main use is to control other more strategically placed flash guns. When you used studio lights you did not mount these on the lens axis but aranged the lighting from the sides. The only thing on hotshoe or built in flash ever brought to photography was red eye!
DaveW