Flash on the hotshoe

[Cyclops]

For macro this is a big no no right? You have to get the flash on some kind of bracket and fit a diffuser. Yet there's a guy on Instagram shooting superb macro shots, and when I asked him what set up he uses he just said he uses hotshoe mounted flash! When I mentioned that the guys on a forum advocate removing the flash from the hotshoe, his answer was that 'those guys obviously don't know what they're doing'.
Charming eh!

[Ichthyophthirius]

A large conventional flash on top of the camera can work well if the lens has a long working distance so the flash isn't shaded by the lens barrel. The large distance between flash and subject give you lots of space for installing diffusers.

However, it requires a lot of flash power because of the long distance and the need for multiple diffusers.

Moving the flash off the hotshoe gives you more flexibility, lower flash power if you get it closer to the subject, and better lighting for short working distances (like for reversed lenses).

[MarkSturtevant]

There are several folks who mount a single flash on the hot shoe, and then use a diffuser that directs the light forward and downward. There are definite advantages to shooting 'flash forward', but the armatures for doing that also add to the weight and awkwardness of a rig.

[Thagomizer]

There are several folks who mount a single flash on the hot shoe, and then use a diffuser that directs the light forward and downward. There are definite advantages to shooting 'flash forward', but the armatures for doing that also add to the weight and awkwardness of a rig.

I just took delivery of a used KMZ Zenit GLV flash adapter that will let me angle a hotshoe mounted flash downward and forward without adding a lot of extra volume to my rig. It looks like this: https://picclick.ca/ZENITH-Head-lamp-fl ... id=1&pid=1 It permits a fixed, non-bouncing, non-swiveling flash unit to be angle up or sideways to produce bounce flash lighting. It's a single pin shoe fixture, so I'll be using manual flash power settings rather than automatic, TTL eposure. This what I'd planned for anyhow, so not a big deal.

Some observations from a very quick test.

-The unit does not permit fully horizontal lay-down of the flash, as I was hoping. The main body is till angled upwards a bit. Not a big deal.

-The tightening wheel used to hold the adapter in the camer's flash shoe also controls the swiveling action of the adpter. The weight of the flash I'm currently experimenting with (Sigma EF-500 Super) is such that it can shift the swivel action of the adapter when the camera is held for portrait oriented shots. It's tough to tighten the wheel sufficiently to prevent this.

-The whole point of getting the adapter was to get a more powerful flash closer to the subjects I'm shooting. Using the flash at 1/16th power resulted in rapid flash recycle times and being able to shoot a short burst in continuous drive while hand holding. This was something I was unable to do using my Pentax KP's built in flash, as the higher power setting I needed for correct exposure necessitated longer flash recycle times, during which the flash was unavailable. Burst shooting with flash will let me take a sequence of shots while adjusting the point of focus by moving forwards and backwards. My experiments did not incorporate diffusion on the flash, so the power setting or ISO will likely need dialing up.

Altogether, I think this will be a useful addition to my set-up. Bug season is winding down here, so further testing will probably involve chasing our houseplants.

[MarkSturtevant]

I have an "invention" in mind where one or more off-camera flash units are mounted on ones' head. They are adjusted to be in good position when the camera is brought up to look thru the viewfinder. Now this would save weight on the camera, certainly, but it would be better if no one sees you wearing it.

[Thagomizer]

I have an "invention" in mind where one or more off-camera flash units are mounted on ones' head. They are adjusted to be in good position when the camera is brought up to look thru the viewfinder. Now this would save weight on the camera, certainly, but it would be better if no one sees you wearing it.

Wouldn't want to turn your head too quickly, either!

There's potential for extra income by hiring yourself out as a personal micro-tanning support specialist, to stand by construction sites at night to warn people off, or guide planes in at the airport.