Comments on: Using Your Small Strobes for Professional Results: Part One

By: EDKELL

EDKELL — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:34:48 +0000

Hi, I tried this today and was disappointed with my results.

I was bouncing a Nikon SB800 into a white umbrella.
Settings on my flash were ISO 200, Shutter speed 1/250, 50mm zoom at 1/1
Settings on my Sekonic L-358 was ISO 200 with a 1/250 shutter speed

I was getting F 11 at 2 feet with full power could not do 1/8 power becuase of those readings.

Did I have the shutter speed to high?

By: Stephonomon

Stephonomon — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:12:18 +0000

My Canon S3 IS tops out at F8. Should I be setting my aperture in the middle somewhere (4.0) for this exercise?

By: garby

garby — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:33:01 +0000

Hi Wizwow, first of all great site!

Some assistance please if you would with the above test…

i have the same flash unit as well the 430EZ. Using the 2 method without the flash-meter, which F stop do you advise for the test, i attempted the exercise last night but had mixed results because i was unsure which F stop to use ie F11 for instance and which lens with my 350D. The lenses i have are: the kit lens, Ef 50mm F1.8 and the Sigma 55-200 F4-F5.6. Any assistance most appreciated.

Garby.

By: c

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:42:07 +0000

Wonderful post and very useful!

Is there a way you can explain in a bit more details the option 2: no light meter ? A diagram of setup and more details on where and how you used the gray card would be nice.

Unfortunately I’ve got no meeter and would be great if someone would gimme the details for the SB-600 and 800 at zoom 50mm.

Thanks!
C

By: wizwow

wizwow — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:51:04 +0000

Hi Chasm,

the middle knot of the entire rope is f-11, between it and the strobe you will find f22 near the middle there.
See the diagram for full explanation.

Glad you are getting it now. It is good information to have at your fingertips.

cheers

By: Chasm

Chasm — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:43:48 +0000

Excellent tutorial - you presented the “rope method” at the Hfx seminar, but my brain needed a second try with diagrams to really get it Btw - I think there’s a typo in your writeup - “Now let’s put some thought into it. If the middle knot is f11, we can make it f16 …” The middle knot is F22 not F11?

Looking forward to future posts!

By: zebthepilot

zebthepilot — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:27:12 +0000

wow… can’t believe I missed those 10 extra points… but I have several shirts similar to that and one MUCH more obnoxiously bright, so maybe I’m immune.

Great post.

By: Jean

Jean — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:06:18 +0000

Thanks WizWow! Awesome post.
JPL

By: spikey24

spikey24 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:52:17 +0000

Thanks for a brilliant post, I have been struggling with exposure on off camera flashes, and this is just what the doctor ordered

Keep up the great and informative postings !

By: frivologs

frivologs — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:34:17 +0000

Would someone with a light meter who’s completed the exercise with Nikon SB-24 and/or Vivitar 285HV please post knot measurements here (or email them to me)?