Thanks for all the input on SB600 VS SB800. I'm currently looking into prices on the SB800.
Next I need input on camera/ flash setting to use.
If you did not see the previous post...I've been offered the opportunity to shoot candids at some local high school dances.
I will soon be getting the flash (SB800) to go with my D70. I'll probably be using either the 50mm f/1.8 or the 28-70mm f/2.8.
I'm totally new to flash photography as I usually shoot situations that do not allow flash. (Theatrical)
What settings should I start w/ on the camera and on the flash unit.
I'm thinking TTL BL (iTTL) and bouncing the flash off the ceiling to avoid ruinning the "mood" of the dance.
How about ISO? Mode? (I'm thinking Aperature)
What other setting do I need to deal with?
ttl-bl in a dark room will underexpose your main subject reliably. I would use BL mode only in fill flash, outdoor situations when the background is bright. regular ttl should work better.
I would likely leave the camera in manual mode, 1/60 f/5.6 or so, and leave your ISO low. (200 or 400)... In this mode, you can keep the flash power consistent, (by not changing apertures) so that you begin to know what you can bounce off of and what you cant, and you have control of the background level by adjusting the shutter speed up and down... If you want dark black backgrounds, bring your shutter up to 1/500, and assuming the ambient light levels are low, you'll see nothing but what your flash illuminates. If you want ambiance and motion in the background, bring your shutter to 1/10 (just a guess - play around with different shutters) and let the flash itself freeze the subjects while your background gets blurry...
Bouncing is a great idea if you want soft light, but it complicates the relationship between subject and background lighting a bit because your flash lights more up. The same rules apply, but you have to take into consideration what else will get flashed when you shoot...
The most important thing to know, though, is to comp your flash down, sometimes quite considerably, in order to not have hot faces and keep the mood of the dance.... Bouncing will likely muddle mood too a bit if you arent careful, but it depends where you are and what the room is like.
Its fun shooting in these things for me... Play, have fun, and remember to experiment. And bring extra batteries...
IIRC the flash compensation setting on the D70 body [set by pressing flash button, and rotate dial] is independent from the flash compensation setting on the flash itself. That was a surprise to me.
I use the SB-600 with my D70, I bounce the flash whenever possible and use rear synch mode to get as much natural lighting as possible. People use different settings and I guess you have to try them to know what works for you.
Some use A mode and set slowest shutter speed to a speed that they can still hand held. I find this to be ideal if you are using a prime, with zoom, I prefer M mode and sometimes S mode and shooting wide open.
Its funny, I never use the body flash comp... when I talk about comping the flash down, I always use the flash itself... its easier to reach, I guess...
Lots of different ways to go - you already got some good advise/ideas. I use D70. I typically use a Photoflex 12X16 softbox on flash bracket and attach the diffuser that came with the 800. I use a 17-55 DX at F2.8 (gives you some speed but the a little more depth of field than a non DX 2.8) and I remove one of the legs of my tripod so it operates as a bipod (I can then get much slower shutter speeds to bring background in if I want). I then set camera on apature priority and set the lowest speed I can manage with that setup at 55mm (typically 1/8 but higher if there is some motion like in your dance) like the one reply said. I do then use balanced fill setting but dial up the flash compensation to avoid under exposure. I do loose some shots, but for me it seems the best way to maintain mood.
Some of the settings I have found on the net that generally works for me.
D70 with SB800
Indoors
ISO 400 (Too much noise for me if I go beyond 400)
Manual Mode(f8 or 5.6 at 1/60, 80 or 125)
WB = Flash
Spot Meter (Changes your TTL BL settings automatically to TTL)
Flash(change your compensation depending on your preference)
Practice a lot before the event. I hope this is somewhat useful.
akreager wrote:
Lots of different ways to go - you already got some good advise/ideas. I use D70. I typically use a Photoflex 12X16 softbox on flash bracket and attach the diffuser that came with the 800. I use a 17-55 DX at F2.8 (gives you some speed but the a little more depth of field than a non DX 2.8) and I remove one of the legs of my tripod so it operates as a bipod (I can then get much slower shutter speeds to bring background in if I want). I then set camera on apature priority and set the lowest speed I can manage with that setup at 55mm (typically 1/8 but higher if there is some motion like in your dance) like the one reply said. I do then use balanced fill setting but dial up the flash compensation to avoid under exposure. I do loose some shots, but for me it seems the best way to maintain mood....Show more →
The photoflex xsmall softbox is awesome, and totally the easiest way to get really nice light...not quite as nice as a good bounce though... I am kind of assuming that the original poster wasnt going to go too crazy with equipment, etc, but a bracket and small softbox would really help in general... A bracket at minimum will help get rid of red eye..
schifferphotog wrote:
get NIKON"S new DVD called the SPEED OF LIGHT with photographer Joe McNally
you can byy this in Nikon's site
www.nikonusa.com
just click on Nikon Mall It is worth it
This DVD is alright, but it fails to give the specifics of what flash settings to use in different situations. McNally presents different situations and flash setups he has used, but it doesn't address the specific settings used and why they were used. This DVD left me wanting more.
Thanks for all the info. It's a bit over whelming at the moment. But I'll get it sorted out.
As for a bracket, any brand and or type you recommend. I've heard of flash flip and camera flip models and think a camera flip would be best....but I have no idea what to look for as far as brand, cost etc...
As far as playing around before hand...maybe I can dim the lights and have my kids jump around a bit.
My biggest fear is that I will not have the shutter fast enough to stop the motion of the kids, or too fast and get a black pic. But it does not seem possible to get a black pic using the SB800 in either TTL or iTTL mode.
the beauty of using flash in dark rooms is that you really have to try hard to have too slow of a shutter...
1/30 I use commonly with no issues at all because the flash duration is short, so the shutter speed becomes relatively irrelevant... You can slow the shutter way down, get sharp pics of the subject and have a warmer brighter background than what might otherwise be black...
definitely play with the kids!
I use a custom bracket camera flip bracket... they are great, in my opinion, but they really end up running about $250 by the time you have all the plates, etc. I think they are too expensive, but I havent tried a flash slip bracket, so I cant compare the usability...
I hope this is somewhat useful.