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12/02/2003 05:36:34 PM · #1 |
I am buying a set of SP System strobe lights. I have used similar lights before with my D100, but only to the extent of messing around for a few minutes at my work.
My question is this. How do you properly meter for external studio flash photography before you actually take the shot? |
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12/02/2003 05:45:00 PM · #2 |
Expensive flash metering device or since you are digital.... snap a picture then manually adjust settings till you find the one you like.
Message edited by author 2003-12-02 17:45:09. |
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12/02/2003 06:48:02 PM · #3 |
| thanks...but with a meter like that, you still have to shoot first and meter the flash output..right? |
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12/02/2003 06:51:08 PM · #4 |
| You have to set off the flashes, in some cases this can be done manually. Even if you did have to take one frame, with the meter you would get the correct exposure which you can then set your camera too. Less attempts in the long run. |
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12/02/2003 07:24:02 PM · #5 |
Actually, the connector fits into the meter, the meter fires the flash, and the reading is in the digital panel. Then you can play with ASO, Shutter speed, and Aperture to decide where you want to start. I use a Sekonic Digilite L-328 for flash. Not too expensive and does a great job.
FWIW |
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12/02/2003 07:44:53 PM · #6 |
An incidental light meter works well in this situation. You place the meter in the scene... fire the strobes... the meter reads the amount of light falling on the subject area. I assume this meter will tell you what shutter speed or aperture to use based on what mode you have the meter set for... I have never used one but I have seen them used. Most professional studio photographers meter this way.
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12/02/2003 09:37:19 PM · #7 |
There are 2 kinds of incident light meters. The most basic measures ambient light like sunlight, tungsten light etc, but cannot measure short duration light pulses. The other, more expensive type, called a flashmeter will measure short duration light, i.e. strobes in addition to ambient light. They look similar, but usually the flashmeter will have a pc terminal for connection to the sync cord.
If you plan to use studio style strobe lighting much at all, a flashmeter is invaluable in gaining control over your lighting.
The more sophisticated flashmeters will read both the ambient and strobe light simultaneously, allowing you to adjust your exposure for combining light types in the scene you are shooting. The less expensive flashmeters force you to take a reading of the strobes and another of the ambient light and then figure it out in your head.
Message edited by author 2003-12-02 21:38:29.
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12/02/2003 10:40:25 PM · #8 |
I use three Elinchrom strobes with my D1x cameras, D100, and medium format Hasselblads. The meter that I use with all of them is the Sekonic 608 with a built-in transmitter (Wizard) and the lights all use the Wizard wireless triggers too. The cameras use the Wizard transmitter module to fire the strobes. So, no snyc cords are lying on the floor.
So, I can activate the strobes via the meter or the camera with this set-up. Nikon also makes a slave for their flash guns and I have used them with the strobes of other flash heads to add dimension to a portrait or to fire off a stand mounted flash into an umbrella. |
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