[Leica] Re: use of ND filters

["Eric" <ericm@pobox.com>]

Dan...

>So are you saying that one _could_ effectively use fill flash even with a
>synch of 1/50 sec. in bright daylight provided one uses ND filters and a
>much more powerful flash than an SF-20 (say a Metz whatever)?

Just need the powerful flash unless you want to use a wider aperture to
limit DOF.

Use Mark's example of shooting 1/50th @ f8 from 10 ft away.  If you want to
shoot at 15 feet away, you need a more powerful flash.  An ND filter won't
help here.  Slap on a 1-stop ND filter and you can now shoot 1/50th @ f5.6.
Except for the purposes of the flash, you're letting in as much light as at
f8.  The ND negates using the larger aperture.  If the Leica had a faster
sync speed, you could shoot at 1/250th @ f4 and be 20 ft away.

Or, just pull out a reflector and ditch the twinkie light when you're
outside in sunlight.  Now, you can shoot 1/1000th at f2 and still get rid of
those unsightly shadows!  Or slap a 2-stop ND on your Noctilux, and shoot
away under the blazing noon sun.  :)


Eric