Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/10

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Alan Harvey "Cuba"/Flash
From: Carl Socolow <csocolow@mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 21:11:18 -0500

Hugh Thompson wrote:
> 
> Tina's question - "Does anybody know what "small flash" he is referring to?"
> 
> Tina if you go to the RealVideo clip at:
> http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue9910/cubaintro.htm
>  you will see him using it - he seems to have the flash at a 45 degree angle
> with one of those square diffusion heads on it - I would also be interested
> in knowing what setting he uses - Hugh Thompson

Tina,

As per Harvey I use the Vivitar 2800. I have a Rosco 1/8 CTO taped over
the lens and I have the WA diffuser taped over that all the time. This
gives an exposure using an ISO 100 film at either f1.4 on the low
setting or 2.8 on the high. As you know, if you can get an ambient
exposure using an f-stop one to two smaller than the auto-thyristor
setting, then you have wonderful fill flash. Oftentimes I'll run it this
way with direct flash because its presence is barely noticed other than
open shadows or a nice catch light in the eyes. Plus you get quicker
recycles than if you bounce it since this really doesn't have the power
to throw much light around. Occassionally I'll rubberband a white
notecard to the flash for a little bounce kick. Most of this is by feel,
working distance, reflective surfaces, the usual flash considerations. 

Using a 400 ISO you get settings of f2.8 and f5.6 with the WA diffuser
in place.

I wish it had the remote sensor like the Vivitar 283 which is a nice way
to use flash with an M camera: Remote sensor in hot shoe and flash
handheld and positioned for effective modeling and/or lighting
direction. It's a nice way to go with a Sto-fen bounce diffuser. Plus
you have more ratio control, especially with the vari-power module, to
dial it in for fill flash.

I've also been using Jon Falk's Underdog flash batteries
(http://www.underdog-battery.com/) lately and really like them because
you can attach them to camera or off-camera flash and not have another
wire dangling in the way.

Hope this helps.

- -- 
Carl Socolow

http://members.tripod.com/SocPhoto/
New email address: csocolow@mindspring.com