Author Topic: Another flash question: I figured it out! (Read 1112 times)

saxophool · « **on:** January 23, 2011, 08:00:49 AM »

I've been taking pictures of the hummingbirds on my porch. They come out nice for the most part but I want to go with a faster shutter speed while also using the flash. I can't get over 1/180 while the flash is on. Any way around this? (E-P1, 14-42 lens, FL-14 flash. Tried A, P, S and Auto camera settings.)
Thanks!

lisandra · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2011, 10:53:42 AM »

The only way around this is to buy a full power flash (also called high speed sync flash). Olympus has two which are really expensive, and metz has a couple which are a bit cheaper. Whichever you choose is gonna look huge on your EPx. If you have a panny body then its not gonna look that huge but big still.

E-M5 Pete · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2011, 11:22:34 AM »

Or you could get the X100 in March/April with a built in leaf shutter.... Although the 35mm FOV may be limiting for birds....

A used Top tier Oly/Metz flash is the only way around this... with a cost though....
The cost is that your flash distance is greatly reduced to about 10 feet... But, look at this way, you can use a 135mm f/2.8 adapted lens that offers a larger f/stop like f/2.8 instead of f/5.6 on a native tele-zoom.. For great OFF backgrounds behind the birds.

voyager · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2011, 03:24:38 PM »

If you don't have the money to pay for a better flash, try using available light. You'll have to raise your ISO level a bit, but just keep the general rule that you need a shutter speed that is at least twice your focal length.

saxophool · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2011, 05:06:56 PM »

The birds are most active early and late and I like the way the flash makes the background almost black, emphasizing the birds. When they're sitting still or hovering, the shots are nice. I'd just like to capture those where they're buzzing through the frame after the sun is down. Sounds like I shouldn't have sold my old FL-36 but you live and learn. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Tom

saxophool · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2011, 05:59:45 PM »

Update. I just set the camera to S which I'm positive I did before but now, the shutter speed goes as high as I want even with the flash on. So, I stalked the hummingbirds for a while and came up with some nice ones in flight at 1/500, ISO 400-500 and f/4.5 flashing, warning for underexposure. They're not going to get in National Geographic but they'll work until I get that FL-50.
Thanks again,
Tom

lisandra · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2011, 08:44:11 PM »

Quote from: saxophool on January 23, 2011, 05:59:45 PM

Update. I just set the camera to S which I'm positive I did before but now, the shutter speed goes as high as I want even with the flash on.

With the PEN?? How?

adash · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2011, 07:33:49 AM »

Great! Share some samples, please!

saxophool · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2011, 07:40:42 PM »

Lisandra,
The flash is still on Auto and the camera mode is on S. I didn't make any other changes that I'm aware of but now the shutter speed goes up, like I said. Over 1/400, you start to get the bottom of the frame blacked out I guess because the flash isn't really in synch with the shutter. But it's enough light for my purposes. I'll put some pics up in a few minutes here.

saxophool · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2011, 07:57:25 PM »

OK, two of the birds are in the Gallery section in the E-P1 folder.

saxophool · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2011, 06:50:38 PM »

Alright, here's what happened: If you don't slide the FL-14 flash on all the way, it can sit at a point where it still fires but isn't "synched." If it's backed out more than about 3-4 millimeters, it won't work at all but at about 1-2 mm from the proper lock-in spot, it will work but have no affect on the shutter speed. And it doesn't matter what mode the camera is in. So, that's how I got those shots. The flash just wasn't connected right. Funny.

Another flash question: I figured it out!