E-FLASH: Flat Panel Flash

sammy888 · 6th April 2005

I was at Peninsula to take a look see about getting new flash for use when I shoot products in my office. I came across this few interesting flash system which is like a slide preview light box but it actually works as a flash system with modelling light for the bigger units and a small one that you can mount on your camera's hotshoe to trigger it. They all have slave built-in for off-camera triggering.

Just want to know if anyone here in SIngapore have used much of it and can comment on how good and reliable it is. I was looking to get the small e-flash ( $88) and maybe the larger one...I think that is is digitFlash 300 ( $350). I checkout out some website and they seem to be giving it glowing reviews for its portability and great soft flash work which is great for portrait work and in my case...for table top product shoot. I am asking how reliable and long lasting this system are. From the examples I saw in some web photo magazine that did test shooting scenario to reveal their performance, they were pretty good flash though abit weird placed on a camera's hotshoe with the smallest version call the e-flash. The ones sold at Ruby are not the brand i saw in the web. I guess they might be oem or by the factory that product them for certain major brand owner. Are there other places selling this cheaper? The one I am looking at is the medium size version which is $350 fixed and the larger 1000 watt version is about $450. Heard this technology is new about a year or so. HAve never really been into using flash so never really paid attention to them in the last few years but this one really caught my fancy for its price and hopefully it does prove to be good in quality and durability too.

Any input would be appreciated.

Here's a link to the review I saw for those who does not know what a flat panel flash is all about.

http://www.shutterbug.com/test_reports/0304sb_interfit/

sfhuang · 6th April 2005

Good thing about these flash units is that you do not need to buy soft-boxes for them. Less-than-ideal aspects are the lack of flash power (ok for using at home, but not ok for serious studio work), and there's no dial whatsoever to change the flash output - basically means that you have to shift the panels front and back, and meter them appropriately to get the desired lighting ratios.

I did consider getting these after reading about them in the Practical Photography magazine about a year or so ago (the magazine featured a small article on how to use these flat panels for portraits) but they are expensive. All said, they are pretty cool to own though - if I have spare cash, I might consider getting them.

sammy888 · 7th April 2005

Originally Posted by sfhuang

I did consider getting these after reading about them in the Practical Photography magazine about a year or so ago (the magazine featured a small article on how to use these flat panels for portraits) but they are expensive. All said, they are pretty cool to own though - if I have spare cash, I might consider getting them.

Well the only the smallest version called the e-Flash which you could even place on the top of your camera's hot shoe does not have adjustable setting for the flash exposure. The next one up is the e-300 and that one has setting for you to adjust setting from full power to 1/32. At $350 it is not that pricey...when you consider that most studio flash system cost alot more and are more bulky. This seem alot more logical plus budget wise, a sweet spot entry level for amatuers. I am just abit concern with the durability. Other then that I see no reason why I should not get a medium and small unit for my product shoot. Using my Nikon SB 28 is not ideal as I had to do alot more arrangment to the setup when I shoot. With this, I could set it up alot faster and get a nicer softer look. I am shooting alot of bottle stuff so reflection and such are a problem with light source that is too harsh or direct.

No much reply to my message heh..I guess these digit flat panel flash are not that common puchase here for most clubsnap folks. Well think I will take a gamble and get them and give them a try out.

surfer18 · 8th April 2005

Get a Used Metz 45 or 60 .... sure the metz will serve you better. Also there are more controls & adapter later on if you need to upgrade.

For me to shoot something small, I use 1 metz flash located off-camera & a reflactor on the other side of the flash. May also fire the camera built-in flash. This is enough to cover small items.

But if you like to use F8. Then a full studio flash will serve better.

Also highly depends on your subject. Like for anything which don't have "Life". Does not move, a $20 hologen lamp & camera on tripod will do it's job pretty well. Try it? Don't waste $ first.

sammy888 · 8th April 2005

Originally Posted by surfer18

Get a Used Metz 45 or 60 .... sure the metz will serve you better. Also there are more controls & adapter later on if you need to upgrade.

For me to shoot something small, I use 1 metz flash located off-camera & a reflactor on the other side of the flash. May also fire the camera built-in flash. This is enough to cover small items.

But if you like to use F8. Then a full studio flash will serve better.

Also highly depends on your subject. Like for anything which don't have "Life". Does not move, a $20 hologen lamp & camera on tripod will do it's job pretty well. Try it? Don't waste $ first.

Thanks for your input. I am already a long time shooter of all those ways you mentioned. They are abit harsh and I am just looking for other avenue to soften it abit more. I have used reflector and other ways of bouncing indirect light or flash at the product. With bottles and tiny bottles and jar...it catches reflection and reflected image of my flash or light source too well. I usually have to use Photoshop to clean up the picture. I am just hoping to find a more easier way of doing it fast and dirty.

With what I use now, the setup will take me a long time just to shot a few product. The best way would be to spend a few thousand bucks and get a full studio flash system but ... whoes gonna pay? My $$%& stingy boss already made me upgrade my own PC from a P3 450 to a P4 3.0 out of my own pocket just so I can work on a faster system instead of sitting there waiting for the PC to render my graphic stuff...which reminds me if I resign..I need a lorry to take all my own "sponsored" stuff home. heh..I am puting my foot down lah..good economy or not...just thought this flat panel is worth experimenting with since it is not that pricey. Imagine what a Bowen Flash system would cost me but then again.. I only have like a small 6feet x 6feet area to do my shoot.

F8? I am shooting right now with a minimum of F16! F8 will not do for details and depth and that's with a 60mm Nikkor. I already have solutions but I am just searching for other ways to improve things further. It is just me being a techno weenie as always and trying to push my work skill ahead. Couple of hundreds are fine for experimenting with. If it cost me 1000+...I will stick to my "old school" lighting techniques.

6th April 2005	#1
sammy888 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The East Sider Mountain Biker Posts: 915	E-FLASH: Flat Panel Flash I was at Peninsula to take a look see about getting new flash for use when I shoot products in my office. I came across this few interesting flash system which is like a slide preview light box but it actually works as a flash system with modelling light for the bigger units and a small one that you can mount on your camera's hotshoe to trigger it. They all have slave built-in for off-camera triggering. Just want to know if anyone here in SIngapore have used much of it and can comment on how good and reliable it is. I was looking to get the small e-flash ( $88) and maybe the larger one...I think that is is digitFlash 300 ( $350). I checkout out some website and they seem to be giving it glowing reviews for its portability and great soft flash work which is great for portrait work and in my case...for table top product shoot. I am asking how reliable and long lasting this system are. From the examples I saw in some web photo magazine that did test shooting scenario to reveal their performance, they were pretty good flash though abit weird placed on a camera's hotshoe with the smallest version call the e-flash. The ones sold at Ruby are not the brand i saw in the web. I guess they might be oem or by the factory that product them for certain major brand owner. Are there other places selling this cheaper? The one I am looking at is the medium size version which is $350 fixed and the larger 1000 watt version is about $450. Heard this technology is new about a year or so. HAve never really been into using flash so never really paid attention to them in the last few years but this one really caught my fancy for its price and hopefully it does prove to be good in quality and durability too. Any input would be appreciated. Here's a link to the review I saw for those who does not know what a flat panel flash is all about. http://www.shutterbug.com/test_reports/0304sb_interfit/

6th April 2005	#2
sfhuang Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 972	Good thing about these flash units is that you do not need to buy soft-boxes for them. Less-than-ideal aspects are the lack of flash power (ok for using at home, but not ok for serious studio work), and there's no dial whatsoever to change the flash output - basically means that you have to shift the panels front and back, and meter them appropriately to get the desired lighting ratios. I did consider getting these after reading about them in the Practical Photography magazine about a year or so ago (the magazine featured a small article on how to use these flat panels for portraits) but they are expensive. All said, they are pretty cool to own though - if I have spare cash, I might consider getting them.

8th April 2005	#4
surfer18 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 266	Get a Used Metz 45 or 60 .... sure the metz will serve you better. Also there are more controls & adapter later on if you need to upgrade. For me to shoot something small, I use 1 metz flash located off-camera & a reflactor on the other side of the flash. May also fire the camera built-in flash. This is enough to cover small items. But if you like to use F8. Then a full studio flash will serve better. Also highly depends on your subject. Like for anything which don't have "Life". Does not move, a $20 hologen lamp & camera on tripod will do it's job pretty well. Try it? Don't waste $ first.