FinePix F11 Flash Cover with Slave Flash

[bpribadi]

I always love to bounce the flash to the ceiling whenever possible. With compact like F11 it is not that easy as with my Canon G2. So, here is how I do it:
1. Make a flash cover to cover F11 built-in flash.
2. Bought a slave flash that compatible with F11 pre-flash.

My setup:


What I used is a white plastic sheet cut from a plastic folder. Here is how it looks:


A little white 'BluTack' to stick the cover to the F11 body:


Attached to the F11:


The plastic sheet doesn't block all the light, so a little amount of light will pass through to give a nice fill-in effect and a catch light on the eyes. You can use thick paper like 4R photo paper which will blocks more light, but from my experimence letting a small amount of light pass through the cover gives the best result.



So far, at home (2.6 meters ceiling height), with my GN 22 slave flash, the effective ranges are: up to 2 meters for ISO 100, and up to 4 meters for ISO 200. This is just average.

With this setup I can get good result of the bounced flash with F11

[ultrazoom]

bpribadi, that's brilliant.

I'm thinking of a DIY diffuser with your design? May I use it? I wonder if you have a template for it.

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by ultrazoom bpribadi, that's brilliant. I'm thinking of a DIY diffuser with your design? May I use it? I wonder if you have a template for it.

Sure, I posted it for everyone to use if they found usefull Will post the template once I draw it. What you need is just 6cm x 6cm white plastic or thick paper

[glchua]

Another alternative, which I had used long ago for my stolen Canon S40 is to cover the in-camera flash with a piece of developed but unexposed slide film (can get that easily from any shop that processes slide film themselves).

Unexposed slide film, after developing, is almost black. It transmits IR which can trigger slave flashes. If you stick that on the in-camera flash, you'll have minimum output from the flash unit but can still trigger your external slave flash.

That used to be on my cam most of the time. I'll probably do that again once I get my F11

[megaweb]

It would be better to show some samples of bounce flash and direct flash.

Does F11 internal flash has pre-flash?

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by megaweb It would be better to show some samples of bounce flash and direct flash. Does F11 internal flash has pre-flash?

Will do later.... Yes F11 internal has pre-flash. I bought my slave, SunBlitz, from Alan Photo, GN22, SGD 60.-. Compatible with pre-flash.

Originally Posted by ultrazoom ... I wonder if you have a template for it.

Here you go, for those who want to try, here is the template for the flash cover / reflector, what you need is just 6x6 cm white thick paper or plastic sheet:

[ultrazoom]

bpribadi, you've been great.

Thank you very much for the time, effort, and sharing.

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by ultrazoom bpribadi, you've been great. Thank you very much for the time, effort, and sharing.

You're welcome! Would you mind to share how is your slave setup? What slave flash you use? I found my GN22 slave only good for close distance when use for bounce flash.

Looking for digital slave unit like this one : Wein HS Hot Shoe Slave But the price is too expensive . Any idea where I can get digital slave unit like that for a reasonable price (less than SGD 30.-) ?

[photo-file]

you should file for pattern.

[natosan]

How's does the bounce card/ flash cover stick on the F11? Is it stable?

What mode do you usually use with the slave flash? Aperture Priority? or Shutter Priority?

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by natosan How's does the bounce card/ flash cover stick on the F11? Is it stable? What mode do you usually use with the slave flash? Aperture Priority? or Shutter Priority?

Check pic # 3. I use white BluTack, it sticks well and stable because the flash cover is made from light material, so it is very light.

Ussually Aperture with shutter locked at 1/60 or faster. Shutter Priority cannot adjust the flash exposure, only to locked it at certain speed to avoid handshake. Sometime I use SP to capture ambient light, letting the camera automatically set the aperture to maximum.

[glchua]

Originally Posted by bpribadi Looking for digital slave unit like this one : Wein HS Hot Shoe Slave But the price is too expensive . Any idea where I can get digital slave unit like that for a reasonable price (less than SGD 30.-) ?

I bought mine 2 years back from Ruby or Cathay. Less than $20. No brand name. Cathay has a more expensive one with two or three sensors, but can't remember, that was so long ago. The circuit is very simple, shouldn't pay too much for it.

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by glchua I bought mine 2 years back from Ruby or Cathay. Less than $20. No brand name. Cathay has a more expensive one with two or three sensors, but can't remember, that was so long ago. The circuit is very simple, shouldn't pay too much for it.

If you have time do you mind to show us the pic? Does it compatible with pre-flash? Thanks!

[glchua]

Originally Posted by bpribadi If you have time do you mind to show us the pic? Does it compatible with pre-flash? Thanks!

The whole set, flash, S40 and this slave trigger was all stolen 2 years ago. I'll be getting my F11 soon, so most likely will buy another slave trigger.

I don't know if it is compatible with pre-flash on the F11. For S40 (was it S45? Can't remember), the pre-flash, after filtration from my set-up, was too weak to trigger the main flash. I guess for your set-up, it'll also be too weak too.

I'll keep you informed if I can get my hands on on tonight.

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by glchua The whole set, flash, S40 and this slave trigger was all stolen 2 years ago. I'll be getting my F11 soon, so most likely will buy another slave trigger. I don't know if it is compatible with pre-flash on the F11. For S40 (was it S45? Can't remember), the pre-flash, after filtration from my set-up, was too weak to trigger the main flash. I guess for your set-up, it'll also be too weak too. I'll keep you informed if I can get my hands on on tonight.

So far I don't have problem with triggering the slave flash, because I didn't block the built-in flash, but reflects the light up, this is strong enough to trigger the slave. My problem is just, the GN22 slave is a bit too small for bounce flash more than 2 meters with ISO 100. And I have 2 big flash gun, so if I can find the slave adaptor, I can use the flashgun instead of my SunBlitz.

I went to Ruby and Cathay yesterday, they don't have slave adaptor that compatible with pre-flash

[glchua]

Originally Posted by bpribadi So far I don't have problem with triggering the slave flash, because I didn't block the built-in flash, but reflects the light up, this is strong enough to trigger the slave. My problem is just, the GN22 slave is a bit too small for bounce flash more than 2 meters with ISO 100. And I have 2 big flash gun, so if I can find the slave adaptor, I can use the flashgun instead of my SunBlitz. I went to Ruby and Cathay yesterday, they don't have slave adaptor that compatible with pre-flash

Oops, I mean the pre-flash being to weak to cause triggering of main flash. For your set-up, I would think that a normal slave flash would be good enough. The pre-flash might not trigger your external flash, so once the main flash comes in, it would release the external flash.

I've got my F11 (from Bally, not a good experience). Will be heading down to Penisula area again sometime this week to get my trigger and a bracket. Maybe I can pass it to you to try it out.

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by glchua Oops, I mean the pre-flash being to weak to cause triggering of main flash. For your set-up, I would think that a normal slave flash would be good enough. The pre-flash might not trigger your external flash, so once the main flash comes in, it would release the external flash. I've got my F11 (from Bally, not a good experience). Will be heading down to Penisula area again sometime this week to get my trigger and a bracket. Maybe I can pass it to you to try it out.

I tried already, I have the normal hot shoe slave adapter with PC connector. I tried on both the flashgun I have, the pre-flash is strong enough to trigger the slave flash, so when the main flash comes, the slave off because already lighted up by the pre-flash. So all the result are always dark (under exposed).

That's very kind of you to let me try with my flash Maybe we can meet somewhere to test it out one you got the bracket and the slave adaptor

[bpribadi]

Originally Posted by megaweb It would be better to show some samples of bounce flash and direct flash.

Here are the samples. The distance was around 1.5 meter, the bounced flash is underexposed because the slave was placed a bit low, far from the ceiling, ISO 100, and at the tele end the aperture was f/5.0. I also show the result of the under exposed photo after PS.