Metering with flash

[scorpioh]

Just got my af360fgz last week. Total noob in flash photography. I have some questions regarding metering with flash. Which is the most appropriate mode to use for bounce flash - P-TTL, TTL or manual? I think if its direct flash, the metering is quite straight forward but if I were to attach a stofen-omni bounced and a bounce card, how do I adjust the flash exposure values since the flash power would be greatly reduced? Also, the angle of tilt greatly affects the power of the flash. It just gets too complicated for me. ANy help greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Gengh]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Just got my af360fgz last week. Total noob in flash photography. I have some questions regarding metering with flash. Which is the most appropriate mode to use for bounce flash - P-TTL, TTL or manual? I think if its direct flash, the metering is quite straight forward but if I were to attach a stofen-omni bounced and a bounce card, how do I adjust the flash exposure values since the flash power would be greatly reduced? Also, the angle of tilt greatly affects the power of the flash. It just gets too complicated for me. ANy help greatly appreciated. Thanks!

When using P-TTL, by right you don't need to worry about the flash exposure, whether you're bouncing, using a diffuser, or whatever. The idea is that a pre-flash will fire for the camera-flash combo to decide how much flash power to use, with all those modifiers (bounce, diffusers, etc) taken into consideration. It's like auto mode for flash.

By left you might want to take a test shot and correct using flash EV, I find that the P-TTL metering is not always "zhun". Usually a bit underexposed when you have bounce or diffuser.

[scorpioh]

I see. Thanks. I read about this pre-flash thing but I don't see any pre-flash fired.

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Just got my af360fgz last week. Total noob in flash photography. I have some questions regarding metering with flash. Which is the most appropriate mode to use for bounce flash - P-TTL, TTL or manual? I think if its direct flash, the metering is quite straight forward but if I were to attach a stofen-omni bounced and a bounce card, how do I adjust the flash exposure values since the flash power would be greatly reduced? Also, the angle of tilt greatly affects the power of the flash. It just gets too complicated for me. ANy help greatly appreciated. Thanks!

got TTL mode meh ?? PTTL/manual
my oni 2 advice...
1) throw the AF360 away and get the AF540
2) experiment and know the settings...

[scorpioh]

Wah, just buy u ask me throw... I tried both 360 and 540 at the shop. the 540 swivel head feels filmsy to me and i just can't justify twice the cost for the swivel and that 1/3 more power...

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Wah, just buy u ask me throw... I tried both 360 and 540 at the shop. the 540 swivel head feels filmsy to me and i just can't justify twice the cost for the swivel and that 1/3 more power...

thats why i say bite the bullet and buy the AF540 mah...

anyway since u buy the AF360 liao... soon u realise u need the swivel head... sell ur AF360 and buy the AF540 and lose even more money...

The AF360 waste time la... u pay for what u get... no matter how masterful ur skill is, the head cannot swivel means it will limit ur creativity... why settle for something just good enough... if just good enough is fine, then why are we still pursuing so many things to improve our photo quality ?? its a never ending pursuit to be perfect...

my philosophy is to used whatever means or tools to get the best results possible, compromise then the results will also be compromise... used what works and buy whats affordable...simple...

sometimes spending more is unavoidable, main thing is get the right tools that works for you... if it doesn't work, then cheaper also no use...

If u can make the AF360 work for you then good la...
else u just have to urself...

[scorpioh]

But i dun find it limiting as yet lah. Most of the time I bounce off my bounce-card. Even in portrait mode still can bounce from card. Also quite ok, the results. Ha.

[Gengh]

Originally Posted by scorpioh I see. Thanks. I read about this pre-flash thing but I don't see any pre-flash fired.

It's really just a split second difference between the pre-flash and the actual flash, don't think it's noticeable. I still find it incredible that some people actually blink from the pre-flash fast enough to spoil the photos, but it does happen.

Originally Posted by flowerpot thats why i say bite the bullet and buy the AF540 mah... anyway since u buy the AF360 liao... soon u realise u need the swivel head... sell ur AF360 and buy the AF540 and lose even more money... The AF360 waste time la... u pay for what u get... no matter how masterful ur skill is, the head cannot swivel means it will limit ur creativity... why settle for something just good enough... if just good enough is fine, then why are we still pursuing so many things to improve our photo quality ?? its a never ending pursuit to be perfect... my philosophy is to used whatever means or tools to get the best results possible, compromise then the results will also be compromise... used what works and buy whats affordable...simple... sometimes spending more is unavoidable, main thing is get the right tools that works for you... if it doesn't work, then cheaper also no use... If u can make the AF360 work for you then good la... else u just have to urself...

Haha, I agree with flowerpot here, I kept trying to DIY stuff to safe money but still get better results with my flash, but after a while... . That's why I ended up getting a Sigma 530 Super, and now my AF360 becomes my secondary flash. And I think need to get some light stands and umbrellas soon if I really want to get nice results. The swivel is actually very useful, even if I'm not big on shooting portraits or events.