Getting into Flash

LonerMatt

LonerMatt

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Hey guys - looking for a recommendation for staring flash photography.

I really like some photographs I see with (what looks to me like) a hard full frontal flash.

I want to experiment a little with flash over the next few months - but I need some kit.

So far here are my options:
1. Get a hot shoe for my OM1 and get a flash unit. As far as I can tell the problem here is that I'd have to make all the adjustments myself. This is also an advantage, as presumably I'd learn how to get specific looks I want

2. Get a small PnS with a built in flash. I had an XA for awhile but didn't like the lack of control - I never liked the way that the camera metered, and rarely liked the results in uneven light

3. Get a new camera and a flash unit designed to work well together - obviously the more expensive option, but perhas a simpler way to start playing around with flash.

I'd really like to hear some recommendations for flash units or cameras, and if anyone has any suggestions about how to shoot in a way that gets results like these I'd, obviously, be all ears.

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Not sure about your subject matter, but surely a PnS is not going to achieve your objectives? Something along the lines of OCF is surely better?
 
Using flash is a big subject.....and you probably already know outdoor esp fill in flash is hardest and home studio setup is the easiest as once set up to your liking you can take hundreds of shots for different models, sorta like a passport photo m/c..then there is macro flash and even guys at night set their camera on "B" and use a small flash (or torch) to light things up.
Not sure if a mechanical film camera like the OM1 can handle old fashioned pro units (assuming they can be picked up cheap) although you just need to trigger one by camera and the others by slave units..but digi cameras manage modern pro flash units so would probably be ok for most non mechanical film cameras,,,but best are MF cameras that use lens shutters for any speeds, although cameras like the Canon T90 can syn up to 1/250 sec.
 
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shreds said:
Not sure about your subject matter, but surely a PnS is not going to achieve your objectives? Something along the lines of OCF is surely better?
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Subject matter would largely be plants, people and things close to me - say within 2 meters. A PnS might well achieve what I want, but I like being able to choose exposure and things like that.

Exaclibur - I realise flash is a big subject, but I think because I'm after something specific some recommendations might allow me to get started. I'm not the sort of person who learns all there is to learn before making a choice, I prefer to get start and learn as I go.
 
That's significantly more work than I want to do. I just want to wander about and use flash to light up the things I take photos of. If it's more work than that I'm not interested, that's not how I work.

I get the feeling you didn't look at the sample shots - which were clearly made outside - I don't want to pose people or things, or work inside, or use off camera flash.
 
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Olympus made a lot of flash equipment for their OM series. The T20 and T32 where both good, I owned both and used with OM-1 and OM-2s. There is also a T45 and Auto 310. Theses units are all more versatile on the OM2 because of it TTL capability, but will work with an OM-1 via the shoe or with a cable into the shoe socket. There were also a lot of cables and flash brackets. Looking on Ebay they can be had for reasonable money. Why not get an OM flash and experiment? Alternatively a cheap non dedicated manual Yongnuo (that allows you to dial down the power) and again experiment. Also if you get an older film camera flash gun, remember not to use it on a digital camera, the trigger voltages are high and will damage a modern camera, this is the reason old guns can be had for small amounts a they are not compatible with digital kit in most cases.
 
LonerMatt said:
That's significantly more work than I want to do. I just want to wander about and use flash to light up the things I take photos of. If it's more work than that I'm not interested, that's not how I work.

I get the feeling you didn't look at the sample shots - which were clearly made outside - I don't want to pose people or things, or work inside, or use off camera flash.
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Well your shots are VG and don't understand what more you could learn other than using flash in a special way. As mentioned using flash say for fill in, in daylight is more difficult e.g. to stop someone squinting in bright sunlight the model would face the opposite way which would light the hair and then the problem is to get the exposure right for ambient light plus flash h'mm more difficult using slide film...get it wrong and the back ground is in the dark (but then it might be what you want). But even that can be made easy by cameras like the Canon T90 with matching flashgun that will work it all out for you.
 
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A few very cheap but powerful options:-
Metz 45ct-5 or a Metz 60ct-4, both are fantastic flash guns with the advantage of being off camera via a bracket or handheld with the help of a quick release button. These connect via a PC socket to your camera and can be used with film or digital cameras.
 
Martpix said:
A few very cheap but powerful options:-
Metz 45ct-5 or a Metz 60ct-4, both are fantastic flash guns with the advantage of being off camera via a bracket or handheld with the help of a quick release button. These connect via a PC socket to your camera and can be used with film or digital cameras.
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........and the Metz 76 MZ-5 although I wouldn't call it cheap, it does produce nicely off centre or completely off camera lighting.

Almost an obligatory part of wedding kit at one time.
 
shreds said:
........and the Metz 76 MZ-5 although I wouldn't call it cheap, it does produce nicely off centre or completely off camera lighting.

Almost an obligatory part of wedding kit at one time.
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The Vivitar 283 can work on and off camera by taking out the auto senser on the flashgun and plugging in the cable and at the other end of the cable you plug in the auto sensor and that unit then slides onto the hotshoe...I picked up the flashgun for £2 at the bootie and a year before that bought some odd bits and amongst the stuff was the Vivitar cable h'mm at the time I didn't exactly know what it fitted and lucky I kept it.
 
Vivitar 283s & 285s - from the 1980s. :)

A brilliant gun for its time and did sterling service although it is likely to fry modern camera electronics if used on the hotshoe directly. (There are modified guns around that avoid that problem if you can find them).
 
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Trigger volts on my 283 is 10v..I've just measured it. Its made in China with a CE sticker at the bottom
 
Whats the point of getting a new camera,Just obtain a hot shoe connector cable to flash for the the OM1 and buy a old Sunpack or Cobra flash with the adjustments you want and then hold it in your left hand at the position your want when shooting and go for it. EASY.

Should cost you about £25.00 all in.

Good luck.
 
Old flashguns are cheap and available. An auto thryistor type is just as easy to use as a TTL flash (we did this effectively for years). And with a little care Manual flash isn't too difficult (blind guessing is a one time situation, a flash meter or digital camera will mean less ruined shots though)
 
Thanks for the help guys - at the moment I still feel a bit overwhelmed and not really sure what to do. It seems getting a hotshoe then a flash for the OM1 is a bit of a pain (multiple types of hotshoe, etc), but the PC connector means the flash is quite sizeable, a bit bigger than I'd actually want to carry around. Perhaps that's not fair, but to my mind a flash sitting on top is much more manageable than a flash sitting on the side.

Someone asked why get a new camera, well in part because I want to try shooting in a different way and different tools lead to different methods - so I'd rather have, you know, a 50-100 quid camera where the flash sync is really easy for me to grasp (TTL flash metering would be ideal) so I can muck around and see what happens. I'd always prefer to focus on shooting, not gear, so the solutions that work best for me mirror that.

There's a few cameras for sale around that are <100 quid and have the features I'm after (smallish, lighter weight, flash and TTL flash metering) so I'll probably nab one and see how it goes.
 
I would look at the flash sync speed of whatever camera you are considering changing to. For daylight use faster is better. Most OM's, certainly the three I have only sync at 1/60 which isn't good for daylight fill in. It also limits the length of lens you can hand hold unless you have a really steady hand. If you want to stick with Olympus though look at the OM2 SP. Hot shoe built in & TTL flash sync up to 1/60th. The OM2 SP does have a battery drain problem though. You should be able to find one well inside your budget. The battery drain is a pain & the mirror makes a funny noise but those aside it's a nice camera to shoot with IMO.

I would take a look at a Nikon FE2 paired with a SB-15 though. Might be a bit heavier than you want but I don't find it that heavy. It has TTL flash sync at speeds up to 1/250. If you shop around you might be able to get the pair for under £100. Only problem is that Nikkor lenses are not cheap so adding one will go well over your budget.
 
OM4Ti would be my Olympus of choice, but perfect for your needs.
 
1. I'm not attached to Olympus - though I do like how they work
2. I'd consider a non-TI OM4, as they are a lot cheaper (from memory, could be wrong, though)
3. I'll have a look at Nikon

More recommendations please!

I saw a Minolta on ffordes witha flash that was pretty cheap.
 
LonerMatt said:
1. I'm not attached to Olympus - though I do like how they work
2. I'd consider a non-TI OM4, as they are a lot cheaper (from memory, could be wrong, though)
3. I'll have a look at Nikon

More recommendations please!

I saw a Minolta on ffordes witha flash that was pretty cheap.
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Edit: Bad information!
I seem to remember for some reason that the flash sync on my Minolta x700 was a lot higher! But as Brian has pointed out below due to the curtain shutter on this camera the flash sync is restricted to 60th of a second and not really suitable for daylight flash.
Sorry!
 
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LonerMatt said:
1. I'm not attached to Olympus - though I do like how they work
2. I'd consider a non-TI OM4, as they are a lot cheaper (from memory, could be wrong, though)
3. I'll have a look at Nikon

More recommendations please!

I saw a Minolta on ffordes witha flash that was pretty cheap.
Click to expand...

I'd check the model as even the X-700 has only a flash sync speed of 1/60 sec :(

You can always get the ultimate camera cheap but buy from say FFordes with a warranty:- is the T90 (the tank) with matching flashgun 300TL it can do nearly everything with that combo, but it's heavy and quite large. I bought a mint one about 5 years ago IIRC £50-£60 and the flashgun for £14 and even found a spare at the bootie for £4 which was handy as the T90 is so tough that it fell off a table with the flashgun attached and the hotshoe of the flashgun broke and the hotshoe on the camera wasn't damaged..
 
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DNH said:
I would look at the flash sync speed of whatever camera you are considering changing to. For daylight use faster is better. Most OM's, certainly the three I have only sync at 1/60 which isn't good for daylight fill in. It also limits the length of lens you can hand hold unless you have a really steady hand. If you want to stick with Olympus though look at the OM2 SP. Hot shoe built in & TTL flash sync up to 1/60th. The OM2 SP does have a battery drain problem though. You should be able to find one well inside your budget. The battery drain is a pain & the mirror makes a funny noise but those aside it's a nice camera to shoot with IMO.

I would take a look at a Nikon FE2 paired with a SB-15 though. Might be a bit heavier than you want but I don't find it that heavy. It has TTL flash sync at speeds up to 1/250. If you shop around you might be able to get the pair for under £100. Only problem is that Nikkor lenses are not cheap so adding one will go well over your budget.
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..just to add there is always 3rd party lenses and some are very good esp common ones 28mm, 50mm, 135mm...even some 24mm, 90mm and 105s can surprise but these hidden gems are known now and the price has gone up.
 
I'm thinking about either the Nikon mentioned above of the OM4Ti - I like OMs a lot, and it makes sense that if I want to keep using that system to get the most rugged one.

Will keep pondering, no need to choose now.
 
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