Lencarta SmartFlash 3 Question

No. Flash power and modelling lamp power each have their own separate control and are set separately.
 
Thanks Gary

I think I asked the question properly but I will try to rephrase it just is case I didn't

Just been watching a video with someone using a ProPhoto D1 head and I noticed that when he turned up the modelling light, the light was giving the same output as when he fired the flash if this makes sense
 
Sorry, but I don't understand that. If you're saying that the modelling lamp is powerful that it contributes as much light as the flash, then that's impossible.
The function of the modelling lamp is to show where the shadows produced by the flash will fall, not to create a meaningful contribution to the exposure.
 
ianbarber said:
Thanks Gary

I think I asked the question properly but I will try to rephrase it just is case I didn't

Just been watching a video with someone using a ProPhoto D1 head and I noticed that when he turned up the modelling light, the light was giving the same output as when he fired the flash if this makes sense
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Yes, that's usually called a 'proportional' modelling lamp setting. A lot of studio heads have it as an option, along with max, min, and off. But I've tested a lot of them and most are not properly proportional, or anything like it TBH. Profoto and Elinchrom are notable exceptions where the proportional mode tracks the relative brightness of the flash output accurately.
 
HoppyUK said:
TBH. Profoto and Elinchrom are notable exceptions where the proportional mode tracks the relative brightness of the flash output accurately.
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Interesting that Elinchrom is fairly accurate because I think these are cheaper to buy than ProPhoto. Do you know if its just the high end models of the Elinchrom which offer this option
 
ianbarber said:
Interesting that Elinchrom is fairly accurate because I think these are cheaper to buy than ProPhoto. Do you know if its just the high end models of the Elinchrom which offer this option
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All Elinchroms, including D-Lites, but with multiple lights you need them all to be the same model.
 
HoppyUK said:
All Elinchroms, including D-Lites, but with multiple lights you need them all to be the same model.
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Yes, this is the limitation with proportional modelling lamps - different models of differing flash power are typically fitted with the same modelling lamps.

Personally, I've never seen the point of having proportional modelling lamps anyway. I either have them on full power, or off.
 
@ianbarber A flash meter is a better option for assessing lighting ratios, or indeed taking a digital shot (modern Polaroid) to assess.

Like @Garry Edwards I wouldn't trust the modelling lamps. And certainly not to the extent of buying new flash heads for that option.
 
ianbarber said:
I am thinking in terms of 5x4 and was thinking along the lines of being able to see the light in proportion to the flash power. Didn't want to end up wasting TRI-X especially at £2.50 a sheet
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In the old days checks were done using Polaroid, you can do the same with digital. Hook it up to a laptop and you can work very fast.

When you're happy with the lighting, switch camera.

And I'd guessed the root of the question
 
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ianbarber said:
Thanks Phil. Do you reckon, what you see on the digital camera will be close to how film renders the scene
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As close as what you see on the ground glass ;)

Closer if you spend some time tweaking a picture style to match the film
 
Echo the above. When I shot 5x4 film, I'd use every conceivable method for assessing lighting and exposure, metering everything to death and using proportional modelling lights as an additional visual setting up guide, before investing in an expensive Polaroid and an expensive sheet of film. These days, as Phil said if I was doing the same I'd set everything up with a DSLR in live view - lighting will be the same, in fact everything should be the same or effectively the same, except depth of field and any camera movements applied.
 
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