Manual Off Camera Flash - What Does The Zoom Do?
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It zooms Lee! 
It gives a more concentrated beam of light the same as a torch with a zoomable lens like a maglight.
On camera, it should follow the zoom you are using so if you take a shot at 70mm it should zoom to 70mm so it matches your focal length.
Off camera, on manual is where it becomes fun because you can set it at 105mm while shooting at 70mm so get a more concentrated beam of light.
It gives a more concentrated beam of light the same as a torch with a zoomable lens like a maglight.
On camera, it should follow the zoom you are using so if you take a shot at 70mm it should zoom to 70mm so it matches your focal length.
Off camera, on manual is where it becomes fun because you can set it at 105mm while shooting at 70mm so get a more concentrated beam of light.
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Ooo... so forgive my stoopidity, but at what length will it be the narrowest beam?
I seem to have...
--mm
24mm
28mm
35mm
50mm
79mm
80mm
105mm
105mm Lee.
It works just the same as your lenses. So at 105mm it is a narrower beam that will go further.
Try shooting with the lens fixed at 50mm and then zoom the flash through the settings at a fixed object and you can easily see the effect it has. I used my other half's socks on the washing line lol
It works just the same as your lenses. So at 105mm it is a narrower beam that will go further.
Try shooting with the lens fixed at 50mm and then zoom the flash through the settings at a fixed object and you can easily see the effect it has. I used my other half's socks on the washing line
lol
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My lens is a 50mm... and wow, what a difference the zoom makes. So much wider and softer at 24mm when compared to 105mm.
AliB, do you (and any other pros/semis that might be listening) use a flash meter? Or do you just guess/learn by experience?
Depends Lee, if I'm setting up a portrait then yes I will use a meter so I can get the lighting spot on.
If I'm working too fast to get the meter out I will move the flash back and forward depending on the histogram. Flash power works on the inverse sqare law relationship and that means that moving the flash a couple of feet can have quite an effect on the light hitting the subject. Sometimes that's quicker than having to get the flash back down off a stand and turn it up/down. It's cheating but it works.
Don't forget that the way a flash registers on a pic has a LOT to do with the combination of aperture and shutter speed and often a few adjustments there are as important as what the flash is doing.
It's not a very easy subject and I really need to get hold of Zack Arias' One light vid myself!
If I'm working too fast to get the meter out I will move the flash back and forward depending on the histogram. Flash power works on the inverse sqare law relationship and that means that moving the flash a couple of feet can have quite an effect on the light hitting the subject. Sometimes that's quicker than having to get the flash back down off a stand and turn it up/down. It's cheating but it works.
Don't forget that the way a flash registers on a pic has a LOT to do with the combination of aperture and shutter speed and often a few adjustments there are as important as what the flash is doing.
It's not a very easy subject and I really need to get hold of Zack Arias' One light vid myself!