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Leica R4 and Vivitar 285 HV


skuemin

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I would love to experiment shooting with a flash during the day time. I'm intending to shoot b/w mostly. A friend of mine lent me her Vivitar 285 HV but there's no cable to connect it to my Leica R4.

 

My question: If I use the flash in a 45 degree position in bright daylight, how much would you change the exposure? Is there some general rule of thumb?

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It sounds like you're using the flash in the "fill" mode as opposed to primary lighting.

 

If that's the case, you probably want the flash to be about -1 to -2 EV less than exposure to get some "pop" in your pictures.

 

My experience has been that in the above scenario, you can use the flash directly (no bounce), and adjust your ASA/ISO setting on your flash to 1-2 EV lower than you're setting on your camera, e.g. camera ASA/ISO 100, flash ASA/ISO 400. If you're shooting backlighted subjects the strong light into the flash sensor will bias you're flash AUTO response. Adjust accordingly. This all assumes that you are using the flash in AUTO and not manual mode.

 

If you really want to use bounce, you'll typically lose 1-2 EV due to the bounce (caveat emptor-don't know what the reflected surface is from the bounce). In that case, start by leaving the flash at the same ASA/ISO setting as the camera.

 

That flash has a "confirmation" light to tell you if the flash produced an acceptable exposure. That can be helpful, but it's still hit and miss.

 

My recommendation is to use direct flash (not bounced) and set the ASA/ISO on the flash to -1 EV (higher ASA/ISO) than you're camera ASA/ISO setting. Set the flash f-stop range AUTO setting to the same f-stop range/setting as the camera.

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setting the asa on the flash doesnt do anything on its output. you have to meter with your r4 the scene and take care of the synchrotime of the shutter, 1/100 i think. if you get i.e. 1/100 and aperture 8 at say 100 asa, you have to set the flash at f:4 - so you get 2 stops lower fill-flash

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You're wrong. Adjusting the ASA on the flash to a different ASA number is a long time flash fill technique that's been used for years. Galen Rowel also used it as well. You get the same effect by adjusting the flash ASA as physically modifying the f-stop...believe me. It works.

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