Flash settings?

[bags27]

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I received my flash today. It's this

 

ONGNUO YN-24EX Macro Ring Flash Speedlite with 2 Flash Head 4 Adapter Rings for Canon, with MicroFiber Cloth

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[bags27]

And I have no idea how to use it! I messed around (since I haven't used a flash in like 20 yrs) and got reasonable pictures with these settings:

WB: flash

macro mode/ISO 100/F8/at 1/250

Suggestions really, really appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

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Edited May 4, 2018 by bags27

[Leica Guy]

Use it in manual mode and adjust power. I use the Canon ring flash regularly and it works well on manual. You can change aperture to adjust exposure.

 

Check out some of my macro photos on that thread.

Edited May 4, 2018 by Infiniumguy

[gbealnz]

Does it support TTL, and if so is it just the "Canon TTL"?

That would make a huge difference.

Using it manually is more than possible, just needs a bit of trial, and (in my case) lots of error.

Looks fun though.

Gary

[bags27]

Thanks, both. Right: I don't think it supports Leica TTL, which is the problem. So, there's no "secret", but just trial-and-error. That's what I thought, and what I dialed in above is ballpark what I want, before I fine-tune. 

 

It's the Canon knock-off at about 1/3 the price. the one caveat noted by several on Amazon is the incredibly cheap and fragile battery door. And, it sure is. Otherwise, it's pretty good and intuitive. 

 

thanks again.

[Leica Guy]

It definitely does not operate TTL. Manual is pretty easy to get right. Watch your histogram. Aperture priority. Its fun figuring it out. I love photographing flowers using a ring flash.

[bags27]

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It definitely does not operate TTL. Manual is pretty easy to get right. Watch your histogram. Aperture priority. Its fun figuring it out. I love photographing flowers using a ring flash.

Well, you're my inspiration for this!

When you suggest watching the histogram, what precisely do you mean? before or after taking the picture? 

thanks.

[gbealnz]

So, no TTL, not that this surprises me, but does it have an "Auto" setting of any sort, like ye olde flash units of yesteryear, the little window in the front that "sees" the flash and sets the exposure. Rudimentary but it used to be satisfactory, before we got serious about TTL.

Otherwise, as Infin says, manual, and use the histogram or the chimping.

However you do it, keep us in the loop please, I am contemplating similar.

Gary

[Leica Guy]

Well, you're my inspiration for this!

When you suggest watching the histogram, what precisely do you mean? before or after taking the picture?

thanks.

Take practice shots and review to examine the histogram to see that the exposore is not clipping. Ideally you're getting some areas near but not into the right edge.

 

Its very easy to operate on manual. Just try a few shots until you get what you want then take some keepers.

 

Does your ring fit the 49mm threads on the front of the Q. I had to make an adapter to get mine to fit. You can also buy step down rings on B&H. Check out the Macro thread where I discuss.

 

Check out this page and the one following:

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/260179-leica-q-macro-image-thread/page-5

Edited May 5, 2018 by Infiniumguy

[bags27]

Thanks, both. There's no auto that I can find, so I've been setting it at manual, firing at 1/128, as shown above. I think I've ballparked the ratio: at 1/250 shutter speed, it's F8 for ISO 100. Of course I was just messin' indoors. If I shoot outside, I'll raise the shutter speed to ~1/1000, allowing me to open up my aperture and reduce depth of field. But this seems to be ballpark the ratio.

 

Yes, Infiniumguy, I was prepared to reach out to you if I needed to work out something for the attachment, but it was easy: I did buy the step down ring when I bought the flash and it fit fine. I bought this, instead of a ring light, because I felt I could get even closer with 2 flashes from the sides (I have a 90 mm 1:1 macro for my Nikon film camera that I want to use it for also).

 

thanks again to you both!

[Leica Guy]

This is a fun experience. Unless you are at full power, shutter speed will likely affect background exposure and not the main subject because at reduced power the flash is a narrow pulse of light. At 1/128 power I’d guess the pulse width is near 1/10000 of a second or at least in that ball park. That’s how I stop wing movement on hummingbirds. Not shutter speed. I always have to balance power and aperture to get the DOF I want and the correct exposure on the subject. The shutter speed and ISO can be dialed in to make the background very dark or conversely very visible. Hopefully I’m not confusing you.

Edited May 5, 2018 by Infiniumguy

[gbealnz]

So, adding to this, can you set the camera to auto, with a slice of exposure compensation (+ or - as required) which would/should give a natural background exposure.

Then use the flash to illuminate the close up object stopping the movement as you say?

Worth a trial in my case, time to acquire a close up flash methinks.

Gary

[Leica Guy]

So, adding to this, can you set the camera to auto, with a slice of exposure compensation (+ or - as required) which would/should give a natural background exposure.

Then use the flash to illuminate the close up object stopping the movement as you say?

Worth a trial in my case, time to acquire a close up flash methinks.

Gary

That works well for stationary or slow moving subjects. It would not work at all for my hummingbirds. I pretty much want the background dark and the flash provide all light to the birds