>I was talking about flash meters (currently in the market for one) to a >local salesman, and was told that there is not a flash meter made that will >reliably meter flash from a speedlite, because speedlites control the >amount of light by duration of flash as opposed to intensity (like studio >heads). I asked, well what about when the speedlite is in manual mode, >surely we must get accurate readings then? And the salesman replied that >sometimes accurate readings might come about this way, but it is still >unreliable. > >As a newbie to the flash meter I ask, is this true or is this salesman off >base? Will a flash meter help me get a better handle on my flash set up of >550 EX in slave manual mode and optical slave triggered sunpacks? (fired >with the st-e2)
I don't really know, but he might be right, at least in theory. Perhaps the studio probes adjust light level by adjusting light intensity (Watt-seconds ?) and have more or less constant time? On the other hand, I have tested my 550EX (single) in manual mode with all manual power settings (1/1 to 1/128) and halving the power gave one stop less light according to the flash meter although there was 1/10 or 2/10 stop variance between flashes (hand held the flash which might be the reason). Also the jump from 1/1 to 1/2 power gave about 1.5 stop difference for some reason (flash or meter, I suspect the flash). If you use simple slave flashes or corded flashes (not automatic flash nor wireless Canon in any mode) flash meter should work fine. At least it does for me for my family portraits (3 flashes, all in manual). The only problems so far I have found out are when I'm photographing out in a forrest small flying subjects, bats, which are quite dark and small. It seems I need to overexpose about 1-1.5 stops from what the flash meter says. I quess it is the darkness of the subject which causes that but not sure. The flash meter was checked in a studio against another one and was ok. Vesa _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
