Jack, the blip of light from a 540 at 1/64th power should easily freeze hummer wings, But I suspect you had enough ambient light to compete with your flash. You need to cut out the ambient so the flash is the sole source of illumination if you want to use the flash to freeze action.
Try shooting the same scene both with and without the flash added to see the effect. If you have the flash set up correctly the scene without the flash should be black or just about. Also, the flash duration (t.1 time) is really short even at 1/2 or 1/4 power on a 540 flash. I'd try shooting the birds with the flash at about 1/4 power and with the head zoomed to the narrowest beam. Then set the shutter for 1/180th sec (use X-sync), stop down the aperture, and even attach a neutral density filter if the exposure at the bird is still too high. This should eliminate the ambient light pretty nicely. On Tue, Aug 2, 2016 at 2:08 PM, Jack Davis <jdavi...@comcast.net> wrote: > > I have a "Better Beamer" but hesitate to use it from 7' ;-) > Sides, I have PLENTY of light, especially since it appears the 1/64 flash > will not freeze the Hummer wings and I'll be using shutter speed > instead. > > J > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ken Waller" <kwal...@peoplepc.com> > To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <pdml@pdml.net> > Sent: Monday, August 1, 2016 5:13:39 PM > Subject: Re: Hummer Freezing(?) > > You gotta start somewhere Jack. > > Moving them out from the structure on top of the feeder has got to help the > lighting situation. > > A 'Better Beamer' is a relatively cheap fresnel lens that will help project > the light from your flash. > > Kenneth Waller > http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jack Davis" <jdavi...@comcast.net> > Subject: Hummer Freezing(?) > > >> >> >> My wife made the decision (of course) to hang a couple Hummingbird >> feeders. >> I've been dinkin' around attempting to freeze them with an AF540-FGZ on >> the K-3. >> I've chosen to use "M" flash setting at 1/64 duration. Not doing it!! >> Said setting does, however, fully light a scene 'prox 25' across the >> family room..?? >> 1/1=1/1200. >> Tried PTTL at minus a couple stops duration. Background too dark and image >> soft. I read it >> can do 1/20000 in the right light. Probably shooting into a mirror >> close-up.;) >> >> Any one? >> >> J >> >> http://photolightimages.com/aspupload/detail.asp?ID=1080 >> >> http://photolightimages.com/aspupload/detail.asp?ID=1081 >> >> http://photolightimages.com/aspupload/detail.asp?ID=1082 > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
