Re: Flash Coverage - was Camera size and lens size.
Paul Ewins wrote: > If I > used a 105mm lens with one of the cheap flashes with a fixed 35mm > coverage then most of the power of the flash would be used > illuminating things outside the actual photo! Which might not be that wrong. When zooming the flash one gaines a longer reach fot illumination - that's usually a very good thing. But when you take image indoors, usually there is enough power at the wide flash coverage to illuminate the subject and additionally the light that goes outside of the frame bounces of walls, ceiling etc. and helps to light things in a bit less harsh way. That's mine 0,02PLN to confuse things a bit :-) Maciej
Re: Flash Coverage - was Camera size and lens size.
Thanks Paul, that info definitely widens my knowledge base and gives me a clearer idea of what I am looking for in a flash. Thanks. Charlton If I had wanted to put up with "high maintenance" I would have married a primadonna with a Harley. www.geocities.com/siarlbychan From: "Paul Ewins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Flash Coverage - was Camera size and lens size. Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 16:47:42 -0700 > What does it mean to "cover" a 28mm lens? It means that the output from the flash is spread wide enough to cover the angle of view of a 28mm lens. It will also cover lenses with a narrower angle of view, i.e. 35mm, 50mm etc. Most cheap flashes have a fixed area that they cover, typically equivalent to a 35mm (focal length that is) lens. More expensive ones either have a "zoom head" with a lens that can be moved in or out to match the focal length of the lens you are using, or have clip on lenses that spread the light (for wide angle) or concentrate it (for telephoto lenses). My Pentax AF400FTZ takes both approaches, with a zoom head for 28mm - 105mm and an add-on lens for 24mm. This ensures that you have the maximum amount of light available regardless of focal length. If I used a 105mm lens with one of the cheap flashes with a fixed 35mm coverage then most of the power of the flash would be used illuminating things outside the actual photo! BTW, I think the AF400FTZ was introduced around the time of the SF series cameras, so that probably is the best choice for you unless you plan to upgrade to an *ist-D or an MZ-S in the near future. Hope that helps, Paul Ewins Melbourne, Australia _ Get 10MB of e-mail storage! Sign up for Hotmail Extra Storage. http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es
Flash Coverage - was Camera size and lens size.
> What does it mean to "cover" a 28mm lens? It means that the output from the flash is spread wide enough to cover the angle of view of a 28mm lens. It will also cover lenses with a narrower angle of view, i.e. 35mm, 50mm etc. Most cheap flashes have a fixed area that they cover, typically equivalent to a 35mm (focal length that is) lens. More expensive ones either have a "zoom head" with a lens that can be moved in or out to match the focal length of the lens you are using, or have clip on lenses that spread the light (for wide angle) or concentrate it (for telephoto lenses). My Pentax AF400FTZ takes both approaches, with a zoom head for 28mm - 105mm and an add-on lens for 24mm. This ensures that you have the maximum amount of light available regardless of focal length. If I used a 105mm lens with one of the cheap flashes with a fixed 35mm coverage then most of the power of the flash would be used illuminating things outside the actual photo! BTW, I think the AF400FTZ was introduced around the time of the SF series cameras, so that probably is the best choice for you unless you plan to upgrade to an *ist-D or an MZ-S in the near future. Hope that helps, Paul Ewins Melbourne, Australia
