Re: WTB: TTL ringlight flash
On Wed, 21 Apr 2004, Tanya Mayer Photography wrote: I am chasing a TTL ringlight flash of some description that I can use with my *istD. Preferably something with a fairly high guide number. Not a high GN, but KEH has a used AF080C at $172. No, you can't have mine either :-) It's been a while since I last saw a used AF140C; BH has it new at $400. HTH, Kostas
Re: WTB: TTL ringlight flash
Tanya spent too much time in the Outback and fried her brain then wrote: I am chasing a TTL ringlight flash of some description that I can use with my *istD. Preferably something with a fairly high guide number. I have a fashion shoot in about 5 weeks that I will be needing one for. There are only two listed on the BH website - one is a Phoenix, and the other a Vivitar. They are very CHEAP (usd$99 and $89 respectively), and I am a bit weary about buying one that is so cheap. I understand that there are Pentax ones out there and if anyone would like to part with theirs, I would love to take it off your hands. If you are international, I would have to pay via Paypal though. I'm not sure that any current market ringlights work with the *stD. The TTL flashes that work by reading the light bouncing off the film are a problem with many digital cameras. I don't know if that is the case with Pentax but I do know that the only one that works properly with the Canon digital cameras in TTL mode is the very high priced Canon unit. If I were you, I'd investigate this issue thoroughly before I bought one for use with a digital body. Most ringlight flashes are made for macro photography and are significantly underpowered for any working distance greater than a few feet. Make sure whatever you buy is packing enough power to do what you want it to do. You may decide that a shoe mounted flash and diffuser will be a better method to get a similar effect. I will have both the Phoenix and AF080C units with me at GFM. You're welcome to try them with the *stD and see if they work for you. I know that doesn't help you with your fashion shoot. Tom Reese
Re: WTB: TTL ringlight flash
From: Tom Reese Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 1:51 AM Subject: Re: WTB: TTL ringlight flash Tanya spent too much time in the Outback and fried her brain then wrote: hehe, naah, you gotta have something to fry in the first place! ;-) If I were you, I'd investigate this issue thoroughly before I bought one for use with a digital body. Can anyone else add to this? Why would a ring light flash work any differently than a normal flash? I mean light is light is light, right? (lol). I am well aware of the TTL problems with the *ist D as you all know, and I am not sure if I read it correctly, but the way Tom explains it, to me, it reads that the ring light may have even worse TTL capabilities than a normal flashgun such as the AF360fgz. I am totally confused by this, can anyone shed some light? Most ringlight flashes are made for macro photography and are significantly underpowered for any working distance greater than a few feet. Make sure whatever you buy is packing enough power to do what you want it to do. You may decide that a shoe mounted flash and diffuser will be a better method to get a similar effect. Nope, tried it! I've never been able to recreate the effect using straight hotshoe mounted flash guns. The type of images that I am referring to all have that tell tale giveaway circular shaped catch lights in the models eyes! I will mainly be shooting teens and kids for this shoot, so distance really isn't that much of an issue. I can really get in as close as I need to. The reason for me hoping for a higher guide number however is in order to be able to overcome shadows from the sun. The shoot will be outside, on the beach, full sun in the middle of the day, so I will need all the power I can get! I will have both the Phoenix and AF080C units with me at GFM. You're welcome to try them with the *stD and see if they work for you. I know that doesn't help you with your fashion shoot. Nope, it won't, but even so, that is a wonderful offer Tom, and I would be most excited to take you up on it! Thanks heaps! tan.
RE: WTB: TTL ringlight flash
-Original Message- From: Tanya Mayer Photography [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Nope, tried it! I've never been able to recreate the effect using straight hotshoe mounted flash guns. The type of images that I am referring to all have that tell tale giveaway circular shaped catch lights in the models eyes! I will mainly be shooting teens and kids for this shoot, so distance really isn't that much of an issue. I can really get in as close as I need to. The ringlights used for fashion are really quite big, like this - http://www.calumetphoto.com/syrinx/ctl?PAGE=Controllerac.ui.pn=cat.CatItemD etailac.item.itemNo=CE2309ac.cat.CatTreeSearch.detail=ytype=SPDSEARCH I looked into getting a ringlight as well, but was told by everyone I asked that a macro ringlight just wouldn't cut it. I still thought I could get away with it by shooting at f/2 or 1.4 (like I often do) and setting iso at 800 or 1600 if necessary, but I shelved the idea for 3 reasons - macro ringlights are quite small in comparison to fashion ringlights and the typical look of a fashion ringlight would be diminished in the same way the diffusion of an umbrella is reduced by distance. Second, I carry enough gear as it is3rd it seemed an awful lot of work and experimentation for a look that many consider dated... However, the idea has been percolating in my head for a while and I may still try and pick up a cheap sunpak or viv off ebay and play with it. tv
Re: WTB: TTL ringlight flash
I know Nick! I've already emailed the seller about it, but thanks for the heads up and also the info! lol. tan. - Original Message - From: Nick Clark [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 9:39 AM Subject: RE: WTB: TTL ringlight flash I've had good results with the Pentax AF-140C ringflash and the *istD for macro work. I don't know how good it would be for portraiture, but I've used it with 50 ISO film at f16 for macro, and it's effective range would be boosted by the higher ISO of the *istD. It uses TTL metering rather than PTTL. I know it's bad form to mention if there's one currently on eBay, so I won't. ;-) (Well it is Tanya!) Nick. -Original Message- From: Tanya Mayer Photography[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 20/04/04 15:56:43 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: WTB: TTL ringlight flash Hi guys, I am chasing a TTL ringlight flash of some description that I can use with my *istD. Preferably something with a fairly high guide number. I have a fashion shoot in about 5 weeks that I will be needing one for. There are only two listed on the BH website - one is a Phoenix, and the other a Vivitar. They are very CHEAP (usd$99 and $89 respectively), and I am a bit weary about buying one that is so cheap. I understand that there are Pentax ones out there and if anyone would like to part with theirs, I would love to take it off your hands. If you are international, I would have to pay via Paypal though. TIA, tan.
Re: WTB: TTL ringlight flash
Tan; Another possibility is to buy a Sunpak 622 super and get the ring light head for it. The standard zoom head also works very well for wedding work GN 60m/200ft at normal lens setting. I don't know what the ring light gn is but it should be in the 100-150 (ft) range I believe. I used a 622 super when I did weddings. My only complaint is that the detents on the head weren't strong enough, but easily solved with a rubber band and a couple popsicle sticks. Maxwell's in Oz carries Sunpak http://www.maxwell.com.au I can't find anything on the gn on the ring light. If you contact them perhaps you can get an answer. Butch Each man had only one genuine vocation - to find the way to himself. Hermann Hesse (Demian)
