RobertP
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I bought one of these ridculously high priced pieces of plastic when I was getting my macro flash setup together - and I think it helped with the macro shots I have tried so far.
Since these are primarily sold for softening the light in general flash photography I took it with me last night to a party. It was my inlaws joint 40th birthday bash and i had been asked to circulate and get pictures.
I was driving so had only orange juice and the whole evening to play with flash. Never having used the Sto-Fen before I tried a few test shots in the hall before many guests had arrived. I expected the ETTL2 to mean the flash would just punch harder inside its plastic hat to give the same exposure. The pictures were under exposed
My 20D always under exposes with flash and I always have the flash set to +2/3. With the Sto-Fen I set to +1 and they were still under. Not having anything other than the back of the camera histogram and preview I played safe and did not push it further (but I should have).
Also tested the range and I could not light 10m away at f8 with the diff on - though I now think that could be for other reasons...more below.
Probably obvious to someone more used to flash work (I'm still learning) but small things in the foreground reflecting light really throw the metering. There were helium balloons with 1/4 inch white ribbons anchored to all the tables. Having one ribbon in the shot was enough to reflect the flash back and darken the shot. Things got better once I realised that
Reviewing the shots they are all underexposed by about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 stops - all recoverable. The diffuse light is definitely more flattering - so it is probably worth it just for not having to delete shots of ladies that say how horrible that picture of them is
I had fresh batteries in the flash and another set in my bag but did not expect to need them. The flash lasted 200 shots then the batteries faded. I replaced them and the ones I took out were warm. Based on previous flash use without the diffuser i would have expected the batteries to see the night out and still have more. The second set lasted a similar time but as I had no more batteries I took the Sto-Fen off towards the end. What a difference! Pictures were well exposed and the flash was ready again in 1 second instead of 5 (batteries were low).
So an interesting bit of learning. Still don't understand the exposure thing with the diffuser but I'm getting more confident with the flash now. Conclusion I suppose is the diffuser is worth having but it sure does suck power out of your flash!
Suppose I'd better include an example after all that waffle
Don't know who he is but it shows the exposure and the softer light.
As shot
And with +2 in RSE (OK maybe a touch too much but people like bright pictures )
This is where someone tells me where I went wrong....
Since these are primarily sold for softening the light in general flash photography I took it with me last night to a party. It was my inlaws joint 40th birthday bash and i had been asked to circulate and get pictures.
I was driving so had only orange juice and the whole evening to play with flash. Never having used the Sto-Fen before I tried a few test shots in the hall before many guests had arrived. I expected the ETTL2 to mean the flash would just punch harder inside its plastic hat to give the same exposure. The pictures were under exposed
My 20D always under exposes with flash and I always have the flash set to +2/3. With the Sto-Fen I set to +1 and they were still under. Not having anything other than the back of the camera histogram and preview I played safe and did not push it further (but I should have).
Also tested the range and I could not light 10m away at f8 with the diff on - though I now think that could be for other reasons...more below.
Probably obvious to someone more used to flash work (I'm still learning) but small things in the foreground reflecting light really throw the metering. There were helium balloons with 1/4 inch white ribbons anchored to all the tables. Having one ribbon in the shot was enough to reflect the flash back and darken the shot. Things got better once I realised that
Reviewing the shots they are all underexposed by about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 stops - all recoverable. The diffuse light is definitely more flattering - so it is probably worth it just for not having to delete shots of ladies that say how horrible that picture of them is
I had fresh batteries in the flash and another set in my bag but did not expect to need them. The flash lasted 200 shots then the batteries faded. I replaced them and the ones I took out were warm. Based on previous flash use without the diffuser i would have expected the batteries to see the night out and still have more. The second set lasted a similar time but as I had no more batteries I took the Sto-Fen off towards the end. What a difference! Pictures were well exposed and the flash was ready again in 1 second instead of 5 (batteries were low).
So an interesting bit of learning. Still don't understand the exposure thing with the diffuser but I'm getting more confident with the flash now. Conclusion I suppose is the diffuser is worth having but it sure does suck power out of your flash!
Suppose I'd better include an example after all that waffle
Don't know who he is but it shows the exposure and the softer light.
As shot
And with +2 in RSE (OK maybe a touch too much but people like bright pictures )
This is where someone tells me where I went wrong....