Off-Camera Flash

1. Off-Camera Flash Let’s throw some light on it Bill Webb January 2013 Note: This presentation is available at the club website as a PDF

2. Objectives • Provide a high-level look at wireless flash operation • Remove the mystery and show how easy it is • Get you interested enough to try it* *Fine Print: You might have to read your manual

3. Outline • Wireless flash – basics, advantages, considerations, • Nikon & Canon models with off-camera capability, typical menu settings – follow along • Wireless on other cameras (which ones, not how-to) • Other wireless control solutions • Maybe a demo or 2 • Q&A and one-on-ones • These will be during break

4. Off-Camera Flash Basics • First – get the flash off the camera (Well, duh!) • There has to be a “Master” controlling things – usually the camera pop-up flash • The flashes act as “Slaves” doing what the camera tells them • The camera uses its flash to send signals to the Slaves so they need to “see” the light from the camera • The camera’s flash may or may not add light to the scene • Through-the-lens metering and control (TTL, iTTL, eTTL) work to keep exposure relatively simple

5. Why Go to the Trouble? • Put the light where you want it; where it improves the scene • Balance the light across the scene • Avoid the head-on, harsh light typical of on-camera flash shots • Control the light from where you are – NOT where the flash is • Bottom Line: It allows much more creativity in our images

6. Window of an Abandoned Train Car On-camera Flash

7. Window of an Abandoned Train Car Wireless Flash inside the Car

8. At Oakwood Cemetery

9. At Oakwood Cemetery

10. Nikon Operation No, you non-Nikon users can NOT sleep now.

11. Nikons with CLS(Creative Light System) • Built-in flash cameras – these use the pop-up flash in “Commander” mode to control the remotes • D80 / D90 / D7000 / D200 / D300 / D300s / D600/D700/D800 • CLS compatible cameras – these must use another flash to provide “Commander” functions & control • D40 / D40x / D50 / D60 / D70 / D70s / D3000/D3100 / D5000 /D2-series / D3-series/D4 • CLS Flashes • SB-600 (not a Commander), SB-700, SB-800, SB-900, SB-910 or SU-800 Commander

12. Controlling the FlashCamera Set-up - Nikon It will go something like this: Press MENU. Move up or down to: PENCIL menu. Move right and down to: e “Bracketing/Flash” Move right and down to: e3: “Flash cntrl for built-in flash” Move right and down to: “C Commander Mode”

13. Controlling the FlashCamera Set-up - Nikon Once at this screen Move through the blocks with the left/right controls on the wheel Change values with the up/down controls on the wheel Groups = batches of flashes Channel = Pathway for controlling them ALWAYS click “OK” when leaving the screen

14. Set the Flash • SB-600 • No longer mfd but many in use Read the manual but basically: Turn on the flash Press (combination of) buttons to get to “Mode” Set to “Remote” Select what Channel (1-4) Select what Group (A, B, C) Repeat for other flashes Set different “Group” (if needed) but same “Channel” • SB-700 • The replacement • $327 at Amazon(Nobody said it was cheap.)

15. Canon Operation

16. Canons with wireless • Built-in flash cameras – can control flashes • 7D / 60D / T4i / T3i • Master Flashes • 580 EX II and ST-E2wireless transmitter • Slave Flashes • 430 EX II and 580 EX II can act as slaves. • These flashes can be set to automatically adjust their own metering (ETTL II) or to fire in a ratio of some sort. • Radio Wireless system, introduced with the Speedlite 600EX-RT

17. Controlling the FlashCamera Set-up - Canon On the “Camera 1-dot” screen 1. Select the first [Shooting Menu]. 2. Scroll down to [Flash control]. Press <Set>. 3. Scroll down to [Built-in flash func]. Press <Set>. 4. Scroll down to [Wireless func.] Press <Set>. For position only

18. Set the Canon Flash • 430 EX II • Basic but capable • $254 at Amazon Read the manual but basically: Turn on the flash Press and hold the Zoom/ Flash goes to wireless mode Select Channel (1-4) Select Slave Group (A, B, C)No “C” group on 60D Repeat for other flashes Set different “Group” (if needed) but same “Channel” • 580 EX II • The high end • $590 at Amazon

19. Other cameras with wireless flash control • Sony • Alpha-series α-37, 57,…700, 850, 900 • Use HVL-series flashes • Pentax • K-series, K-r, K-5, … • Use AF360FGZ and AF540FGZ flashes • Olympus • E-system cameras, E-5, E-620? • Use FL36R, FL50R flashes • Panasonic • Lumix GH3 • Requires DMW-FL360L flash

20. Other Solutions No-name Wireless CT-04 Flash Trigger with 4 Receivers; $33.00 Cowboy Studio NPT-04 4 Channel Wireless Hot Shoe Flash Trigger Receiver; $22.45 Be Aware that the cheap ones are NOT TTL so everything related to exposure will have to be set manually PocketWizard 801-130 Plus PocketWizard Flex $$$$ but the best RadioPopper $$$

21. Summary Pros Cons • The capability is free in many cameras • Move around while leaving the light in one place • Provides much more creative control over lighting the subject • TTL works • Control multiple flashes from the camera • The TTL-capable flashes are expensive • Line-of-sight (sort of) • Multiple pre-flashes might spook a subject • On a camera lacking built-in flash, you have to use a separate controller

22. Break TimeQ&A over refreshments

23. Resources • Canon Speedlight Set-up guide • http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/app/pdfs/quickguides/CDLC_EOS-Integrated-Speedlite-Transmitter_QuickGuide.pdf