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Flash Meters
I will be doing my own tests, but I am about to embark on a campaign to use
up the hundreds of flashbulbs around here, and of course I will do my own tests. I was wondering just how flash meters work. Do they consider the total light for the entire flash-burn, or presume a peak or short exposure of some kind? How well do they work when measuring flash in daylight, or other strong ambient light? Accurate? I can use a Minolta IV (or is it VI?), but don't want to trouble someone if it won't perform properly. |
#2
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Flash Meters
j wrote:
I was wondering just how flash meters work. Do they consider the total light for the entire flash-burn, or presume a peak or short exposure of some kind? The better ones measure the total light hitting it during a selectable short duration (the synch-shutterspeed). That tells them the amount of flash + ambient light present. These better ones also measure the ambient light level alone, so also provide and indication of the ambient light level as well as the flash level. How well do they work when measuring flash in daylight, or other strong ambient light? Accurate? Very well, yes. I can use a Minolta IV (or is it VI?), but don't want to trouble someone if it won't perform properly. Good meters. No problem. |
#3
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Flash Meters
"Q.G. de Bakker" wrote in message
... The better ones measure the total light hitting it during a selectable short duration (the synch-shutterspeed). That tells them the amount of flash + ambient light present. These better ones also measure the ambient light level alone, so also provide and indication of the ambient light level as well as the flash level. Wow! An answer! Thanks! I thought they might work like that. But now, if I may, I have another question: The Minolta has both flash-synch-cord and stand-alone flash measurement methods. Does the cord method assure more accuracy with long-duration flashes? I don't understand why there are two methods. Oh, and this Minolta has only the total reading. I'm pretty sure. Thank you again. |
#4
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Flash Meters
Recently, j posted:
"Q.G. de Bakker" wrote in message ... The better ones measure the total light hitting it during a selectable short duration (the synch-shutterspeed). That tells them the amount of flash + ambient light present. These better ones also measure the ambient light level alone, so also provide and indication of the ambient light level as well as the flash level. Wow! An answer! Thanks! I thought they might work like that. But now, if I may, I have another question: The Minolta has both flash-synch-cord and stand-alone flash measurement methods. Does the cord method assure more accuracy with long-duration flashes? I don't understand why there are two methods. The stand-alone mode uses the light from the flash to trigger the meter. I haven't found it to be any more or less accurate than using a sync chord, however I have only used it in studio settings where the primary lighting was from flash. Oh, and this Minolta has only the total reading. I'm pretty sure. I haven't found this to be a problem... the film also "sees" only the total reading! ;-) Neil |
#5
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Flash Meters
j wrote:
I will be doing my own tests, but I am about to embark on a campaign to use up the hundreds of flashbulbs around here, and of course I will do my own tests. Don't forget to set the camera sync as appropriate for bulbs. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#6
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Flash Meters
"j" wrote in message ... I will be doing my own tests, but I am about to embark on a campaign to use up the hundreds of flashbulbs around here, and of course I will do my own tests. I was wondering just how flash meters work. Do they consider the total light for the entire flash-burn, or presume a peak or short exposure of some kind? How well do they work when measuring flash in daylight, or other strong ambient light? Accurate? I can use a Minolta IV (or is it VI?), but don't want to trouble someone if it won't perform properly. I wouldn't mind having some of those bulbs:-) Unlike strobe bulbs have a rather long duration and are affected by the shutter speed. The use of a meter for flashbulbs would be wasteful because you would have to use two sets of bulbs. All falshbulbs came with data for exposure, usually in the form of charts giving guide numbers. The output depends on the size and type of reflector but this is usually taken into consideration in the charts. The chart will give you a guide number for several film speeds (you can interpolate the others) and for various shutter speeds incuding open flash where the entire out put of the bulb is used. The charts were usually printed on the bulb cartons but are available on the web and in older photography books. I have them for all older type bulbs and will give you data for specific bulbs. I have no means of scanning at the moment or would simply scan and post them. Calculating fill or multiple bulb set-ups is not difficult when you know the exposure for the bulbs alone. Note that the very large Class-S lamps were made to be used in studio floodlight reflectors with open flash. The put out an astonishing amount of light. -- --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA |
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