Using flash units

marmadukesoddy · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Cambridge

I have read your extremely complicated explanation of how to use flash units, but one simple thing that can make all the difference is to change the white, yellow and blue settings on the flash unit itself. To illuminate from a distance, use white ( though you might need to bounce it to avoid overexposing objects nearer to the camera), for lower illumination use yellow, and for close-up flash (no bouncing required unless the object is light-coloured) use blue. Blue is especially good for flesh tones and also if you want text or images to show up on a screen in a dark room. I don't know if all flash units have these settings, but the Tamron has. It's taken me several years to discover that these settings actually make a difference. You might as well forget all the other stuff - it's all quite hit and miss anyway.

nkg · Posted: Mon 18 Jan, 2010 1:46 pm Subject:

The settings you describe are specific to the flash unit that you own. Some older "autoflash" units from the 1970s have similar colour-coded settings. But no modern flash unit has such settings.

marmadukesoddy · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Cambridge

The flash unit I have isn't all that old - no more than ten years. Wouldn't it be a good idea if modern flash units had these settings? What's the point of digitising everything if it just gets more complicated to use?

nkg · Posted: Tue 19 Jan, 2010 10:25 am Subject:

Welllll... it's not quite that simple, really. Arguably modern flash units are simpler in operation than the old style autoflashes, since they don't need the user to set any colour-coded buttons. They basically just work and fire automatically when the user takes a photo. They're less likely to be a problem for new users, who may have the wrong button setting for a given distance range.
I'd say the potential for complication arises from two different things. First, earlier EOS digital cameras didn't work with flash as well as newer ones. In these cases autoflash actually works fairly well for ordinary situations. Second, newer flash metering systems offer more advanced controls, functions and features for those who want to take advantage of them. For example, you can't use more than one flash unit with autoflash units. You can't meter reliably with autoflash if the flash unit is situated away from the camera. That sort of thing.