Flash / Strobe Topics Home made Twinflash

Luke · #1 06-29-2008, 02:42 AM

In this thread I told you about not being able to use 2 flashes because of to much light, even at f22. http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/showthread.php?t=38348

I came up with this solution: on the FL36 dial in -3.
Tape some white paper over the other flash (with slave trigger).
On the camera dial in exposure compensation -3.
Use f22.

Take some test shots and change the settings according to the results.

Here is the setup and some first results.

Luc

payasam · #2 06-29-2008, 08:49 AM

The first two pictures suggest that you are perhaps still putting out too much light. The others are excellent. May I ask which lens you used?

Luke · #3 06-29-2008, 09:03 AM

Thanks for your interest in my experiments.
These shots were taken with the Zuiko 35mm macro.

The following shot was taken with the 40-150 + ex25.
f16 the FL36 at manual and the other flash without paper cover.

I tried some more shots with this combination and apart from one that was totally overexposed they were rather well exposed.

Without a real TTL ring- or twinflash it is trial and error.

Luc

Arend · #4 06-29-2008, 01:31 PM

Luc,

Actually this last one - the fountain pen - looks the best, nice detail in the ink.
The photos on top - excluding the small lamp(?) - look too "flashy" to me.

For macro I use my FL-36 on a flexible arm and have to adjust flashpower frequently to prevent overexposure.
I have been looking at a cheap two flash setup as an alternative to the expensive STF22 twinflash (e.g. two old T-20's).

How do you synchronise your old second flash?

tspore · #5 06-29-2008, 01:47 PM

really cool work. I like it.

Luke · #6 06-29-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arend

How do you synchronise your old second flash?

The second flash is triggered by a "slave flash trigger" which reacts on the light of the first flash.
http://www.foto-rubens.be/content/fo...A=&startrow=13

http://www.amazon.com/Morris-Digital.../dp/B000B75VU6

Luc

aml · #7 06-30-2008, 08:02 PM

I am going to try this with a couple of old vivtar 2800's I bought on ebay. They should be un-powerful enough :-).

Luke · #8 07-01-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aml

I am going to try this with a couple of old vivtar 2800's I bought on ebay. They should be un-powerful enough :-).

I am looking forward to the results.

Luc

TrapperJohn · #9 07-01-2008, 05:49 PM

Don't worry about having to do trial and error. About half the time I'm using the STF-22 for very close objects, I end up going to manual to get the best results.

No fault of an excellent flash unit, just that when you're shooting that close, reflections can be very strange. Some times you have to take over and figure it out yourself.

Hokuto · #10 07-15-2008, 08:35 AM

You know, another idea might be to buy two new cheap low-power flashes and link them togther a la the TF-22. They could be triggered via my Hong Kong radio controller and/or an optical slave. Hmm.

Johannes · #11 07-15-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokuto

You know, another idea might be to buy two new cheap low-power flashes and link them togther a la the TF-22. They could be triggered via my Hong Kong radio controller and/or an optical slave. Hmm.

Hokuto San, remind you that HK wireless trigger sometimes not working well if the transmitter is place close to the receiver (or if the receiver is just in front of the transmitter).

SkyWriter · #12 07-16-2008, 07:30 PM

Luc –

Very good! Quite inspiring. I have similar gear gathering dust; a few more items and I’ll have a similar amalgamation. And that’s a good thing; you’ve already demonstrated that it works – rather well.

On the other hand, someone might want to manufacture/market a new flash bracket designed to mount below the camera body, secured in the middle via the tripod mount. The bracket would be horseshoe shaped, only larger and lighter, designed to hold a main (TTL) strobe unit on one end and a slave strobe on the other end.

Works for me.

-leon

Luke · #13 07-16-2008, 11:35 PM

Leon,

It exists, Manfrotto has something like that:

Of course a DIY project is more fun.

Luc

SkyWriter · #14 07-17-2008, 06:53 PM

Luc -

Thanks! I had no idea that someone had already addressed and marketed what looks like a useful tool. I'll have to check the Manfrotto bracket out.

But you're also right about the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Like I said, I have most of the gear - 2 strobes (FL-20 and Vivitar 2800 - *), one flat bracket and a slave for the second strobe. I just need the second bracket and I should be good to go.

* I also have the Metz 48 AF-1 but that's just way too much juice for shooting macro.

-leon