Whats the Contrast Controll feature in the 540 for?

Fototim · 06-02-2008, 06:09 PM

I'm trying to educate myself a bit on flash photography. The manual for the 540 describes a Contrast Control feature. How does this work, and what can it do for me?

Fototim · 06-03-2008, 05:39 AM

It seems no one is listening, so I might as well talk to myself here

So far my research on the subject tells me that it is a way to ballanse the output from two or more flashes.

Thats all 'I really know at the moment.

There is a couple of things I beleave. Contrast control is a wireless feeature. Can't be used in a cabled setup. Am I right about that?

I'm also wondeering if it is a P-TTL feature, or can it be used in automode?

One more question. Can I set the on board falsh to a lower output than the off camera flash usig Contrast Control?

I'd be very happy if somebody chimed in and helped me figuring this out. It is a part of a "what flash do I buy" decitons proces.

*Ron Boggs* · 06-03-2008, 07:28 AM

Some of us are listening, just no great answers. What I do know is that Pentax film cameras in the mid-90's offered contrast control which was described in the camera manuals more so than in the flash directions.

I also know that the manual for current digital bodies offers very brief description of contrast control usage.

A quick read of the K10D manual p. 185 and K100D manual p. 166 suggests as you did that you must go wireless on the external flash and can only opt for PTTL.

The memo in the manual clarifies that the external flash provides two units of light while the built-in flash provides one. Basically, external flash output doubles the built-in.

Unless there is some untold story, that seems to be the long and the short of it.

Good luck!

flyer · 06-03-2008, 08:15 AM

Some of us are listening, it's just that we can't be on the computer 24/7. The contrast control is a way to balance the "deepness" of the shadows. If you use only one flash, the shadowsa are going to be very harsh. By adding a second flash with an output of about 40 to 60% of the main flash, you can open up the shadows to get details in dark areas. It makes for more flattering portraits where you can see all the facial features without having deep shadows under the eyes and under the chin and so on... It takes some practice to figure out where to put both flashes. You can start by putting your main flash at about 45deg. to the right or left of the camera and about 2 feet higher. Your secondary flash should be about the same height as the camera, on the opposite side at an angle of 10 to 20 deg. and about the same height as the camera with an output of 50%. Instead of varying the output, youn can back up the secondary flash to get the same results. I hope you'r happy with that explanation. Just don't get your shorts in a knot because it takes a few hours to have an answer to a query.

Fototim · 06-03-2008, 05:19 PM

Thanks Ron and thanks Flyer.
Now I have a good starting point for my own experiments. I've decided to start with one 540 at a flash bracket and the onboard flash, and see what I can do with that setup. Probably I'll will buy another flash later. Perhaps a cheap compact 200, maybe a 360, or maybe a 540. Time will tell.

My comment about talking to myself was written in tongue in cheek mode. I wasn't complaining.