Question about lens settings on an older flash

robert · 05-06-2012, 09:35 PM

I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm?

alohadave · 05-06-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by robert

I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm?

I don't worry too much about it. Unless you need to evenly light a flat wall that fills the entire frame, it's usually not that big of a deal. Besides that, the focal lengths are tuned to prime lens focal lengths, and using a zoom is going to mean that you'd be changing the zoom on the flash when you change the focal length of your lens.

SOldBear · 05-10-2012, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by robert

I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm?

Usually I just leave the flash head at the widest setting, unless when I'm about to run out off power (and even in this case, I'd rather bring up ISO setting and deal with the noise later during post-processing).

But strictly speaking, if you want to be "correct", you can compensate for the narrower FOV of the APS-C sized sensor. You don't have too, because the FOV of the setting on the flash head is actually "wider" than the FOV of the lens with the same focal length.

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-11-2012, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by robert

I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm?

This is a good question, and shows you are thinking about what you are doing.

The focal length setting is used to focus the light to cover the field of view (FOV) of the lens. As a result, switching to digital format, the flash will actually light up more than you need. Not a bad thing, but it uses more power to do this, so it will impact extreme range shots because when it focuses the light the guide number goes up, and also battery life, so if you are shooting a lot it makes sense to adjust these for your format.

robert · 05-11-2012, 07:07 PM

Thank you...that makes sense to me

05-06-2012, 09:35 PM	#1
robert Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 336	Question about lens settings on an older flash I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kx settings with flash	ldmlkn	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	2	02-18-2012 02:53 AM
Kr vs. older flash units	Opahujo	Pentax K-r	6	12-22-2011 11:49 PM
Older lens question	sahara888	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	01-17-2011 12:08 AM
Rookie question about exposure settings	t0mpa	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	8	10-23-2010 10:02 AM
K-x with older lenses - quick question	ptx101	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	4	09-29-2010 06:24 PM

05-06-2012, 09:50 PM	#2
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Originally posted by robert I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm? I don't worry too much about it. Unless you need to evenly light a flat wall that fills the entire frame, it's usually not that big of a deal. Besides that, the focal lengths are tuned to prime lens focal lengths, and using a zoom is going to mean that you'd be changing the zoom on the flash when you change the focal length of your lens.

05-10-2012, 01:37 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by robert I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm? Usually I just leave the flash head at the widest setting, unless when I'm about to run out off power (and even in this case, I'd rather bring up ISO setting and deal with the noise later during post-processing). But strictly speaking, if you want to be "correct", you can compensate for the narrower FOV of the APS-C sized sensor. You don't have too, because the FOV of the setting on the flash head is actually "wider" than the FOV of the lens with the same focal length.

05-11-2012, 05:26 AM	#4
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	Originally posted by robert I never really considered this but but on my old metz 32 mz3, when you set the focal length option do you have to compensate for the camera being digital as opposed to 35 mm? This is a good question, and shows you are thinking about what you are doing. The focal length setting is used to focus the light to cover the field of view (FOV) of the lens. As a result, switching to digital format, the flash will actually light up more than you need. Not a bad thing, but it uses more power to do this, so it will impact extreme range shots because when it focuses the light the guide number goes up, and also battery life, so if you are shooting a lot it makes sense to adjust these for your format.

05-11-2012, 07:07 PM	#5
robert Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 336 Original Poster	Thank you...that makes sense to me