Originally posted by T Evergreen
"The calculator can reduce that retest cycle considerably. " And thats exactly what a flash meter does!
sigh.
Please really think about what a set up would require using several flash units with different guide numbers.
How would you set up the ratios?
Assume your biggest flash will be your main. set that main, and fire it on the meter.
Now guess where to set a fill, for 1/4 ratio, set it, fire that flash on the meter. Is that flash set to 1/4 ratio? No? then change it and reflash the meter. Is it right yet? No? Retest until it is.
Now add a hair light, set it and test it with meter, keep adjusting and testing until it is right.
Now flash the whole setup, on the meter, and set up your camera, take a test shot. chimp.
Then, consider the problem I posed in my original post, are you certain that a meter will answer that correctly?
With the calculator, you set the main light at the distance and power calculated, set the fill light at the calculated distance and power for 3 stops down, set your hair light, test shot, chimp.
Just saved about 6 steps and numerous test flashes.
I get it, that some people have no use for this calculator. However I have seen other people request this, and I was looking for one myself, and no one had made one.
So I made it myself, and I am giving it away for people who might want it.
I am ok, with you not wanting it.
If people can afford to buy a $300 flash meter, then fine, they are welcome to it.
For those who just want a flash GN calculator, I built one.
http://45ink.com/gallery/images/demo/Flash-guide-slider.pdf