Which flash for K1?

Big Dawg · 02-26-2016, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by mcgregni

Was that taken with the AF-540FGZII ... ? Nice portrait, I like the side lighting soft contrast on the face. Glad to have helped and I'm sure you are going to enjoy working with the new Pentax flash, which has a really nice design and interface and is compact for it's power....oh, and I guess type you're looking forward to the K1 as well.

K10D Kit lens no flash. Lots of PP. Would have been easier with a flash. My Granddaughter Regan. I won the monthly here with it. Thanks again for your advice. I'm looking forward for sure for the FF and the flash. Lots of play time coming.

LensBeginner · 02-26-2016, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by Big Dawg

K10D Kit lens no flash. Lots of PP. Would have been easier with a flash. My Granddaughter Regan. I won the monthly here with it. Thanks again for your advice. I'm looking forward for sure for the FF and the flash. Lots of play time coming.

I don't know... I often think that way, that it's easier with flash, then I try it and it isn't.
The beauty of natural light is that it can be very soft and diffused, and it's difficult to make a flash look like that...
You need something to bounce it on, or to diffuse its light, otherwise it's definitely worse than the light of the sun, which can be really fantastic, as your awesome picture no doubt proves

**clackers** · 02-26-2016, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

You need something to bounce it on, or to diffuse its light,

But you need to do all that to the sun, too, to achieve soft light.

LensBeginner · 02-27-2016, 01:53 AM

Originally posted by clackers

But you need to do all that to the sun, too, to achieve soft light.

sometimes clouds are prpvided free of charge!

**clackers** · 02-27-2016, 02:28 AM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

sometimes clouds are prpvided free of charge!

Agreed, mate, but there are times when they simply don't turn up when I ask, so we need to have a plan B. ☺

You can even put a big softbox very close to your model then remove it in Photoshop if you take a second shot without it as the clean reference.

LensBeginner · 02-27-2016, 04:12 AM

Originally posted by clackers

Agreed, mate, but there are times when they simply don't turn up when I ask, so we need to have a plan B. ☺

You can even put a big softbox very close to your model then remove it in Photoshop if you take a second shot without it as the clean reference.

Agreed, what I was trying to say is that using flash is difficult, and sometimes a good natural light source (WHEN available...) works more effectively and with less hassle.
Many times I've used flash, then taken an available light picture and discarded the flash pictures altogether... sometimes they are better, but sometimes they aren't.
I'm not particularly skilled in that field, but all the same I'd say that it's a difficult art to master.

mcgregni · 02-27-2016, 04:36 AM

Well I was impressed with the nice lighting on the Big Dawg's mono portrait .... I mean, it was so good that I was fooled and thought it was flash !

**clackers** · 02-27-2016, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

I'm not particularly skilled in that field, but all the same I'd say that it's a difficult art to master.

Oh, sure. You couldn't be a professional portrait or fashion photographer these days if you hadn't.

Look at Leibovitz's or Seligar's typical setups!

LensBeginner · 02-27-2016, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by clackers

Oh, sure. You couldn't be a professional portrait or fashion photographer these days if you hadn't.

Look at Leibovitz's or Seligar's typical setups!

That truly is art...
But it's far more complicated than buying a flash, mounting it on a camera and firing happily.
I'm starting now to venture in the land of dual (manual) flash, and it's fascinating.

**clackers** · 02-27-2016, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

That truly is art...
But it's far more complicated than buying a flash, mounting it on a camera and firing happily.
I'm starting now to venture in the land of dual (manual) flash, and it's fascinating.

Yeah, welcome to the world of ratios! 😀

LensBeginner · 02-27-2016, 12:48 PM

Originally posted by clackers

Yeah, welcome to the world of ratios! ��

It's a mess... 1/128 and 1/64 (I only use manual, so no TTL) is a 1:2 ratio IF distances are equal (light intensity should be inversely proportional with the square of distance), but what is one source is diffused more? or zoomed out wider?

BrianR · 02-27-2016, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

It's a mess... 1/128 and 1/64 is a 1:2 ratio IF distances are equal, but what is one source is diffused more? or zoomed out wider?

Flash meter for the win!

LensBeginner · 02-27-2016, 02:16 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BrianR

Flash meter for the win!

Oh noes! Do you mean there's yet another piece of gear I need?

**clackers** · 02-27-2016, 02:52 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BrianR

Flash meter for the win!

Yep, I've a bottom-of-the-range Sekonic that does everything I'll ever want.

Not sure that even Leibovitz or Seligor would actually need anything it doesn't do. ☺

BrianR · 02-27-2016, 03:07 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

Oh noes! Do you mean there's yet another piece of gear I need?

Need - no. Want - maybe! It can make setting ratios much easier, and help with consistency if you want to match a lighting setup you've used previously.

Originally posted by clackers

Yep, I've a bottom-of-the-range Sekonic that does everything I'll ever want.

Not sure that even Leibovitz or Seligor would actually need anything it doesn't do. ☺

Their version might come with an assistant to carry it around

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02-26-2016, 01:15 PM	#16
Big Dawg Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Thach, Alabama Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 169 Original Poster	Originally posted by mcgregni Was that taken with the AF-540FGZII ... ? Nice portrait, I like the side lighting soft contrast on the face. Glad to have helped and I'm sure you are going to enjoy working with the new Pentax flash, which has a really nice design and interface and is compact for it's power....oh, and I guess type you're looking forward to the K1 as well. K10D Kit lens no flash. Lots of PP. Would have been easier with a flash. My Granddaughter Regan. I won the monthly here with it. Thanks again for your advice. I'm looking forward for sure for the FF and the flash. Lots of play time coming.

02-26-2016, 03:16 PM	#17
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by Big Dawg K10D Kit lens no flash. Lots of PP. Would have been easier with a flash. My Granddaughter Regan. I won the monthly here with it. Thanks again for your advice. I'm looking forward for sure for the FF and the flash. Lots of play time coming. I don't know... I often think that way, that it's easier with flash, then I try it and it isn't. The beauty of natural light is that it can be very soft and diffused, and it's difficult to make a flash look like that... You need something to bounce it on, or to diffuse its light, otherwise it's definitely worse than the light of the sun, which can be really fantastic, as your awesome picture no doubt proves

02-26-2016, 04:09 PM	#18
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by LensBeginner You need something to bounce it on, or to diffuse its light, But you need to do all that to the sun, too, to achieve soft light.

02-27-2016, 01:53 AM	#19
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by clackers But you need to do all that to the sun, too, to achieve soft light. sometimes clouds are prpvided free of charge!

02-27-2016, 02:28 AM	#20
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by LensBeginner sometimes clouds are prpvided free of charge! Agreed, mate, but there are times when they simply don't turn up when I ask, so we need to have a plan B. ☺ You can even put a big softbox very close to your model then remove it in Photoshop if you take a second shot without it as the clean reference.

02-27-2016, 04:12 AM	#21
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by clackers Agreed, mate, but there are times when they simply don't turn up when I ask, so we need to have a plan B. ☺ You can even put a big softbox very close to your model then remove it in Photoshop if you take a second shot without it as the clean reference. Agreed, what I was trying to say is that using flash is difficult, and sometimes a good natural light source (WHEN available...) works more effectively and with less hassle. Many times I've used flash, then taken an available light picture and discarded the flash pictures altogether... sometimes they are better, but sometimes they aren't. I'm not particularly skilled in that field, but all the same I'd say that it's a difficult art to master.

02-27-2016, 04:36 AM	#22
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	Well I was impressed with the nice lighting on the Big Dawg's mono portrait .... I mean, it was so good that I was fooled and thought it was flash !

02-27-2016, 05:24 AM	#23
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by LensBeginner I'm not particularly skilled in that field, but all the same I'd say that it's a difficult art to master. Oh, sure. You couldn't be a professional portrait or fashion photographer these days if you hadn't. Look at Leibovitz's or Seligar's typical setups!

02-27-2016, 08:06 AM	#24
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by clackers Oh, sure. You couldn't be a professional portrait or fashion photographer these days if you hadn't. Look at Leibovitz's or Seligar's typical setups! That truly is art... But it's far more complicated than buying a flash, mounting it on a camera and firing happily. I'm starting now to venture in the land of dual (manual) flash, and it's fascinating.

02-27-2016, 12:14 PM	#25
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by LensBeginner That truly is art... But it's far more complicated than buying a flash, mounting it on a camera and firing happily. I'm starting now to venture in the land of dual (manual) flash, and it's fascinating. Yeah, welcome to the world of ratios! 😀

02-27-2016, 12:48 PM	#26
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by clackers Yeah, welcome to the world of ratios! �� It's a mess... 1/128 and 1/64 (I only use manual, so no TTL) is a 1:2 ratio IF distances are equal (light intensity should be inversely proportional with the square of distance), but what is one source is diffused more? or zoomed out wider?

02-27-2016, 12:50 PM	#27
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by LensBeginner It's a mess... 1/128 and 1/64 is a 1:2 ratio IF distances are equal, but what is one source is diffused more? or zoomed out wider? Flash meter for the win!

02-27-2016, 02:16 PM - 1 Like	#28
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by BrianR Flash meter for the win! Oh noes! Do you mean there's yet another piece of gear I need?

02-27-2016, 02:52 PM - 1 Like	#29
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by BrianR Flash meter for the win! Yep, I've a bottom-of-the-range Sekonic that does everything I'll ever want. Not sure that even Leibovitz or Seligor would actually need anything it doesn't do. ☺

02-27-2016, 03:07 PM	#30
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by LensBeginner Oh noes! Do you mean there's yet another piece of gear I need? Need - no. Want - maybe! It can make setting ratios much easier, and help with consistency if you want to match a lighting setup you've used previously. Originally posted by clackers Yep, I've a bottom-of-the-range Sekonic that does everything I'll ever want. Not sure that even Leibovitz or Seligor would actually need anything it doesn't do. ☺ Their version might come with an assistant to carry it around