Sunpak 522 and RB67

[coops]

For the subjects in range of the flash, flash + ambient = exposure.

Great. Appreciate it. Makes more sense put that way.

 

[Chan Tran]

So with flash being so fast the shutter speed is less important? Do you use pretty much the same shutter speed and adjust the aperture on the camera to the flash gun? For example my meter requires I put in a shutter speed to give me a flash/ambient reading. Using a 400 speed film I entered 100th sec, fired the flash at the meter and and was given 5.6 at 100th of a second. I would set the camera and flash to 5.6, make sure the iso was correct and thats it?
Guiess I could reduce the flash (using manual) by fractions and see what effect that has.
Thanks

The meter makes you enter a shutter speed because it makes the measurement in that time period. If there is only thei illumination of the very short duration flash then which shutter sped you set doesn't matter. But if there is ambient light the reading will be somewhat different.

 

[markbarendt]

Great. Appreciate it. Makes more sense put that way.

Glad to here it.

This is why I set the camera up completely before setting the flash gun.

As much as possible I want to use the flash just to brighten the subject "enough".

 

[coops]

As much as possible I want to use the flash just to brighten the subject "enough".

I did not want to waste film and cannot spend the money on a Polaroid back and film, so I borrowed a friends Canon 20d. I set up the flash meter, and with flash on full with a shutter speed of 100, made a reading. I think F11 was the aperture given by the meter. I found in pretty much every setup that at full, the flash was just a tad too much. By making a reading and turning the flash down about 25%, the results were really good, providing just enough light.
Then using my dog as a model (works for cheese) shot a roll of 400 Portra and a roll of Astia using the technique listed above. I was driven back in by the mosquitos so only two rolls and will have them back tomorrow, so hopefully they will look good.

 

[c6h6o3]

As much as possible I want to use the flash just to brighten the subject "enough".

Exactly. I would set the meter at double the box speed, in this case 800, take an incident reading with the flash meter, and open the aperture 1/2 stop more than what the meter says for the shutter speed you've selected. This should give you nice even lighting without overexposing.

 

[coops]

Exactly. I would set the meter at double the box speed, in this case 800, take an incident reading with the flash meter, and open the aperture 1/2 stop more than what the meter says for the shutter speed you've selected. This should give you nice even lighting without overexposing.

Interesting that in flash mode the meter offers 90, 100, 200 and 400 as shutter speeds. My lenses are 125, 250 and 500.

 

[John Koehrer]

Does the 508 have a selector for choice of speeds displayed in the setup menu?

 

[chassis]

Regarding shutter speed and flash with an RB67. The RB lenses are leaf shutter, so the shutter is synced at all speeds. I think someone said that already. Therefore you can use any shutter speed for a given shot, with the same aperture (f-stop) provided the flash is on automatic, and set for the proper f-stop and film speed. If you took several shots of the same subject, varying only shutter speed, you would find nearly constant exposure on the flash-illuminated subject, and varying exposure on the background ranging from underexposed for fast shutter speeds and overexposed for slow ones.

I have an RB67 and shot it hand held with a Sunpak 622. The slowest shutter speed I can reasonably shoot without camera movement/blur is about 1/60. Maybe I can manage 1/30 if I have time to compose, catch my breath, etc. But for a wedding, party, whatever, I recommend 1/60 or 1/125 (or is it 1/100 can't remember). Set the flash on automatic and the film speed/aperture you are using (f/5.6 is good) and shoot away.

As with everything in photography, practice will allow you to develop a technique that you and your clients like.