At 19:30 11/26/02, Richard F. Man asked wrote:
Does the F280 work w/ NiMh batteries? How about the T-20?
Do people like the T20? I want a small flash that doesn't take too long to
recharge. Typical use for it will be fairly close informal full length
shots of single or multiple people in a hotel convention rooms.
Thanks
For the film speeds you would likely use (100 to 160 range) and the venue,
the T-20, although small and light, is likely too weak. At best it would
be nearly full dump. The F280 is a close call. I'd use nothing less than
a T-32 on a BG-2 that allows it to recover quickly. It also has slightly
more power than the F280. Lens would be 50mm (versus a longer one) to
allow closer work. Even better yet among the OM flash units would be the
even higher powered T-45 with something like a lumiquest softbox on it to
take a little bit of the bite out of the lighting harshness. For this kind
of stuff I have a Metz 40 MZ on a camera rotating bracket and two handle
mounted Sunpaks, 544 and 555, that all have higher power than a T-32. The
555 approaches the T-45. Handle mounts will give a more of an older
photojournalist look and can begin to achieve lighting that approaches loop
style up close. The camera rotating bracket has more a portraiture look
when moving in close (Paramount or "butterfly" lighting). Either one will
model facial features more than the flatter frontal lighting from shoe
mounting it.
For what you describe, the compositions will be vertical. Shoe mounted
flash would create numerous shadow control problems turned sideways. For
better control, use nothing less than a flash handle. A bracket that
allows keeping flash directly above the lens by about 10-12 inches is even
better and eliminates any risk of red-eye. Keep subjects at least 5 feet
or so in front of walls; it will let shadows fall down toward the floor
behind them.
BTW, I've used NiMH in both the T-20 and T-32 for some time now without any
problems.
-- John
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