Olympus-OM

[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [OM] T32 diffuser question

Subject: Re: [OM] T32 diffuser question
From: "John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 23:50:06 -0400
At 19:28 4/26/03, you wrote:
The Oly WA diffuser broadens coverage to 21mm lenses.

For GN use, the GN for the Oly WA is known.
You lose a stop using the WA diffuser.  It does help some at close 
distances for tight shots using standard lens, but not at longer ones.  No 
matter how large the diffusion panel, the farther you are, the more it 
reduces down toward a point source.  If you use a diffuser that bounces 
light all around in a more confined space, such as a home living room, it 
can soften the lighting throughout the room . . . the critical factor being 
bouncing light everywhere so that only about half of it falling on the 
subject is direct.  In large spaces such as a big church or reception hall, 
the effect from one is reduced.
BTW, I've had a chance to use my new Sunpak 120J TTL mounted on a Newton 
rotating flash bracket powered by a TriPak-II battery slab a couple times 
now and it's rapidly becoming my favorite.  Was using a Metz 40 MZ-3i (or 
-2) on the bracket.  The Quantum panel diffuser fits the Sunpak if you only 
use one layer of diffuser (comes with two).  Without the diffuser it 
renders much like flashbulbs used to . . . the brightness of direct flash 
but with shadow edges subtly softened slightly by the large bowl reflector.
If you use the homemade one in Auto Mode you have to be careful that it doesn't direct enough light down onto the light sensor to prematurely quench the flash. I have not tried this, but remember it as a problem mentioned in past posts.
Indeed it is . . . and not just with the T-20/32.  It can cause the same 
problem with my Metz 40 MZ-2/3i, and Sunpak 544/555/120J units.
Neither one will enlarge the effective size of the light source for softer portrait lighting or move it away from the camera to reduce red-eye.
The white T-32 WA diffuser has had a slight effect for me in the past . . . 
but only when very close and tight in a more confined space (low white 
ceilings, etc.).  I'm doing too much work now in larger spaces at longer 
distances that I've just about abandoned using the T-32's most of the time 
in favor of the higher powered Metz and Sunpak units.  Even the half-stop 
gain in the Metz 40 MZ's with ISO 160 film has made a difference.
-- John


< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>