Using built-in flash with external flash?

[SC300T]

Is there any way to have the internal flash trigger at reduced level (1/3rd or whatever), while still triggering a bounce flash attached to the hot shoe? I like what my bounce flash is doing in general, but want just a little more up front direct light on the subjects originating from the camera position. Any ideas?

[civis]

You might (or might not) find something here:

http://www.lumiquest.com/

[JojoM]

For about $20, you can purchase a unit called a Stofen Omni-Bounce that you can attach to the head of your flash unit. It does a pretty good job of spreading the light especially if the ceiling is white and not too high. Make sure you get one that is compatible with your flash unit since they come in different sizes.

__________________
Jojo
www.pbase.com/jojom

[luigi]

Go here for the ideal slave and cheap. Works like a charm, runs on two AAA batteries.



http://www.steves-digicams.com/ms-1.html

OOOOPS!
Works great for film cameras, but not for the G3. Read the text. I didn't and just assumed it would work for the G3. Evidently the preflash makes it flash too soon. Just tried it and all the pictures I took using this slave came out darker than when not using it. Go figure!

[JojoM]

luigi wrote:
Evidently the preflash makes it flash too soon. Just tried it and all the pictures I took using this slave came out darker than when not using it. Go figure!

Luigi,

I think you can still use the slave flash with the G3 if you set it to M (manual) mode or change to flash adjust setting to manual. The pre-flash only happens in program mode (see page 101 of the manual).

__________________
Jojo
www.pbase.com/jojom

[astroman]

If you look carefully into the G3 hotshoe "tracks" you will see a small lever that disables the internal flash whenever an external flash is connected. There is probably some way to fool the G3 into thinking no external flash is attached (shave off a corner of the flash shoe attachment??) and I saw one answer somewhere but I can't remember where.
The best scenario I can see is using a slave trigger set to fire in synch with the internal flash. Whatever the case, it might be tricky to get just a fill flash from the on board while implementing the off camera. Report back on any of your findings.

G

[luigi]

jojom wrote:
luigi wrote:
Evidently the preflash makes it flash too soon. Just tried it and all the pictures I took using this slave came out darker than when not using it. Go figure!

Luigi,

I think you can still use the slave flash with the G3 if you set it to M (manual) mode or change to flash adjust setting to manual. The pre-flash only happens in program mode (see page 101 of the manual).

__________________
Jojo
www.pbase.com/jojom


Thanks Jojo....I will try that.

[SC300T]

Thanks for the replies... Playing around with the camera, (I just have the cheapo Sunpack DS20 bounce flash ($35)), I was able to just set the Sunpack Flash to slave mode, and hold it with one hand or place it in a convenient place away from the camera. Then using the camera in manual mode (the redeye mode has to be ON for some reason), manually set the camera's internal flash to around 2/3 power. (1/3 power on the internal flash wasn't always enough to trigger the DS20 in slave mode.) The results are anywhere from stunning to so-so depending on how the DS20 is placed. With the DS20 bouncing off the white ceiling it gives a nice balance between overall lighting in the room and direct light- exactly what I was hoping for. With the DS20 placed at a 45 degree angle and firing directly at the subject, you can get some dramatic shadowy effects, not super realistic, but very cool. Ideally with the DS20 firing at the subject you'd want something like an omnibounce to scatter the light.

FWIW I found that the five silver metal contacts on the hot shoe aren't what disables the flash on the G3, its the left side mounting clip that has a micro switch in it that disables the flash.

[FlyingPete]

luigi wrote:
Go here for the ideal slave and cheap. Works like a charm, runs on two AAA batteries.



http://www.steves-digicams.com/ms-1.html

OOOOPS!
Works great for film cameras, but not for the G3. Read the text. I didn't and just assumed it would work for the G3. Evidently the preflash makes it flash too soon. Just tried it and all the pictures I took using this slave came out darker than when not using it. Go figure!

The image will be darker due to the fact that the pre flash sees a 'brighter' image, as the slave flash is also illuminating the scene, when it is metering.

[robogobo]

OK try this, it works great everytime, and it's a no-brainer.

Either using double-backed tape, or better yet velcro, attach a 3x5 index card to the back of the flash (while the head is pointing up for bouncing), so that a portion of the card sticks out above the flash head. You can adjust the amount of fill by increasing or decreasing the portion of the index card that stick up. This is an old trick. It's better than the omnibounce because it doesn't cut down on the guide number, and better than a slave because the camera "brain" isn't involved.

Lumiquest makes a plastic bounce card for the same purpose if you don't like the look of the index card....

rob