(Question) 430ex with film camera

[SuperBet]

Yesterday I bought the 430ex flash unit (my first external flash! :D).

I was reading the manual and I understood that you can use it in manual mode, but the only thing you can set is the flash power and you need an external light meter to know the f stop to use.


My question is the next.

I have a film camera with a normal lens (50mm), and I want to use the 430ex with it (in M mode, of course), but I have no way to know the f stop to use.

There is any way to calculate it without a light meter? If I have to take a photo of a group of people, I can't waste time metering! :lol:

Well... If you have any idea of how I can do this... Share with us!!!

Thanks a lot!

[Wilt]

You can use the Guide Number to calculate. For example, GN43 (m.) = distance * aperture. So at 3 meters, you would set f/14. Unfortunately this is complicated by the fact that the 430 has a zoom head, and its GN changes as you change zoom setting! And it is further complicated by the fact that the modern AF lens has a pathetically insufficient distance scale to be useful for aperture calculation using GN

[René Damkot]

If the film camera is an Eos, and the flash is in the straight on position, the distance bar on the flashes display will tell you I think.

[SuperBet]

I think I'll do some test and see what happens!!! :)

Thanks!

PS: Yes, I have the Sigma 10-20 that tells you the focusing distance, but the other lenses I have don't (Canon and not L).

[SuperBet]

If the film camera is an Eos, and the flash is in the straight on position, the distance bar on the flashes display will tell you I think.

No, It's an "all manual" Vivitar...

I'll have to do some tests...

I have doubts about the flash power (because it's the only thing you can change in the flash in M mode, I think), but I'm going to shoot in full power and see what happens...

:)

[Wilt]

But what is the point of testing? You will not know the distance from the lens/camera!

Am I at 3m or 5m or 8m or 10m?... distances are indicated poorly on the AF lens, showing perhaps distance markings only at 1m and Infinity, or 3m and Infinity, or 5m and Infinity (suing three of my lenses for examples!) I do not know whether to use f/11 or f/8 or f/4, all of which are appropriate for that range of distances

[SuperBet]

In a previous post I said that I have a Vivitar film camera with a "all manual" lens. This lens DO tell me the distance, not really accurately, but well, how did photogs used flashes in the old times???? :D

[Wilt]

In a previous post I said that I have a Vivitar film camera with a "all manual" lens. This lens DO tell me the distance, not really accurately, but well, how did photogs used flashes in the old times???? :D

:oops:

[SuperBet]

:oops:

No problem!!! :D ;)