f/stop variations. Same distance and flash power.

[Fellipe de Paula]

Hi... I own the sekonic L-358 flashmeter and I usually get some slight f/stop variations. Something like this:

f9 ~ f9 ~ f10 ~ f9 ~ f13 ~ f9 ~ f10

Of course I let it recycle between shots.

Is this normal?

[TheHoff]

Do the exposures look different once you get them out of the camera?

(Is it a variation in the light output of your strobes or a variation in the meter reading?)

[Fellipe de Paula]

in the output, because they do seem different in camera too.

[PacAce]

Do you have the lumisphere (the dome) extended out? You may see variations in reading if the dome is retracted.

[TheHoff]

in the output, because they do seem different in camera too.

Your flashes are in E-TTL mode.





right?

[Fellipe de Paula]

they are studio flashes

[TheHoff]

Oh hm, I was guessing from your sig list.

Then you'd have to say, since the studio strobes are on manual power output, that there is something wrong with them as they are not outputting the same light with each trigger. The meter's readings seem correct if the exposures look different out of the camera, as well.

[Fellipe de Paula]

Maybe a PC tension stabilizer can solve the problem if its due to electrics?

[Wilt]

What kind of studio flash units are you using, when you try this consistency measurement? Budget specials from the web?

Quality studio flashes should stay pretty consistent from shot to shot, without the 1/3 EV variation you seem to be seeing...my Dynalites stay at +-0.0 or +-0.1 EV from shot to shot, for example.