Flash for hummingbirds

[hybwolf]

Hello, hope someone can help.
I'm currently using a 40D, 100-400L with a 580exII flash for humming birds.

I have read that you need more than one flash to freeze hummingbird wings.
I have been using the 580exII set to manual at 1/16 power mounted on the camera from about 10 feet away with a better beamer. I'm a bit too far I think. The images come out slightly under-exposed with some motion blur. Not alot but a bit.

I would like to get another flash that I will set up on a tripod a few feet away from my feeder and leave the 580ex/better beamer on the camera.
I would like to go with, if possible, an after market flash such as a Sun-pak or Vivatar.

Could someone recommend a decent flash with any needed slaves in order to make it work with my 580ex?

Tony

[Titus213]

Stopping motion blur in a hummer's wings is all about timing:lol:

http://norwoodphotos.smugmug.com/photos/532165690_FWEvK-L.jpg


Have you tried jacking your shutter speed up?

[Lithian]

According to http://www.jedlovec.com/Hummingbird-Flight.php a flash of 1/40000th is sufficient to freeze the wings mid-flap...

According to http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/ the 580ex has a duraction of 1/35000th at 1/128th power.

Close enough :)

I've seen shots using ambient freezing wings at 1/2000th but thats when they get the wings at the peak or bottom of the stroke. (or sitting on a branch :D)

In your case if you move the flash to about 3ft* you will get a bit more light using 1/128th power. If you can't get that close we need to open the aperture or bump the iso.

*fresnels kinda screw up the inverse square rule so that could be off

edit :: You could add a cluster of 8x 580ex and shoot from 10ft away at 1/128th power

[bobbyz]

Check naturescapes.net. Most folks use 5-6 flash at very low power and smaller apertures. They also have printed bg

[Patrick]

I was thinking about doing the same thing with my AB lights since the sun is never where I want it when the birds show up.
Kick back on the deck, pre-focus the camera, hook up the remote, and wait.

[Titus213]

I was thinking about doing the same thing with my AB lights since the sun is never where I want it when the birds show up.
Kick back on the deck, pre-focus the camera, hook up the remote, and wait.

That is the method I used but not the ABs - I believe they are a bit slower than the EX flash on low power. With one 550EX I can't really get the wings to stop - close, but not stopped.

[Brett]

According to http://www.jedlovec.com/Hummingbird-Flight.php a flash of 1/40000th is sufficient to freeze the wings mid-flap...

According to http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/canon-580ex-flash-duration/ the 580ex has a duraction of 1/35000th at 1/128th power.

Close enough :)

I've seen shots using ambient freezing wings at 1/2000th but thats when they get the wings at the peak or bottom of the stroke. (or sitting on a branch :D)

In your case if you move the flash to about 3ft* you will get a bit more light using 1/128th power. If you can't get that close we need to open the aperture or bump the iso.

*fresnels kinda screw up the inverse square rule so that could be off

edit :: You could add a cluster of 8x 580ex and shoot from 10ft away at 1/128th power

That first link has some fantastic images.