Plastic Bad over Flash Head

OviV · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

I am ordering some Kata rain covers for my cameras so that I can continue to shoot when it is sprinkling at baseball shoots. For team pictures we use flash for fill and to get catch lights on the kids eyes. If I put a sandwhich bag over the flash head held with a rubber band will it affect the light or cause any other issues with flash?

Thanks,
Ovi

scottbergerphoto · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

I suppose It could melt on your flash head if you fired off too many flases in a row.

OviV · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

Had not thought of that Scott. I really don't think it will get that hot since I am firing the flash as fill and with minimal power. I guess I could put my omnibounce on it for added protection. Will it affect the light, though? I am thinking of a fairly clear bag.

Ovi

Jackal · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

If the flash on the 420ex is hot enough to melt/burn the Suede fabric on my friend's chair because it was touching it...Then I think it might not like a plastic bag. =)

cecilc · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

If it was me, I think I'd go with the omni-bounce or a soft-box or something like that .... I'd stay away from putting a plastic bag over the flash ....

You can still use the flash as fill with the omni-bounce or soft-box .... and you don't run the risk of damaging your flash ...

OviV · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

It is a Sigma 500 Super DG. The bag is for keeping the rain off of it. The omnibounce by itself won't do that. Yes it might protect the head but I am affraid of rain gettin into the battery compartment or the controls.

Ovi

Jay J · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

I don't think that's necessarily the way to go. I'd consider having someone stand right over you with a large umbrella or carry and set up a very small awning that you can easily breakdown and then set your equipment up under that.

Jay J

Mills · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

I know another photographer here in Chicago that uses a plastic bag over his 580 EX at fire scenes. I have only noticed it in the winter months though. If I run into him soon I will ask. He was using that setup at the Butterfield8 fire at the end of January, about 28 degrees F, snow, wind and spray from the suppression efforts. He probably shot 1,000 images that day and I never saw him change the bag.

drisley · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mills

I know another photographer here in Chicago that uses a plastic bag over his 580 EX at fire scenes.

Hmm, he uses a plastic bag over the 580EX at fire scenes... coincidence? I don't think so!

timmyquest · 28th of February 2005 (Mon)

During last football season i shot in a few rainy games.

What i did, was take a plastic bag, cut a hole for the flash head, just behind the flash head i took a thick rubber band and wrapped it around as tightly as i could. I then took electrical tape and wrapped the snot out of the hot shoe.

The head actually seems fairly well sealed, i'm not suggesting it IS sealed...just that it's fairly tight. The parts that worried me were the joints and buttons, thats why i kept those covered.

Only once, at the end of a game, did problems occure, the flash would completley discharge on its own. After looking stuff over a little bit i came to the conclusion that it was due to a short in the hot shoe created by water.

I think thats the biggest problem, really.

Just my expereince

Andy_T · 1st of March 2005 (Tue)

If you're serious about using your camera in adverse weather conditions, take a look at something like this:

EWA-Marine C-AFX rain cover

It can be fitted to your front filter element and should shield the camera and the flash from the most adverse conditions. It's not exactly cheap (100$), but cheaper than a 1-series (or a new flash).

Best regards,
Andy

OviV · 1st of March 2005 (Tue)

Andy,

That one is not going to work for me because I have the flash mounted on a bracket. The Kata rain gear will keep the camera and Hotshoe protected. I was thinking of using the bag to protect the flas and the hotshoe on the bracket.

Ovi

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#1
OviV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,113 IMAGE EDITING OK	Plastic Bag over Flash Head I am ordering some Kata rain covers for my cameras so that I can continue to shoot when it is sprinkling at baseball shoots. For team pictures we use flash for fill and to get catch lights on the kids eyes. If I put a sandwhich bag over the flash head held with a rubber band will it affect the light or cause any other issues with flash? Thanks, Ovi __________________ 5D, 40D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX, Sigma 15MM Fisheye,17-40 L, 24-105 L, 50 1.8, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS, 100-400 L, 300 F4 L, 580 ex, Sigma 500 Super DG Flash x 2, too much other stuff to list. Last edited by OviV : 28th of February 2005 (Mon) at 13:07.

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#2
scottbergerphoto Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 5,430	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head I suppose It could melt on your flash head if you fired off too many flases in a row. __________________ One World, One Voice Against Terror, Best Regards, Scott ScottBergerPhotography

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#3
OviV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,113 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head Had not thought of that Scott. I really don't think it will get that hot since I am firing the flash as fill and with minimal power. I guess I could put my omnibounce on it for added protection. Will it affect the light, though? I am thinking of a fairly clear bag. Ovi __________________ 5D, 40D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX, Sigma 15MM Fisheye,17-40 L, 24-105 L, 50 1.8, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS, 100-400 L, 300 F4 L, 580 ex, Sigma 500 Super DG Flash x 2, too much other stuff to list.

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#4
Jackal Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,090	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head If the flash on the 420ex is hot enough to melt/burn the Suede fabric on my friend's chair because it was touching it...Then I think it might not like a plastic bag. =) __________________ 5D+BGE4 \| 30D+BGE2 \| Canon 24-70mm 2.8L \| Canon 28mm 1.8 \| Sigma 10-20mm \|Canon 50mm 1.4 \| 580EX \| 420EX

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#5
cecilc Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 588	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head If it was me, I think I'd go with the omni-bounce or a soft-box or something like that .... I'd stay away from putting a plastic bag over the flash .... You can still use the flash as fill with the omni-bounce or soft-box .... and you don't run the risk of damaging your flash ... __________________ *Cecil* SportsShooter Portfolio

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#6
OviV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,113 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head It is a Sigma 500 Super DG. The bag is for keeping the rain off of it. The omnibounce by itself won't do that. Yes it might protect the head but I am affraid of rain gettin into the battery compartment or the controls. Ovi __________________ 5D, 40D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX, Sigma 15MM Fisheye,17-40 L, 24-105 L, 50 1.8, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS, 100-400 L, 300 F4 L, 580 ex, Sigma 500 Super DG Flash x 2, too much other stuff to list.

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#7
Jay J Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 26	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head I don't think that's necessarily the way to go. I'd consider having someone stand right over you with a large umbrella or carry and set up a very small awning that you can easily breakdown and then set your equipment up under that. Jay J

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#8
Mills Goldmember Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 4,106	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head I know another photographer here in Chicago that uses a plastic bag over his 580 EX at fire scenes. I have only noticed it in the winter months though. If I run into him soon I will ask. He was using that setup at the Butterfield8 fire at the end of January, about 28 degrees F, snow, wind and spray from the suppression efforts. He probably shot 1,000 images that day and I never saw him change the bag. __________________ Mills 1D Mark II & 5D 50 f1.4 16-35 f2.8L 24-70 f2.8L 70-200 f2.8L IS 580 EX & 550 EX Gitzo Mono & Tri Pods Apple iMac G5 & 17 Inch Powerbook Box Alarm Images http://www.myspace.com/millz11 Just to see some fun camera phone stuff.

28th of February 2005 (Mon)	#10
timmyquest User is banned from forums Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Outside of Chicago Posts: 4,178	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head During last football season i shot in a few rainy games. What i did, was take a plastic bag, cut a hole for the flash head, just behind the flash head i took a thick rubber band and wrapped it around as tightly as i could. I then took electrical tape and wrapped the snot out of the hot shoe. The head actually seems fairly well sealed, i'm not suggesting it IS sealed...just that it's fairly tight. The parts that worried me were the joints and buttons, thats why i kept those covered. Only once, at the end of a game, did problems occure, the flash would completley discharge on its own. After looking stuff over a little bit i came to the conclusion that it was due to a short in the hot shoe created by water. I think thats the biggest problem, really. Just my expereince

1st of March 2005 (Tue)	#11
Andy_T Compensating for his small ... sensor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stuttgart/Cologne, Germany Posts: 9,848 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head If you're serious about using your camera in adverse weather conditions, take a look at something like this: EWA-Marine C-AFX rain cover It can be fitted to your front filter element and should shield the camera and the flash from the most adverse conditions. It's not exactly cheap (100$), but cheaper than a 1-series (or a new flash). Best regards, Andy __________________ some cameras, some lenses, and still a lot of things to learn... (so post processing examples on my images are welcome ) If you like the forum, vote for it where it really counts! CLICK here for the EOS FAQ CLICK here for the Post Processing FAQ CLICK here to understand a bit more about BOKEH

1st of March 2005 (Tue)	#12
OviV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,113 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Plastic Bad over Flash Head Andy, That one is not going to work for me because I have the flash mounted on a bracket. The Kata rain gear will keep the camera and Hotshoe protected. I was thinking of using the bag to protect the flas and the hotshoe on the bracket. Ovi __________________ 5D, 40D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX, Sigma 15MM Fisheye,17-40 L, 24-105 L, 50 1.8, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS, 100-400 L, 300 F4 L, 580 ex, Sigma 500 Super DG Flash x 2, too much other stuff to list.

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