Is 1/16 power good enough for manual flash on the low end?

I have an Opteka EF-600 that I want to move off-camera with the CTR-301. I like the flash so I was considering picking up a couple more in the future. The lowest it goes is 1/16 in manual mode. Is that good enough when I start experimenting with 2 and 3 light setups? I will mostly be taking pictures of the family against a white or black backdrop, maybe some outdoor stuff as well.

I don't see a problem, you can always just change your aperture to match. If you plan to use diffusers I doubt you'll use 1/16th much except perhaps as a hair light, though for that it might be a little bright.

Outside you'll want all the power you can get.

You can always add ND filter gels if you need to.

....or move it farther away or closer, depending on what you need.

I don't know the rating of that flash at full power, but when using it off camera, you can usually pretty easily move it further away from the subject.
If I had to use such a flash on camera, then 1/16 may be a bit too strong.

I have an old flash, which has guide number 45 @ 35 mm field of view, and only has manual full power. That's difficult to use on manual at closer ranges.

....and as a followup to my above post about moving it farther or closer, you can always fab some homemade barn doors if you need to control the spread as you move it closer or further from your subject. It's really all about taking your time to set up...and experimenting. If you are trying to get repeatable results, then make sketches and take notes as you try different things.

apersson850 wrote in post #8210960
I don't know the rating of that flash at full power, but when using it off camera, you can usually pretty easily move it further away from the subject.
If I had to use such a flash on camera, then 1/16 may be a bit too strong.

I have an old flash, which has guide number 45 @ 35 mm field of view, and only has manual full power. That's difficult to use on manual at closer ranges.

According to Opteka's website the guide number 148' (45 m) at 85mm. I have no idea how that compares to the Canon flashes. So if I have to move the flash back, I would then need some kind of barn doors if I want to control the spill of light, correct?

Here's a pretty darn inexpensive way to control "spill"...

http://www.saxonpc.com …ells-for-photography.html

klynam wrote in post #11560473
Here's a pretty darn inexpensive way to control "spill"...

http://www.saxonpc.com …ells-for-photography.html

I like the "stacking" ability. And finally something photography related that is likely worth what you'll pay for it.

According to one web site that sells this flash, it has GN148 (feet) at 85mm AOV, but nothing stated about GN with a 'normal' lens (50mm on FF). Let's guess it has GN120 at 'normal' lens coverage.

So putting power back to 1/16 means GN30, and if you put it 6' from the subject, that requires f/5 (f/4 + 0.67EV) or at 3' f/10 (f/8 +0.67EV)

Neutral density gels are your best friend.