What is the effecive reach (distance) of a 430EX II?

Want to use it for fill flash during a shoot with a couple of distance runners tomorrow. I'd like to setup about 20-30 yards from them and get shots of them running toward me. Doable?

Any suggestions on setup greatly appreciated. Flash will be (ducking) on camera attached to a stroboframe. Thank you.

dave

I don't think it would work very well at that distance. You'll be near the very limit of possibility based on my experimenting with my 420EX.

If you could find a "Better Beamer" to focus the light, that might make it more practical assuming you're limited to the 430EX II.

Take your camera/flash outdoors today and do some experimentation to understand what you could expect tomorrow.

SkipD wrote in post #15146769
I don't think it would work very well at that distance. You'll be near the very limit of possibility based on my experimenting with my 420EX.

If you could find a "Better Beamer" to focus the light, that might make it more practical assuming you're limited to the 430EX II.

Take your camera/flash outdoors today and do some experimentation to understand what you could expect tomorrow.

Good idea. I'll do some experimenting with it zoomed narrow and see how far it'll light something up. I've got a couple of things in the neighbor's yard to shoot at.

Thanks for the idea.

dave

Can you quickly borrow a trigger and receiver from a friend? Then you only have to get the signal to go 20 yards (no problem) and youll have faster recycling times do to the flash being closer and at a lower power.

SkipD wrote in post #15146769
I don't think it would work very well at that distance. You'll be near the very limit of possibility based on my experimenting with my 420EX.

If you could find a "Better Beamer" to focus the light, that might make it more practical assuming you're limited to the 430EX II.

Take your camera/flash outdoors today and do some experimentation to understand what you could expect tomorrow.

Good idea. I'll do some experimenting with it zoomed narrow and see how far it'll light something up. I've got a couple of things in the neighbor's yard to shoot at.

Thanks for the idea.

dave

JakAHearts wrote in post #15146895
Can you quickly borrow a trigger and receiver from a friend? Then you only have to get the signal to go 20 yards (no problem) and youll have faster recycling times do to the flash being closer and at a lower power.

I'm trying to get this done without bringing a strobe, triggers, light stand, softbox, power, etc. Yes, I'm being lazy!

dave

Tell your assistant to do some stretches and get ready to run alongside the runners.

Yeah, go out and experiment while measuring off the distances to see how much light hits your subject. This was backlit at dusk and my memory is that it was that far, using a 430Ex. It was shot at 200mm if anyone can judge he distance based on that.

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'reach' for a flash is simply determined by the ISO value and the f/stop you are using with the flash at full power (and assuming the coverage angle of the flash will fully fill the frame area seen by your lens). Guide Number arithmetic makes it simple...

The 430 has GN141 when it is zoomed to cover view seen with 105mm lens on FF camera. So shooting ISO 100 you could reach...

• at f/2, up to 70' away
  
• at f/4, up to 35' away
  
• at f/8, up to 17.6' away
  

• at f/2, up to 140' away
  
• at f/4, up to 70' away
  
• at f/8, up to 35' away
  

• at f/2, up to 280' away
  
• at f/4, up to 140' away
  
• at f/8, up to 70' away
  

Don't forget, Wilt, that he's planning to shoot outdoors during the daytime with the flash acting as fill. He won't be able to crank the ISO too high and/or use too wide an aperture.

SkipD wrote in post #15151157
Don't forget, Wilt, that he's planning to shoot outdoors during the daytime with the flash acting as fill. He won't be able to crank the ISO too high and/or use too wide an aperture.

True! In daytime, you have the inherent problem that the Sunny 16 rule of thumb says 1/ISO shutter and f/16 is a typical exposure in sunlight. In deep shade it would be 1/ISO f/4. Shooting with flash, you are limited in shutter speed to 1/200 (with FF camera), so ISO 1600 would still be limited to 1/200, and

• with sunlight that means you have f/45 for proper exposure! So with the ISO 1600 Guide Number of 280 for that flash, you would only be able to reach 6' away at f/45 with the subject in sunlight!!!
  
• with shade that means you have f/11 for proper exposure. And with the ISO 1600 Guide Number of 280 for that flash, you would only be able to reach 25' away at f/11 with the subject in the shade!!!
  

The howler was at ISO 800, 1/250th at 5.6. Still not sure of the distance, but there was a fence, road and patio between me and the tree where the monkeys were taking their evening meal

Thanks as always for all your help, gents. Everything kind of went to heck in a handbasket during the shoot. ETTL cable was 'intermittent' at best. Flash batteries died (don't worry, I had spares) and missed some good shots. Had to put flash on camera hot shoe and do what I could.

In any event, the running shots didn't happen because the long-distance running couple showed up in street clothes. Ok. No big deal. Here's a one we got today by pointing a flash directly at the couple:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …erphotography/8​110730070/

That's not at all bad. Good colouring and good detail. The flash lighting is a little harsh but I'm sure that can be sorted in some PP. Like the simple effective way you've posed the couple.

I would have held the flash part a stop lower or so. But it's personal taste, of course.