HVL- F46RM Flash Questions

[rgarven]

Friends,

I have never used my HVL-F46RM flash much but needed to take some pics of my drums in the studio. I got mixed results and was curious if there is a free online guide somewhere helping/explaining to use it better. Read the Sony PDF, not much help there and I have David Busch's A7 IV guide. The ceiling was high and when I faced the flash forward it washed it out badly. I had it set on auto flash for the dark one pointed the flash 90 straight up, and the washed out one had it facing the drums. Obviously, I dont know what I am doing. Thanks for any help.

Rob

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 12-24mm F4 G
• 12.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/160 sec
• ISO 8000

 

[rgarven]

Friends,

Ok, I shot a bunch of tests. I reread all the info over several times. I am using the FE4 12-24 lens as my drums are so big I cant get them all in the frame with my other 2 lenses. I set the camera to A priority at F8 hoping to get the clearest shot with the most focus & clarity, looks like you can only have 1/60 exposure with any F stop on that setting with the flash and this lens?? I set the ISO to 160 as I want the least amount of noise in the shot. Won't the flash freeze the shot so it counteracts any camera shake? I cant use a tripod (I will try), won't let me change the speed anyway.... I would appreciate any thoughts.

This flash wants me to pull out the wide diffuser and lay it over the lens. I was going to point the flash straight at the subject, I am about 5 ft away.
I can't get back in the studio till Monday then everything gets torn down so I'm trying to pre-plan this and I appreciate anyone's help.

Most of my photography landscape flowers animals when I can catch them so I've had this flash for several years and never really used it so I don't want everyone think as stupid as I sound.



Thanks

Rob

 

[Peter K]

Since no one else responds, I'll give it a shot.
The first pic seems reasonably good, just a terrible background but no light problem. The washed out photo shows You're flash has plenty of power for this situation. So you might try bouncing via the ceiling although it's high, or use diffusors. Further more, set your flash on manual, just try different settings.

 

[rgarven]

Peter and all,

Thanks so much for your suggestions, I will try those. My drums are in the recording studio so I really had no choice for the background and the first photo, I had the camera on automatic and the flash on automatic and was pointing the flash up at the ceiling, on the washed out photo they were the same settings, but I was playing it straight at the drums. I'm still confused, supposedly the flash sends out a pre-flash so that the camera can measure the light on the sensor, but is that so pre flash so close to the actual flash that it's hard to tell it's happening. I could not detect that... Also, in the book I referenced above, the author suggests turning the e-Front Curtain Shutter On, Do any of you do that?

Thanks again,

Rob

 

[Peter K]

Front or rear curtain wil not solve your problem.
Let's say your shuttertime is 1/60 sec. The duration of your flash is may be 1/10.000 of a sec. With front curtain, you flash at the very beginning of your exposure time, with rear curtain, you flash at the end of the exposure time. Makes a difference with moving objects, especially car lights in the dark, but the amount of light is the same.