chepas_nigs Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hi again! I am using a Pentax *ist D with a (manual focus) Sigma 300mm f2.8 with a 2X TC for photographing birds. Most of the birds I photograph are at least 20 meters away. The photos are sometimes against a brighter background so I want to get some flash to remedy the darker areas in the photo (aside from doing it in PS - I shoot RAW by the way). Which flash option do I have for this camera body that would enable me to shoot at a nominal 1/500s (maintaining an ISO 200-400 only), hopefully at f5.6 to f8. I already have an old AF330FTZ but doesn`t do the job, and limited to using the camera's 1/125 flash sync speed. Thanks for any suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkpix Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Chelo: 1. Get a flash extender, a flat plastic fresnel lens that clips in front of the flash and concentrates the beam. About $25. 2. If you're shooting in an area where this will work -- like near a feeder, say -- get an old manual flash with an optical slave (activated by the flash on your camera) and position it where it will do the most good. You'll have to either meter this or do trial and error with your digital camera until you have the exposure correct. And you'll probably have to set your 330 to a manual or auto setting, as any kind of TTL flash metering fires a preflash that will set your slave off early. BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkpix Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 PS... These suggestions above don't, obviously, address the issue of synch speed. You're not going to get 1/500th here, and so you may want to use a tripod. No one said bird photography is easy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepas_nigs Posted February 22, 2006 Author Share Posted February 22, 2006 Thanks! yes bird photography is never easy, i agree...The camera body also has a PC flash connector, will this also sync at 1/125s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkpix Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Yes, same synch speed on the PC connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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