Flash Newbie - FM3a and SB-800

[scott_mcloughlin]

I'm a total flash newbie, but I finally took the plunge. I've searched

PN a bunch and read the manuals. I think I've figured it out, but the

manuals are terse. I'm hoping the seasoned folks here can confirm if

I'm doing this correctly.

 

-0- Mount SB-800 on FM3a.

 

-1- Set ISO sensitivity to speed of film in the camera (400 in my

case). Not necessary, but gives accurate distance range readings on

flash. I'm not so sure about this part, in particular.

 

-2- Set SB-800 mode to TTL (the OTF version that the FM3a nicely

supports).

 

-3- Set the SB-800 zoom to the focal length of the lens, or at least a

wider FL than the mounted lens (I use primes).

 

-4- Set the FM3a shutter to 250 or less. Or set to A for aperture

priority mode.

 

-5- Adjust FM3a lens aperture ring to suit one's desires (dof, etc.).

Not so sure about this one. SB-800 seems to display f5.6 and not sure

exactlhy how this figures in.

 

-6- Focus and shoot.

 

-7- To use diffusion dome or bounce, just do exactly the same thing -

doesn't affect steps 0-6 due to the TTL/OTF flash mode. Not sure on

this either.

 

It doesn't look very complicated as far as I can gleen, but in spite

of that, I'm still unclear on ISO sensitivity and the aperture setting

issue (camera as relates to flash and vice versa) and the diffusion

dome/bounce issue.

 

Appreciate any help I can get. Thanks!

[jorgeortega]

-5- Adjust FM3a lens aperture ring to suit one's desires (dof, etc.). Not so sure about this one. SB-800 seems to display f5.6 and not sure exactlhy how this figures in.

 

 

You have to set the aperture manually on the flash as well

[aaron_ng]

You got it all wrapped up I see. I'll just add in a point or 2 to help.

 

1) Yes, you are right that the ISO setting doesn't necessarily need to be the same as the camera, it is just for distance range estimation.

 

4) If you use aperture priority, the camera will goto 1/250, regardless of ambient light, so sometimes manual mode is better suited for flash.

 

5) The FM3a doesn't send aperture information to the flash (because aperture reading is mechanical, but SB-800 needs electronic information. Anyway, aperture setting on the flash is for distance range estimation only, so it doesn't matter what the SB-800 says.

 

7) You're right!

 

Extra 8) How to do TTL fill flash on FM3a!. You can't set flash exposure compensation on the SB-800 with the FM3a, but you can use manual mode on the FM3a to set flash compensation. Start with the flash mounted and off (because FM3a won't meter when the flash is on). Just use manual mode, meter and set your aperture and shutter speed. Then turn on your flash and shift your exposure compensation dial to -0.7 to -1.0 for fill flash or -1.3 to -1.7 to brighten up faces in the shade, and shoot away!

 

Hope this helps!

 

Aaron

[lilly_w]

On the off-chance someone revisits this thread...

 

<Start with the flash mounted and off (because FM3a won't meter when the flash is on).> Correction; the FM3A meters perfectly well with the flash turned on or off. I doubt it matters which flash is being used...mine is an SB-28, mounted directly to hot-shoe or via SC-17 as there is no difference between the two.