done in my home studio

[dukeboy1977]

I've made an upstairs bedroom in my home into a 'studio' with an Alien Bees 400 into a giant softbox, in front of my background stand with 53"x12yd grey seamless paper on it. Gimme your opinions plz...

 

[ababysean]

It looks out of focus. I see from the EXIF data you used 1/40th of a second. Can I ask why? Try again and use your cameras sync speed. Also, why an ISO of 800? Are you shooting in auto? If you have an AB you should shoot at ISO 200, 1/200th and then adjust the F stop as needed for the look/exposure you are going for. Also you should be able to adjust the AB's power.

 

[dukeboy1977]

What OS do you use? On my old OS (XP) I was able to see image data, but on Vista I can't figure it out. Can you help? I was unaware my ISO was so high, I thought it WAS 200? I didn't look as this looks good on my monitor. AB's can sync to 1/250...so my sync speed should match my ISO?? I don't understand that theory?

 

[ababysean]

No you should sync to your cameras sync speed. I think with the 3100 it is 1/200 of a second. I have a plug in on firefox, just google EXIF data plug in

 

[katerolla]

It looks out of focus. I see from the EXIF data you used 1/40th of a second. Can I ask why? Try again and use your cameras sync speed. Also, why an ISO of 800? Are you shooting in auto? If you have an AB you should shoot at ISO 200, 1/200th and then adjust the F stop as needed for the look/exposure you are going for. Also you should be able to adjust the AB's power.

How do you view the EXIF data

 

[dukeboy1977]

Hey thanks! I'll google it now! I was having a 'blonde moment' for a lil while now and got myself confused but have it figured out now. lol I gotta spend more than 1 hour a week with my camera so my bad memory don't take charge again! lol Thanks, Jeff

 

[mrpink]

Exif Version: 0221
Flashpix Version: 0100
Color Space: 1
Pixel X Dimension: 3742
Pixel Y Dimension: 3072
Components Configuration: YCbCr
User Comment: 8
Date Time Original: 2011:11:20 14:19:33
Date Time Digitized: 2011:11:20 14:19:33
Subsec Time: 50
Subsec Time Original: 50
Subsec Time Digitized: 50
Exposure Time: 1/40
F Number: 8
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 800
Max Aperture Value: 5.021923814743765
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Unknown
Flash: Flash did not fire
Focal Length: 55
Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor
File Source: DSC
Scene Type: Directly photographed
CFA Pattern: 8
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
White Balance: Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ration: 1
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 82
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Gain Control: Low gain up
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
ExifIFDPointer: 250
GPSInfoIFDPointer: 804
Orientation: 1
YCbCr Positioning: 1
X Resolution: 72
Y Resolution: 300
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2011:11:20 15:32:40
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D3100
Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 Windows

 

[Patrice]

No you should sync to your cameras sync speed. I think with the 3100 it is 1/200 of a second.

This is the first time I read bout HAVING to shoot at the camera's flash synchronization speed with external flash. Not surpassing the sync speed I can understand, but the recommendation of never going below the sync speed is a new one on me. What is your reasoning for that?

 

[D-B-J]

You can sync anywhere below the flash speed, and to it. And using FP sync, you can sync above that. I've shot with two SB600's and an exposure of 1/500th.

 

[Edsport]

You can download the photo to your computer then use this to upload and view the exif. Jeffrey's Exif viewer

 

[ababysean]

You CAN shoot below the sync, but I have to wonder how much the AB's are doing to freeze motion when the settings of 1/40 and ISO 800 are being used? The photo appears blurry, either there is NOT enough flash power to freeze the motion/camera blur/movement of the kid or the focus was way off....

 

[Mach0]

If you thought you set your iso to 200 and it shot at 1600, make sure your ISO sensitivity is not on auto or set it to a max iso of your liking.

 

[gsgary]

You CAN shoot below the sync, but I have to wonder how much the AB's are doing to freeze motion when the settings of 1/40 and ISO 800 are being used? The photo appears blurry, either there is NOT enough flash power to freeze the motion/camera blur/movement of the kid or the focus was way off....

1/40 on the camera does not freeze the action, the duration of your flash does the only time it will not is if there is ambient light in the shot camera shutter speed make no difference to the exposure in a studio this is where all the beginners go wrong

 

[ababysean]

You CAN shoot below the sync, but I have to wonder how much the AB's are doing to freeze motion when the settings of 1/40 and ISO 800 are being used? The photo appears blurry, either there is NOT enough flash power to freeze the motion/camera blur/movement of the kid or the focus was way off....

1/40 on the camera does not freeze the action, the duration of your flash does the only time it will not is if there is ambient light in the shot camera shutter speed make no difference to the exposure in a studio this is where all the beginners go wrong

I know that. but 1/40 with an ISO of 800 would let some (a lot) of ambient light into the exposure, right? I am assuming (maybe wrongly) that this was done in a room with a window? The picture is blurry. I'm just trying to figure out why.

And when you think studio do you think a professional set up? I think a room, backdrop stand, a roll of seamless, in a space in a house, sort of like mine... where there are windows.

 

[gsgary]

You CAN shoot below the sync, but I have to wonder how much the AB's are doing to freeze motion when the settings of 1/40 and ISO 800 are being used? The photo appears blurry, either there is NOT enough flash power to freeze the motion/camera blur/movement of the kid or the focus was way off....

1/40 on the camera does not freeze the action, the duration of your flash does the only time it will not is if there is ambient light in the shot camera shutter speed make no difference to the exposure in a studio this is where all the beginners go wrong

I know that. but 1/40 with an ISO of 800 would let some (a lot) of ambient light into the exposure, right? I am assuming (maybe wrongly) that this was done in a room with a window? The picture is blurry. I'm just trying to figure out why.

And when you think studio do you think a professional set up? I think a room, backdrop stand, a roll of seamless, in a space in a house, sort of like mine... where there are windows.

With curtains shut there should not be much anbient but if there is that is the only time i will shoot at sinc speed, mine is usually on 1/125, the only light that should be on is your modeling light