The glory of an external flash

OregonAmy · Dec 24, 2008

Got one for Christmas this year (thank you hubby!!). I took 2 pictures to compare - one with built-in flash and one with the SB-600. I can't WAIT to take more with my new flash. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

built-in:

SB-600:

:thumbup::thumbup:

ETA - I'm not drinking chimay - that's an Ommegang Hennepin FWIW

Sulfur · Dec 24, 2008

Wow, that really is a huge difference. Not completely sure why it is so huge.

AdamBomb · Dec 24, 2008

Looks Great! I bought myself an SB-600 about 2 days ago and its a BLAST to shoot with! Have you figured out the CLS yet?

OregonAmy · Dec 24, 2008

Hey I've only had it for an hour.

stsinner · Dec 24, 2008

Was the SB600 mounted in your hot shoe or off-camera?

I have an SB600, and I love it, but unfortunately my D50 doesn't do remote flash...

ANDS! · Dec 24, 2008

Sulfur said:
Wow, that really is a huge difference. Not completely sure why it is so huge.

The on camera flash is dead on. No real way to control it other than slapping a piece of paper of the light to somehow diffuse it in some way. A dedicated flash, will look marginally better dead on, but shines most when bounced to take away the harshness of a direct (closeup) blast to the face, without losing the "power".

Sulfur · Dec 24, 2008

Yes, but why in the 2nd photo is the flash filling out the background as well as the foreground?
It certainly can't be the strength of the flash. Can it?
I understand what you mean with diffusion, but I'm just not seeing a reason for the external flash to make such a big difference unless it was remotely triggered.

OregonAmy · Dec 24, 2008

It was in the hotshoe and at a 60-degree angle. No flash adjustment, just at +/-0. Perhaps it was the angle of the wall or the proximity of the ceiling. I'm not sure, but it clearly makes a huge difference.

stsinner · Dec 24, 2008

That it does...

ANDS! · Dec 24, 2008

Sulfur said:
Yes, but why in the 2nd photo is the flash filling out the background as well as the foreground?
It certainly can't be the strength of the flash. Can it?
I understand what you mean with diffusion, but I'm just not seeing a reason for the external flash to make such a big difference unless it was remotely triggered.

Flash is being bounced, spreading the light out. Keep in mind, there is still ambient light so that is helping as well. However, the SB600 is stronger than the on-camera flash (hell an SB400 is), and at such close distances the light isn't losing much power from being bounced and spread.

OregonAmy · Dec 24, 2008

I'm having fun. This is my cat, Sammie. Rarely before have I been able to capture good pictures of my cats' faces due to the sucky built-in flash.

For reference - Built-in flash picture:

Sulfur · Dec 24, 2008

Ok I'm on top of it now. I thought that the SB600 was being pointed directly at the subject and was wondering about the wall. Also, I think I was underestimating the distance from the table to the wall.

ANDS! · Dec 24, 2008

If he/she pointed the flash directly at the glass, the effect would probably be much worse than the on camera flash (ok maybe not, as the camera would dial down the power of the flash given its distance to the subject - but it still wouldn't look "good"). Just mounting the flash isn't enough, you still have to control it which is the entire reason to get one. On camera flash offers no control beyond strength.

OregonAmy · Dec 24, 2008

Sulfur said:
Ok I'm on top of it now. I thought that the SB600 was being pointed directly at the subject and was wondering about the wall. Also, I think I was underestimating the distance from the table to the wall.

For reference, I was about 16" from the subject, and the wall is about 6-7 feet from the subject. The ceilings are 8' high. Hope that helps.