Wide open aperture outdoors using sb-600?????

[Reyna]

I'm a wee bit at this as I just got my flash over the weekend and haven't had enough time to fully play with it, but cant it be shot at less power like 2/3 or 1/3 of its power?
Also it sounds like you already have too much light going, so why fire a flash also? I'm hoping you're not shooting in Auto mode.

If I was shooting in auto mode, would I be able to control my aperture and shutter speed myself? lol. No, I'm not shooting in auto

 

[KmH]

The 1/200 restriction is because your flash can't physically fire any faster than that - .

At any rate using f/1.4 with strobed light is not a good idea. The 50 mm f/1.4 delivers the sharpest focus when stopped down a couple of stops (f/2.8).

Good to know! Thanks for that! Do you know the sharpest focus for indoors?

You make test shots, and look at them to determine which are the most sharply focused.
It will vary somewhat depending on your set up.

 

[KmH]

If I was shooting in auto mode, would I be able to control my aperture and shutter speed myself? lol. No, I'm not shooting in auto

No. With which in auto mode, the camera, the speedlight, or both?

Most portraiture is done with the camera and lighting in manual mode so the photographer has the maximum amount of control. Cameras have no artistic sensibilities. They don't know what the photo is about. They don't know what the subject is. All they know is how to do things by rote (the programing in their computer).

 

[Ginu]

I'm a wee bit at this as I just got my flash over the weekend and haven't had enough time to fully play with it, but cant it be shot at less power like 2/3 or 1/3 of its power?
Also it sounds like you already have too much light going, so why fire a flash also? I'm hoping you're not shooting in Auto mode.

If I was shooting in auto mode, would I be able to control my aperture and shutter speed myself? lol. No, I'm not shooting in auto

That's not what I meant but hey. Please let us know what you're intending to shoot and under what condition and I'm sure more TPF members will be able to help...

I would only consider using a flash outdoors on a sunny day to illuminate my subject's face if the sun is behind the subject or to minimize certain shadows using the flash remotely.

 

[Reyna]

ginu, i was just being goofy about shooting in auto. i didn't mean to sound rude.

thanks for all the feedback. as always, everyone is very helpful!

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Just use an ND filter. I had to do this before using a Canon 50mm 1.4. I put I believe a 3 stop ND filter on it and was using wireless flash shooting through an umbrella in middle of the day sunlight. The pics came out pretty decent I think and ND filters are probably the second most useful filter next to CPL, so it would be good to have one laying around anyway.

Just make sure its of good quality so as to not degrade your IQ.

 

[PaulBennett]

You say you want "to add a little fill flash", why not do just that by reducing the SB-600 light output to 1/64 or so? Check the SB-600 manual for details