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Additional Information about using Strobes with Digital Cameras
by "PhotoSource3" on eBay * Photographer's SupplyStation

 

Digital Cameras and Professional Strobes

digital camera image 1While all the strobes work just fine with ALL film cameras, and many digital cameras, (I always use my digital camera's little built-in flash to fire the pro strobes via their "slave sensors" - I've explained a little about slave sensors in my auctions). However, there is one problem that comes up sometimes with digital cameras that you should be aware of before forking over your hard-earned money. Some digital cameras fire TWO flashes when taking flash pictures; they sometimes fire a "pre-flash" to set their white balance, and then fire the "real flash" to take the picture; the digital camera doesn't open its shutter until after the white balance pre-flash fires. In many instances, the pre-flash will set off the pro strobes before the digital camera opens its shutter for the actual exposure. As a result, the pro strobes will fire from the pre-flash, and by the time the digital camera opens its shutter for the second flash, we've already lost the strobes' light! There are two ways to solve this problem, if your digital camera falls into those which fire pre-flashes: 1) If you can, simply turn OFF the pre-flash (don't confuse the "red-eye" pre-flash settings with the "white balance" pre-flash settings on your digital camera - you'll have to turn off both the "red-eye" AND the "white balance" pre-flashes), simply turning the pre-flashes "off" will solve the problem for you (look in your camera's manual to see if you can turn this feature off); if not, 2) You can simply "tape over" the camera's built-in flash window with dark tape, and attach one of the pro strobes to your camera's PC or Sync terminal, and fire the pro strobes that way. If you don't have a sync terminal, you can usually find a little accessory that fits on your hot shoe and provides a sync terminal for you (I have one of these available in case you can't find one locally). While I'm in business to sell professional lighting equipment and make a living, unlike so many other sellers, I'd rather lose a few sales than take advantage of a decent fellow photographer (remember, when I first started out in photography, just like every other beginner, I knew nothing at all about it; and because of my inexperience, I was taken advantage of by innumerable photographic thieves and robbers. When I started my photographic business, I promised myself that I'd never, ever do anything like that to my customers - and I never have and I never will! So before ordering, check out your digital camera to make sure it will work with pro strobes). However, if your digital cameras, or film cameras, or video cameras, or motion picture cameras requires continuous lighting, fear not, because I've got you covered! Just see the Continuous Digital/Video Lighting Section of my eBay Store!

digital camera image 2Sometimes, a certain few digital cameras (without the ability to turn off the pre-flash, without a sync terminal, and without a hot shoe), cannot be successfully used with pro strobes, so please check in your digital camera's manual, and be aware of this before ordering any pro strobes from any supplier. Also, be aware that there are some slave flash units being sold that come with a short delay (designed to overcome this problem), but in many cases, these units still do not work! So take care when ordering. Unfortunately, be aware that there are a number of sellers who are NOT telling you about this potential problem (greedy sons-of-guns), so be sure to check your digital camera's manual before ordering from any source. Sure, I'm in business to make a living, but I will NOT do so by taking advantage of decent folks like you. If my equipment won't work to fill your needs, I'll tell you so in advance (it's simply the decent and honorable thing to do). As I mentioned above, I've been taken advantage of by many photographic "salesmen" over the years, and I'd hate to see this happen to you. Thanks for your time and interest.

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