How can I calculate outdoor fill flash manually with a Nikon SB-24 on a Nikon D200?
Asked 2/17/2011
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I’m using a Nikon SB-24 on a Nikon D200, so i-TTL isn’t available. Indoors I’ve been fine using the SB-24’s Auto (thyristor) mode or Manual mode, but I’m not sure how to approach outdoor fill flash. What’s a simple way to set exposure and flash output for fill outdoors, either using guide numbers or the flash’s Auto mode?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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If you understand exposure and the relationship between shutter speed, ISO, and f-stop. You can follow this. If not, you'll need to learn that. You'll also need to understand how much a "stop" is.
SB-24 has an advertised Guide Number of 118 (ft) @ ISO 100. Calculate settings for proper exposure and use that as a base. You can find TONS of info on the net on using guide numbers, but here's a quick down and dirty:
Note: This is not as difficult as it seems here. It's just complicated to explain.
Figure your exposure settings you want for the key.
Think about how much fill you want. Fill is generally either full exposure or up to one stop under the key.
Calculate flash setting using the settings you've chosen for your exposure and the guide number.
Distance = GN/f-stopAdjust to get the effect you want.
Say you're shooting at f/8 @ISO 200 (remember, shutter speed isn't as factor except that you need to stay below your flash sync speed) and you want your fill a bit lower than the key.
The calculation tells us to place the flash 14.75 feet away if we were at ISO 100. We're at ISO 200 so we can drop the flash down to half power or move it further away. This is for proper exposure. If we want our fill lower than the key, we can drop the power down a touch, or move it back a bit more. If you want the flash closer, drop the power even more.
When moving the flash around you need to consider the Inverse Square Law concerning light falloff.
Originally by user3914. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3914
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes: start by setting the ambient exposure for the background, then add flash as fill.
Basic method:
- Meter and choose your ambient exposure first.
- Keep shutter speed at or below the camera’s flash sync speed.
- Decide how much fill you want. A common starting point is flash at about 1 stop under the main ambient exposure; equal exposure gives stronger fill.
With Manual flash:
- Use the guide number formula: distance = GN / f-number (or f-number = GN / distance), adjusted for ISO.
- Compute the flash exposure for your chosen aperture and subject distance, then reduce flash output for fill if needed.
With the SB-24 Auto mode:
- Set the camera exposure for the background.
- Choose an Auto aperture setting on the flash that matches your subject distance.
- If you want weaker fill, use a camera exposure that is 1 stop smaller than the flash’s Auto aperture setting for roughly half-power fill.
In practice, a simple rule is: expose the scene normally, then set the flash to provide fill from your subject distance, usually about 0 to -1 stop relative to ambient. If needed, adjust by changing flash power, aperture, ISO, or flash-to-subject distance.
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