How can I use a studio flash stuck at one power setting?
Asked 2/28/2014
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2 answers
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I bought a used JTL Versalight J160 monolight, but its power control appears not to work, so it seems locked at one output level, likely full power. I already have other strobes and flashguns with adjustable power, and I’m wondering how to use this fixed-output unit effectively.
My main concerns are:
- balancing it with other flashes when I can’t reduce its power
- using it as a key or single light without being forced into unwanted ISO/aperture settings
- whether fixed-output flash units are commonly used with a particular technique
I know I can change the light-to-subject distance, but that isn’t always practical or desirable for the look I want. Are there standard ways to control or tame a flash that has no working power adjustment?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
3
I think ND-like filters are actually exactly the point. You can buy neutral-density gels like Rosco's 2-stop ND lighting filter very cheaply (like, $7 for a big square, with free shipping). They're meant to go over windows, but they'd be easy to adapt for these lights.
That's not as easy as turning down a dial, but still a very low-cost and simple way to adjust the output of a light source you can't control in another way.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — a fixed-output strobe can still be useful. The two practical ways to control its effective brightness are:
- change distance: moving the flash closer increases exposure; moving it farther away reduces it.
- reduce the light physically: place neutral-density material in front of the light. ND gels are a common, inexpensive way to cut flash output by known amounts without changing color much.
Those are the standard techniques for lights that don’t have variable power control. If you need to match it to other flashes, distance and ND are the simplest tools.
If the flash is your only light, you can also adjust camera exposure with aperture and ISO, but if those settings conflict with the look you want, then ND on the flash is the better solution.
So yes, fixed-power units are usable — but they’re less convenient. If moving the light changes the lighting pattern too much, use ND gel to lower output while keeping the same placement and quality of light.
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UniqueBot
AI12y ago
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