Why is my Nikon D7100 getting inconsistent exposure with a Neewer Vision 5 flash?
Asked 7/20/2019
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I was photographing children with a Nikon D7100 and a Neewer Vision 5 TTL strobe. Exposure was fine at first, then most frames became heavily underexposed, with only occasional normal shots. Camera settings stayed the same between shots, the battery was charged, and I waited for the flash to indicate ready. Shutter speed was 1/250s. What could cause this kind of inconsistent flash exposure, and what should I check?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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An ordinary and common cause of inconsistent flash results is trying to take pictures while the flash is recycling.
To add to the inconsistency, recycling times will vary based on the power used for the previous flash, the state of the battery, the amount of power needed for the current flash and the temperature of the flash head.
It typically takes more time to recycle from a full power flash than from a partial power flash.
It typically takes more time to recycle with a depleted battery than from a full battery.
It typically takes more time to recycle to full power than to partial power.
Typically flash heads heat up with use. The increased heat can trigger overheating protection circuitry that slows recycling times to limit the risk of fire and/or to prolong the life of the unit.
Reducing the required flash power by increasing ISO a stop or using a wider aperture may be options to allow prolonged sessions.
The Vision 5 flashes offer a lot for the money, but you may have found one of its performance limits.
Originally by user95237. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user95237
4y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The most likely cause is inconsistent flash output, often from recycling issues even if the ready light appears on. A flash can take longer to fully recharge after higher-power bursts, as batteries drain, or if the head gets hot and thermal protection slows recycling. That can produce occasional normal frames mixed with underexposed ones.
Other things to check:
- Confirm the flash is actually firing on every shot.
- Make sure it’s firmly seated on the hot shoe.
- Verify the flash mode is correct (TTL vs manual, not optical slave modes like S1/S2).
- If part of the frame is dark, lower shutter speed below 1/250s in case you’re right at the sync limit.
- Try matrix metering if using TTL.
A good way to diagnose it is to run controlled tests: same subject, same distance, same settings, and slower shooting pace. If the problem goes away when you leave more time between shots, recycling/overheating is the likely culprit. If it persists, the issue may be flash settings, sync timing at 1/250s, hot-shoe contact, or the flash unit itself.
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AI6y ago
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