Please save my new Flash

Awais Yaqub

I got it ! my new 580exII is here right before wedding of my close relative:wink

I have heard flash can be toasted if used rapidly. How can i minimize chances of roasting my new flash? Should i worry about that ?

Sorry i couldn't find it on google:rolleyes

And what is easiest and effective way to diffuse direct flash these days.

Wil Davis

Awais Yaqub wrote:

I got it ! my new 580exII is here right before wedding of my close relative

I have heard flash can be toasted if used rapidly. How can i minimize chances of roasting my new flash? Should i worry about that ?

Sorry i couldn't find it on google

And what is easiest and effective way to diffuse direct flash these days.

Congrats on the new toy!

I'd spend as much time as possible playing with it so that using the controls becomes second nature when it comes to the Real Thing (nothing looks more amateurish than fumbling with destruction manuals during the gig!!).

I wouldn't worry too much about toasting it. The flash should be able to cope with normal use OK; I've noticed that sometimes my SB800 gets warm, but only after I've been playing around with continuous bursts and using the modelling light.

Easiest (& cheapest) way to diffuse flash is a (clean) white handkerchief… (pauses for the howls of derisive laughter from the "Gary Fong Fing Bong Betty Bouncer Best-Thing-Since-Sliced-Bread Brigade" to die down…) …but many's the time that simple device has been so effective for me, and in an emergency, you can also use it to blow your nose (can't do that with your Gary Fong ) …well, you did say easiest and effective!

Hey, congrats to your close relative; take 1000s of pictures and post some of them here; they're sure to be good!

HTH -

- Wil

Awais Yaqub

Wil Davis wrote:

Congrats on the new toy!

I'd spend as much time as possible playing with it so that using the controls becomes second nature when it comes to the Real Thing (nothing looks more amateurish than fumbling with destruction manuals during the gig!!).

I wouldn't worry too much about toasting it. The flash should be able to cope with normal use OK; I've noticed that sometimes my SB800 gets warm, but only after I've been playing around with continuous bursts and using the modelling light.

Easiest (& cheapest) way to diffuse flash is a (clean) white handkerchief… (pauses for the howls of derisive laughter from the "Gary Fong Fing Bong Betty Bouncer Best-Thing-Since-Sliced-Bread Brigade" to die down…) …but many's the time that simple device has been so effective for me, and in an emergency, you can also use it to blow your nose (can't do that with your Gary Fong ) …well, you did say easiest and effective!

Hey, congrats to your close relative; take 1000s of pictures and post some of them here; they're sure to be good!

HTH -

- Wil

Thanks Wil !

ziggy53

Awais Yaqub wrote:

I got it ! my new 580exII is here right before wedding of my close relative

I have heard flash can be toasted if used rapidly. How can i minimize chances of roasting my new flash? Should i worry about that ?

Sorry i couldn't find it on google

And what is easiest and effective way to diffuse direct flash these days.

Awais, congratulations on the new flash. You will love it, once you learn how to use it and explore the possibilities.

Normal use does not put the flash at risk. It is a constant rapid recycling with no cooling period that gets folks into trouble. The flash is mostly at risk with the external battery packs that allow very fast successions of full-power discharges.

I don't know if you can get "Foamies" sheets in your country, but they are expanded foam sheets that are easy to cut and form into shapes useful for flash modification. Before the foam sheets I used reasonably stiff paper with good results.

The things you can create for yourself that I recommend are:

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

http://abetterbouncecard.com/

Joe Demb also makes an interesting device for sale (reasonable):

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/

I own a FlipIt product and it works well and is very well made.

A site showing various modifiers in use:

http://www.the-meissners.org/2006-small-albums/2006-flashmod/index.html

Here are some examples of using the "scoop" modifier in the first link:

AlbertZeroK

The flash has a small built in bounce card. I often pull mine out and tilt my flash at an angle. It's a great little flash! I love mine and have put it through heck.

A tip, you can find AA e2 Titatinium Batteries on ebay in quanity for cheap, an example, I just got 48 batteries for $30. It's all I use in my flash.

divamum

Awais - start reading www.planetneil.com for ways of bouncing on-camera flash that give beautiful diffused results. Most of his diffusion comes from bouncing the flashhead on to a larger white surface (eg a wall, room divider, white ceiling, white building, light wall hanging - whatever is available).... essentially creating an environmental softbox; he then uses a sheet of black foam (black paper would work too) as a "flag" so he can direct the light exactly where he wants it. The results he gets speak for themselves. He's a good writer, and offers lots of specific tips (and beautiful examples!)

The simple "scoops" made of foam or paper that Ziggy recommends are also great, particularly if you're going to be outside or don't have a handy wall/ceiling you can use to bounce. Also, if you can get some bubble wrap (the kind used in mailing), you can make a simple diffuser out of that, too (I use Ikea's shelf liner which is thicker and more robust, but I suspect that the light properties are similar). Google for diy flash diffusers and there are quite a few tutorials and how-to's around. Here's the one I used: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Gary-Fong-Lightsphere/

Enjoy the new toy

Awais Yaqub

Thanks guys for great help !!!