Canon 430X

joshhuntnmjoshhuntnm Registered Users Posts: 1,924 Major grins
edited March 18, 2008 in Accessories
I have a couple of new Canon 430xs with umbrellas. About how far away can the subject be with a mid-range flash like that?

Josh
Josh
Las Cruces Photographer / Las Cruces Wedding Photographer
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Comments

  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited March 18, 2008
    What ISO are you going to shoot with?

    Need more range with speedights, raise your ISO. Want less range, lower your ISO. Try 400, 800 or 1600 - you will find a very large range, and if you do not under expose, noise will be lower than you might think.

    If you must shoot at ISO 100, then you can calculate your distance from the published guide numbers. An umbrella will cost a stop or two of light of course. At ISO with umbrellas, I would not count on more than 8 or 10 feet from umbrella to subject.

    I posted some exposure data for a 285HV at various power levels here The 285HV may be one stop more powerful than a 430ex at full power, at half power it should be close, and at 1/4 power will be near a 430EX into a sliver umbrella I would suspect. Set up your system and fire a few shots so you know what distance and aperture you can use in advance. If you have a flashmeter that will answer your questions of course.

    Here are some data for a 550ex flash as well - http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=626817&postcount=8
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
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