Dec. 2001
President's
Message
Photo FAQs
Photo FAQs
Eric Kissa
Q.:Provia
400F film is very expensive. Is Sensia II 400 just as good for half of
the price?
A.:The
Pro version, Provia 400F, costs indeed twice as much as the consumer version,
Sensia II RH-400. According to direct information from Fuji, the Sensia
II RH-400 is slightly more contrasty than the Provia 400F but the grain
size is the same. Sensia II RH-400 is certainly a better buy.
Q.:My camera has four exposure metering modes (P, A, S, and M). Which one should I use with fill-flash?
A.:When using fill-flash to soften shadows the exposure conditions are limited by the shutter speed (the maximum sync speed) above which the flash cannot be used. The top sync speed may vary from 1/60 to 1/300 s, depending on the camera. A high sync speed allows using large apertures and eliminate ghosts in action shots with a flash. This is why the high sync speed of most pro model cameras (1/250 or 1/300s) is important.
The program mode (P) sets the aperture as well as the shutter speed and gives usually an acceptable image but not necessarily the best one. When a flash is used, the fastest shutter speed in the program is the highest speed synchronized with the flash.
The aperture preferred mode (A) controls the depth-of-field: a large aperture for a narrow and a small aperture for a wide depth-of-field. When a flash is used, most cameras set the shutter speed automatically at or below the highest sync speed but do not change the aperture. If a large aperture has been selected for a narrow depth-of field, a gross overexposure may result when the shutter speed selected by the camera is too slow. Therefore, the A mode is not always reliable for fill-flash photography.
The shutter preferred mode (S) allows the photographer to select the shutter speed needed for stopping action. When using flash, the maximum sync speed limits the shutter speed available and consequently, the largest usable aperture. If a large aperture is needed for a narrow depth-of-field to blur the backgrounds but the light is too bright for the sync speed, a slower film or a neutral gray filter is needed. A polarizer can function as a 2x neutral gray filter.
The manual mode (M) gives the photographer complete control of the exposure to give a most pleasing result. Still, the maximum shutter speed is limited by the sync speed. The aperture or the shutter speed can be selected first for the desirable combination of the two adjustments.
Some electronic flashes, for example the Nikon AF flash units, compensate the exposure automatically in the fill-flash mode. For other cameras, the exposure setting of the camera must be reduced manually by about 2/3 of a stop. For naturally looking fill-flash shots the output of a strong flash unit is usually reduced by 1 or 2 stops even when the flash is in an automatic fill-flash mode.
Q.:Is the new Sensia II 100 the consumer version of the Provia 100F?
A.:I have read in photographic magazines that the Sensia II 100 is (a) a lower priced consumer version of the professional film Provia 100F or (b) a repackaged old Sensia 100. Neither of these statements is correct. According to direct information from Fuji, the new Sensia II AR-100 is a consumer version of the pro film Astia, characterized by accurate skin tones, moderate saturation and fine grain (RMS granularity value 11). Provia 100F is a different film and has the finest grain of all color slide films (RMS 8).
Q.:How are the electronic flashes on the Lepp frame positioned relative to the subject photographed?
A.:The
Lepp II macro bracket holds the camera and has two adjustable rods with
ball heads for flash units. One of the flashes is connected to the camera
flash shoe with a TTL remote cord. The second flash is connected to one
of the terminals of the TTL remote cord with a TTL multiflash sync cord.
One flash serves as the main light, the other one as a fill. The swivel
joints that clamp to the rods have a knob that allows the flashes to be
oriented above or below the camera. The length of the rod can be adjusted
by loosening the knob further and moving the rod in or out. Flashes with
a swivel head add to the versatility of this system used by many nature
photographers. I use the Lepp II bracket with the Stroboframe 2000 Quick
Release System for easier mounting of the camera on the bracket.
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Send questions concerning photographic
equipment (cameras, lenses, accessories, filters), photographic techniques
(other than digital), and film, as well as information on international
photographic exhibitions, to: ekissa @aol.com.