Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 07:28 PM 12/1/01 -0500, you wrote: >I showed Tina Manley some of my photos and she ran out and bought a SF20 >unit and used it sometimes on her last trip to Honduras. Ask her if it >is true. I know you also admire and respect Tina. > >If you can tell me you have tried the SF20 with a TTL M6 or on your R8 >and found it to be useless, I will believe you. But until you do, I >stand on my case. Try it. Others who have agree. It might not work >for you. But every photographer has times when a little more light or >more control over the light would make a better picture. I certainly >do. Maybe you? > >Respectfully... Ken Lassiter Ted wrote: However, I've learned over the years on the LUG & LEG much to my surprise, there are quite a number of photographers who use flash with the M6, so I make a valiant, although at times I feel it's absolutely a futile effort, to encourage them to use the light they see by and keep the flash for absolutely, " if I don't use it I'll lose it picture situation." Ken and Ted - Y'all are both right. To a certain extent. Ted, when the Leica lenses are enough, there is nothing better than natural light. And most of the time that's all you need - But there are times when the Leica lenses are not enough and that is when Ken is right. The SF20 gives you just enough "twinkie" light to fill in those shadows and make it possible to record a scene that would otherwise be filed in the round file. When it is dark and you need some depth of field to record the scene (and in the bright sun with harsh shadows), a fast lens wide open is not the answer. The SF20 used rationally will give you a natural looking light and allow you to shut down enough to get the depth of field you need. Anytime I can, I'll still use the fast lenses wide open and avoid drawing attention to myself by using flash; but in the clinics I photographed this summer, the light was awful. I would not have been able to record the details I needed for the photos without the greater depth of field that the SF20 gave me. I had a lot of doubts about the SF20 and had tried Vivitar and Metz flashes with a variety of cords and attachments with my M6's and R's but the SF20 with the TTL is a no-brainer. Just hook it up and shoot. I use the wide-angle attachment like Ken to diffuse the light and I'm sure not to have any walls right behind the subjects. I would be even happier if it would tilt for reflected flash, but I just use an index card and rubber band for that. I'm still using natural light for 90% of my shots, but don't knock the SF20 until you try it. I'm going to try to get some of the photos from the clinics up next week, but I'm having knee surgery on Monday (carrying too many cameras over too many miles!) and I'm trying to get all of my Christmas gifts done before then. Tina Tina Manley, ASMP http://www.tinamanley.com images available from http://www.pdiphotos.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html