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Using Elinchrom D-Lite RX 2/4

flash

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3 replies to this topic

#1
stephend

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Hi,

 

I'm not sure where to post this as it is most certainly a question from a sort of beginner but for a complex camera (D7100). Having bought it 7 years ago I was overwhelmed by its complexity and carried on using a D80 which eventually died. I have finally spent the last 4 days reading the manual & a third party manual & configuring the camera as best I could.

 

All I want to do is take tripod photographs of (static) vintage toy trains on a shooting table (130cm x 80cm) on a white backdrop.

 

My lens is a Sigma DC 17-70.

 

I have a Nikon ML-L3 remote.

 

I have 3 Elinchrom D-Litee RX 2/4 lights, 1 above the table & 2 to the side.

 

I want to use Aperture priority only.

 

I have, I'm sure, messed up the configuration.

 

The photos come up ok but the shutter speed is more than a second which doesn't seem right.

 

Also the operation of the remote doesn't seem quite right.

 

So, as well as sorting the flash set up what is the best way to activate the shutter with a pretty short delay (about 2-3 seconds)? I've seen stuff about mirror up etc. & only got more and more confused :(.

 

Any tips on white balance?

 

Any help much appreciated. I used to do really good photos with my Coolpix years ago & thought they could only get better...

 

Regards,

 

Stephen



#2
Merco_61

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First of all, stop trying to use aperture priority with any type of flash. Go manual and take control of your studio work.

Set the camera to 1/60 or so, the aperture you need for the DOF you want and ISO 100. Shoot a series of bracketed shots until you find the correct flash output for your setup and then start finetuning the balance between your strobes. If you find that you need to let more ambient light in, set a longer shutter speed or increase the ISO.

 

You can set the self-timer to 2 seconds, but I am not sure that this raises the mirror at the start of the delay on your camera. It is better to use the MUP setting and press the shutter button on the remote twice. The first press raises the mirror and the second starts the exposure.

 

Shoot a gray or white card placed where the toy train will be in the final photo to use for setting WB. You can either just shoot in AutoWB and use this reference frame in post or set a manual WB in-camera from the reference frame.

 

Shoot in raw for product shoots like this to get as much dynamic range as possible from your files and make sure that you don't overexpose your captures as a blown highlight is lost information.


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#3
stephend

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Thank you very much. I will give it a go. If I struggle is there another more automated setting I could try?



#4
Merco_61

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Thank you very much. I will give it a go. If I struggle is there another more automated setting I could try?

Not if you want consistent results... Any kind of auto setting will trip you up sooner or later and do something unexpected, usually when you don't have the time to sort things out.

 

It will probably be worth your time to read the Strobist blog, even if you will use studio strobes rather than speedlights.


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