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From: josephs@ttidcb.UUCP (Bill Josephs)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Nikon TTL flash and flash related problems
Message-ID: <226@ttidcb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Dec-84 09:42:47 EST
Article-I.D.: ttidcb.226
Posted: Fri Dec 21 09:42:47 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Dec-84 02:40:55 EST
Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA.
Lines: 21

I have owned many flashes including the Vivitar 283 and, more
recently, the Nikon SB15 and SB16 units.  I've been happiest with the
SB16 -- I especially like the bounce/fill possibilities and the fast
recycling with NiCads.  Both the 15 and the 16 are well made, reliable
units and I'd recommend either highly.

Question:  does anyone know of an easy way to meter synchro flash
(using the flash as fill to an already sunlit scene) using the TTL
setting and not the auto setting of the Nikons (or any TTL flash for
that matter)?  As soon as the flash is turned on, the normal meter is
disabled.  The scene brightness, then, controls the duration of the
flash and not the aperture/shutter combination, i. e., you are stuck
at 1/250th and the aperture you set.  If this would lead to an
underexposure, then the flash is forced to a maximum fill destroying
any subtle effects that you're after.  If the setting would result in
an overexposure, there is nothing you can do (unless you can arrange
to have the flash "suck" up some of the excess light and and use it to
recharge the battery!?!) The only success I've had is to meter the
scene manually, note the aperture used for 1/250th, turn the flash on
and set that aperture (and hope that things don't change too rapidly
while the flash is charging).   Not a satisfactory procedure.