Hintermann
Contributor
- Messages
- 1,049
- Reaction score
- 317
- Location
- Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, UK
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
I own a pair of Iklelite AF35 Strobes which I have been using with my Canon S95 camera (with Canon Housing) and an Inon wide-angle lens for the past few years. While I am generally happy with the results, I am not certain that I am getting the best out of the strobes and would like some advice.
I often shoot on impulse, like a moving shark or colourful reef fish, where there is no time to make adjustments. Having said that, I also like macro stuff like nudibranches where there is usually ample time to optimise the settings.
With that setting, I encounter 2 problems that I have not been able to solve completely.
I would appreciate any help or advice to reduce or eliminate these problems without creating new ones for myself.
I often shoot on impulse, like a moving shark or colourful reef fish, where there is no time to make adjustments. Having said that, I also like macro stuff like nudibranches where there is usually ample time to optimise the settings.
- I set the S95 in the P (for Programme) mode usually but occasionally switch to the A (Aperture Priority mode. I have sometimes been tempted to remain in the A mode through the dive but the additional few seconds that it takes to adjust the aperture often means that a critter (the elusive clown triggerfish for example) gets away.
- I shoot with the AWB (automatic white balance) setting. I'd like to use Manual WB but once again, the time factor is a problem.
- I set the strobes at 5 on the side dial and on 'Auto' at the top.
- With 4 rechargeable good quality 2800 mAh AA batteries, I find that the strobes charge very quickly and can very easily be used for 4 dives or about 100 flashes.
- I position the strobes at the sides of the camera housing with the flexi-arms bent like inverted 'U' on either side. With that position I have practically eliminated backscatter.
- I always use diffusers on both strobe heads.
With that setting, I encounter 2 problems that I have not been able to solve completely.
- Overexposure: This happens often when there is a white or pale sandy or silty background, especially during muck diving at night. I try to solve this issue, partly successfully, by backing off a bit and increasing the zoom. But how should I alter the camera or strobe settings to minimise this happening in the first place?
- Flare: Or at least that is what I think it is. If I am shooting with wide angle, there are a sometimes a couple of small "reflection bands" in the picture frame, corresponding to the position of the strobe heads. This is not a problem in zoomed pictures. I have only partly succeeded in eliminating this flare problem by pushing the strobe heads as far back from the plane of the front of the wide-angle lens. But with the short flexi-arms of the AF35, there is an obvious limit to the extent that this can be done.
I would appreciate any help or advice to reduce or eliminate these problems without creating new ones for myself.