Flash in what direction?

[TMG1961]

When you use flash for outdoor macro photos in what direction do you point the flash? Is it pointing in the same direction as the lens and if so in what angle? Or do you turn it away from the subject?

 

[Vimes]

Thank you. Still trying to get used to using a flash. Sometimes even with it at 1/128 the photos are completely overexposed at f/8 or f/11 with 1/160 sec and ISO 100. And when i then turn the flash down for next photo it is under exposed. Same light, same camera settings. I don't have a clue why. Felt like ripping the flash of camera and throw it in the bin or smashing it with a hammer this afternoon.

I see your point.
I often have to take 20-30 pictures with different settings and from different angles to get one image to be 80% satisfied with.
Try using small adjustments with exposure compensation?

 

[TMG1961]

I see your point.
I often have to take 20-30 pictures with different settings and from different angles to get one image to be 80% satisfied with.
Try using small adjustments with exposure compensation?

I went out today and took 47 photos. None of them were sharp when i viewed them on the laptop. I just cant get the camera and lens steady enough for a sharp photo. I did take them without a flash (batteries empty), so got shutter speeds of 1/1000 with iso 400 and f/8. Not even a single photo was sharp, all went straight into the recycle bin and formatted the card. Alle photos were not even macro, just close ups.

 

[Vimes]

I went out today and took 47 photos. None of them were sharp when i viewed them on the laptop. I just cant get the camera and lens steady enough for a sharp photo. I did take them without a flash (batteries empty), so got shutter speeds of 1/1000 with iso 400 and f/8. Not even a single photo was sharp, all went straight into the recycle bin and formatted the card. Alle photos were not even macro, just close ups.

Hmm - okay.
My standard settings with flash are something like
1/250s
f16
iso 200

Without flash maybe something like
1/125
f8-f11
iso 400-1600 (then denoise later)
But of course: that depends from the amount of light you have on a given day.

 

[TMG1961]

Hmm - okay.
My standard settings with flash are something like
1/250s
f16
iso 200

Without flash maybe something like
1/125
f8-f11
iso 400-1600 (then denoise later)
But of course: that depends from the amount of light you have on a given day.

I can't even take a photo without flash at 1/125 without the lens or the body being stabilised. And ISO400 is the highest i dare to go on my a6400.

 

[Vimes]

I can't even take a photo without flash at 1/125 without the lens or the body being stabilised. And ISO400 is the highest i dare to go on my a6400.

Hmm … try Topaz Sharpen AI or Denoise AI - that fixes higher ISO settings in post for me. My X-T3 isn’t stabilized, neither is my Laowa 2:1 macro lense.

But you are right: without flash it’s a hussle. This picture has been taken without flash:

 

[TMG1961]

Hmm … try Topaz Sharpen AI or Denoise AI - that fixes higher ISO settings in post for me. My X-T3 isn’t stabilized, neither is my Laowa 2:1 macro lense.

But you are right: without flash it’s a hussle. This picture has been taken without flash:

Very nice photo. I keep trying, will post a photo that is my best so far in a moment. I tried Topaz and liked it, but have to safe up to buy it.

 

[kzurro]

I can't even take a photo without flash at 1/125 without the lens or the body being stabilised. And ISO400 is the highest i dare to go on my a6400.

what do you think of this two photos, do they look too noisy? 1 and 2. I know they are small, but do you consider the image noise acceptable?

1 ISO2500
2 ISO3200

noise reduction <=40 in Camera Raw. both of them shot handheld, no flash, f/8, 1/320 (the minimum shutter speed I can use without flash even on a stabilized lens). the camera? my trusty A6000. my auto ISO was set to 3200 max.

 

[TMG1961]

what do you think of this two photos, do they look too noisy? 1 and 2. I know they are small, but do you consider the image noise acceptable?

1 ISO2500
2 ISO3200

noise reduction <=40 in Camera Raw. both of them shot handheld, no flash, f/8, 1/320 (the minimum shutter speed I can use without flash even on a stabilized lens). the camera? my trusty A6000. my auto ISO was set to 3200 max.

Both photos are not noisy to me. I normally set ISO manual, sometimes auto, but then i forget to set it back to manual setting some of the time. My auto iso setting is from 100-1600.

 

[kzurro]

Both photos are not noisy to me. I normally set ISO manual, sometimes auto, but then i forget to set it back to manual setting some of the time. My auto iso setting is from 100-1600.

oh, ok, I thought you limited auto ISO to 400 also, my fault

 

[TMG1961]

oh, ok, I thought you limited auto ISO to 400 also, my fault

I got the camera in December of 2020. During setup i set the Auto ISO to 100-1600 after been advised to set it like that. Up until 1.5 months ago i mainly shot in aperture or priority mode with auto ISO. But because i always shoot in good light conditions my auto iso almost never got over 400. I have 30 photos out of 2286 with ISO higher then 400 that were taken with the a6400. Since 1.5 month i am using complete manual mode (except focus) mostly, sometimes i still use A or S mode and then set ISO to auto. Yesterday with the shot of the insect the ISO was at auto (forgot to put it back) and gave me ISO1600. Was surprised it look ok after NR of 50 in lightroom.