Preflash Question

Hi, All

I recently purchased the Fuji F30, and I'm currently investigating strobes. I've done a lot of reading about strobe compatibility with pre-flash cameras. My concern is whether all pre-flash functionality is equal.

For example, here is a quote from the F30 user's manual:

"The flash fires several times (pre-flashes and the main flash)."

This tells me the F30 has at least two pre-flashes. Is the number of pre-flashes constant on any given camera?

Here is a quote from the Sunpak site regarding the G-Flash:

"A pre-flash cancellation is a function to synchronize with the 2nd flash without reacting to 1st Pre-flash."

This would seem to me to imply that the G-Flash will work with a single pre-flash camera, but maybe not if there are multiple pre-flashes.

The Strobe Finder will generically identify all the strobes which will work with pre-flash. Does this necessarily mean they will work with multiple pre-flashes?

Thanks!

Banzai

The Strobe Finder will generically identify all the strobes which will work with pre-flash. Does this necessarily mean they will work with multiple pre-flashes?

No.

There are though some strobes equipped with a switch that allows the user to dictate how many pre-flashes should be ignored in order for the external strobe to sync with the shutter event.

May I suggest that after choosing a strobe to review in the Strobe Finder, click on the link found in the field named On the Web. Doing so will transfer you to the manufacturers web page discussing the particular strobe you are researching. Hopefully you will find your answer there as to how many pre-flashes the circuitry can be set to ignore. Chances are, if the strobe can ignore more than one pre-flash, it will be stated on that web page.

One strobe that I am aware of that can suppress up to 4 pre-flashes, but is not listed in the Strobe Finder, is the SeaLife SL 960 D.

http://www.sealife-cameras.com/accessories...ital_flash.html

hth,

b

The heinrichs optical digital adapter allows you to set the number of pre-flashes to ignore, if you must do so. It also allows various shades of slave TTL, (where it just follows and duplicates the pre and main flashes, to your main strobe's capabilties), and it has a "record then duplicate", which works quite nicely, with many cams.

http://www.heinrichsweikamp.net/blitz/indexe.htm

I spent some time last night setting different modes and watching the flash. In spite of now being half blind , I think I learned some things. It looks to me like the only time multiple pre-flashes occurs is when set to reduce red eye. This is giving the illusion that there are two pre-flashes before the main flash.

If I set the camera to force flash without red eye reduction, it looks like there is only one pre-flash, consistently. If this is the case, then I would think any of the pre-flash enabled strobes will work.

I have questions in to both Fuji and Sunpak, but have not yet received an answer.

Banzai