Inon Z240 focus light filter

I have just purchased a Z240 type 4 and am a bit confused by the manual's description of the need for the focus light filters.

If I understand the manual correctly the filters are to be used in the following ways:

1. red filter sticker over focus light: Used when not using the "-0.5 White Diffuser 2" and when shooting ultra macro shots;

2. red screw-in filter LE: Used when using the "-0.5 White Diffuser 2" and when shooting ultra macro shots. This filter screws nicely into the diffuser in front of the focus light. It also suggests that the focus light will not disturb animals as much.

3. W40 degree screw-in filter LE: Seems to be the same use as the red screw in filter.

I will be using the Sony NEX5 in the Nauticam housing with it. I expect to use the strobe in the S-TTL mode mostly.

My question is should I use any of the focus light filters? I am tempted to use the red screw in filter. Anyone know if it disturbs the wildlife any less.

Thanks

Jim

For macro, I use the 0.5 diffuser always, softens light a bit. I rarely use the spotter light, as I use a much stronger light mounted on the housing. For night use, the red pop-in filter would be good, and, yes, it is less disruptive to the fish. Most pay little attention to it.

As I understand, a W40, widens the spotter beam a bit, though mine came a blue pop-in instead. Never figured out what it's for.

For my big light, I use a full-size red filter for night work. Besides scaring subjects away, white light can attract an enormous number of tiny worms and such, making it almost impossible to take photos. Less problem if light used for short duration.

Thanks Ken

What do you use for your stronger light?

Jim

I have the red filters permanently fitted. The ones that fitted the diffusers soon fell out and were lost. Alas, a lot of white light creeps around the edges of the filters so although the red light is a good idea, this Inon solution is not perfect.

hi all !!!

i am super lost with this problem i am having with the red filter. I just got my Z240 a week ago & was practising it at home.

Can anyone help me & tell me why is it that with the red filter on , the images i took has a faint red colour at the bottom of the image ? but with the red filter sticker , no such issues occur

i am so lost & frustrated...

pls help

My only guess is that the red screw-on filters sit 'above' the flash face enough they scatter some light from the flash tubes. The stickers, set right against the glass, don't.

I put on the stickers and am kind of questioning peeling them off. While there's still enough light to see for aiming up close in daylight, it's not much. I still find I have to use a focus light because my particular camera (Sony A55) with the EVF does a kind of 'WYSIWYG' with the VF display. And if it doesn't know you've got strobes attached (running them manual, and setting up camera settings in manual), that means the VF goes pretty dark without assistance. The newer A65 and A77 let you turn off the EVF's "predictive" gaining. Good reason to upgrade

I have just purchased a Z240 type 4 and am a bit confused by the manual's description of the need for the focus light filters.

 

If I understand the manual correctly the filters are to be used in the following ways:

 

1. red filter sticker over focus light: Used when not using the "-0.5 White Diffuser 2" and when shooting ultra macro shots;

2. red screw-in filter LE: Used when using the "-0.5 White Diffuser 2" and when shooting ultra macro shots. This filter screws nicely into the diffuser in front of the focus light. It also suggests that the focus light will not disturb animals as much.

3. W40 degree screw-in filter LE: Seems to be the same use as the red screw in filter.

 

I will be using the Sony NEX5 in the Nauticam housing with it. I expect to use the strobe in the S-TTL mode mostly.

 

My question is should I use any of the focus light filters? I am tempted to use the red screw in filter. Anyone know if it disturbs the wildlife any less.

 

Thanks

 

Jim

Jim,

Red light definitely disturbs less, there is no question about that. The issue I have in using the Z240 as a focus light is that I rarely point the strobe directly towards what I am photographing, therefore is does not really help using it as it is pointing away from the subject.

I use my Inon strobe lights as my torch during night dives so if I ever use the red filter I would only use the screw in type so that I can remove it again whereas you only have one go with a sticker.

Cheers,

John