Hey everyone, I know this question has been asked before, but based on my experience, the answers didn't completely match reality, so PLEASE ONLY answer if you own this camera and/or really know what you're talking about. I Recently purchased an R8 and need information(the instruction manual is lacking) working with this camera in the studio. I own and use, Profoto Actute2 2400 strobe equipment attached via a sync cord from R8's flash connection socket. Question: besides the "F" mode for metering flash, what setting options do I have, and how's the "best" way to work with this camera in the studio? I'd appreciate any input, thanks-Nick

-- Nick Kane (Nkl111@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002

Answers

You can use the other modes just like with any camera and studio flash. All the f mode does is use the TTL meter as a small-area reflected flash meter which displays on the rear LCD how many stops you need to open or close to get the correct exposure. If you have a handheld flashmeter you can use it just as well. Remember that using the f mode you need to compensate for subject tonality just as you would any reflected-light reading. So for example if you're shooting a fair-skinned subject and metering off the face, if the LCD says to close down one stop you shouldn't, in fact you may need to *open* 1/2 stop.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 16, 2002.

I'd keep the built-in flashmeter in the R8 as a reserve in the event your handheld breaks... it simply isn't, and can't realy be expected to be, as accurate as a handheld and in studio work you really don't have much of an excuse not to use an incident meter if you have one! The color of what you're shooting and the backdrop can throw it way off. But then, if you're shooting color neg, heck it might not be a bad thing.

My R8 flashmeter tends to be a half-stop off my incident meter, on average. And I can never remember if that's over or under.

-- dave yoder (dave@daveyoder.com), May 16, 2002.

Sorry, everyone, maybe I didn't make my question clear. I'm NOT asking about metering flash. BESIDES the "F" mode, how do you work with this camera in the studio?-i.e., Do you only use the "M" mode setting and "X" shutter speed combination or can/do you use the "P" mode, "A" mode, "T" mode ....what about using slower shutter speeds with some packs as the instruction manual makes a brief refrence to?, etc etc. HOW do YOU work with this camera in the studio? Thanks again, Nick

-- Nick Kane (nkl111@Yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.

I would never use it in the studio on anything other than a manual shutter speed or X. I suppose you could use an automatic mode if you're using hotlights but anything else and you're asking for trouble I think. The camera won't know you're adding flash when it exposes. That's the lazy version of my reply... oversimplified yes, but I don't really think it's necessary to go too much into detail on that reply... Manual and a handheld meter are the way to go (preferrably one that shows the ratio of ambient to strobe)

-- dave yoder (dave@daveyoder.com), May 16, 2002.