more light needed

jordycakes

Senior Member
hello,
im using a reverse ring on my nikon and the flash is working i even put my mega flashing thing on top [still new to cameras] but the pictures are too dim to see much is there any settings that im missing to make this brighter
thank you for looking
jordan.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
I have to ask, what is a mega flashing thing? Is it some kind of diffuser for the camera internal flash? Or is it like a LED light on the hot shoe? Or what? Can you provide a link to an ad for one, to see what it is?

Reversing ring suggests a close macro distance, only a few inches. Which close distance does not need a lot of light, but stopped down apertures need more. Assuming manual flash mode, what is your typical subject distance, and typical exposure values (ISO, shutter speed, aperture)? Asking... what is it that you are doing?

As an example, the bare camera internal flash has a guide number about 40 (feet).. So at ISO 100 and full manual power level, the bare direct flash should do f/40 at one foot, which is a lot of light at one foot. This one foot is measured from the flash, which for macro work, the distance in front of lens is probably about half of that.
 

jordycakes

Senior Member
thanks for the replies.
with the mega flash its one of them ones you put on top of the camera
i was taking the picture in the window during the day, some were coming out just bright enough other really dark.
i am looking to take super close ups of my mantis and leopard geckos i will upload the best picture i got from this, its not greatly in focus but it was my first time doing this and first time manually focusing DSC_0313.jpg
this is the closest i go but not being able to see much as you can see how dark the photo came out
DSC_0320.jpg

i have a led ring lamp but its a friends but i will try using that very short thank you for all the help
[sorry for the lack of capitals etc my keyboard is broken and the shift key doesnt work -.- ]
 

Englischdude

Senior Member
[MENTION=9753]Scott Murray[/MENTION] should be waking up about now. He is a very enthusiastic Macro photographer and should be able to give you some helpful tips.
 

PapaST

Senior Member
Sounds like you're reversing your lens to increase magnification, is that correct? Which lens are you using and have you been adjusting your aperture to see if that improves the light situation? I would start there with your aperture. Hopefully you're using a lens with an aperture ring so you can manually set it. Also slow down the shutter, 1/2000 of second is pretty quick. Maybe slowing down to 1/200 perhaps along with a larger aperture.
 

nzswift

Senior Member
Just guessing but are you reversing a G series lens? If so you will have no way to adjust the aperture.. You'll need a D series or older AI lens. Those photos were taken at 1/200 sec
 

FastGlass

Senior Member
Not sure what flash thingy you're using and I'm assuming the shutter speed is 1/200 not 10/2000. Which makes me think your aperture is f10 and not f1. If the shutter is in fact set to 1/2000 and still firing the flash than it must be set to High Speed Sink in order for you to avoid cutting off portions of the frame which your clearly not doing. Problem with using HSS is the light output will be reduced compared to using the flash normally. That mixed with f10 and it's no wonder your not getting good exposure. We need to know more. What lense and more about this flash thingy. Remember the aperture is what controls flash exposure. So opening up the lense will let in more flash.
 

kevy73

Senior Member
You can adjust the aperture on the newer lens's - just have to push in the little button - it is very hit and miss...
 

jordycakes

Senior Member
Hello, tbh alot of what your saying might as well be Chinese :p like shutter speed etc i have no idea what it was set to or even how to set it, and yes im reversing my currently lens which is an 18-55MM . i did play with the aperture but this didnt do anything. as for the flash thing, i cant really tell you what it is, its the ones you put on the camera one of the big ones that takes batteries and has to charge before flashing hope that helps :)
I also wasnt use a mount for reverse i was just holding the lens with my hands which probably didnt help but i have ordered a ring for it which was £1 :p
Thank you guys so much for the replies.
So do i need to slow the shutter speed right down then? and if so how do i do that :S

Thanks
Jordan.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
Your shutter speed is too fast if I am understanding the not so clear exif data at I'm guessing 1/2000.

f/10 aperture is fine.

ISO kick it up to 200

Bring down the shutter speed to say 1/200


If the resulting picture is too bright then tighten up your aperture f/11, f/12, etc... (I know that aperture doesn't go 1 digit at a time, but you get the point)

Here is a picture I did that you can check out the exif data on. I manually control the flash output in the camera and on the flash to push them all the way up as I was at f/22 to increase my depth of field but at f/22 it doesn't allow a lot of light in.

Day137Bee.jpg
 
Last edited:

Geoffc

Senior Member
I'm going out on a limb here, I don't think Jordon is all that he seems. If you are genuine Jordon I suggest you go and learn the basics as you sound like you're trying to perform heart surgery before you pass your first aiders course.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
To be reversing a lens you need to know the fundamentals of ISO, Shutter speed and apertures as you will be using manual. This is especially the case with macro as manual is your friend. I think you need to re-shoot your shots and write down what settings you are using, then we could give you better information. For starters try F/10, ISO 200, 1/250sec and see what that will give you. If its too dark bring up your ISO or slow down your shutter speed, if its too bright lower your ISO or increase your aperture to f/16. Let us know how you go.
 

jordycakes

Senior Member
Wow there the kind of photo's i want to take! i will try these settings thank you! :D i will have a play round and ask again if i get stuck on how to do the settings
Thank you very much :D
 

jordycakes

Senior Member
Thanks geoffc, i understand bits and bobs but its not easy for a beginner to cram it all in so i forget things, this is why i dont like asking questions on fourms because i get un helpful comments like the one you just posted which has wasted my time and yours, so yeah thanks for the boost in my confidence with photography!
And i know im jumping in the deep end with trying all this but sometimes its the best thing to do

But to everyone else thank you loads for the help and helping me understand what im trying to succeed in
 

Geoffc

Senior Member
Thanks geoffc, i understand bits and bobs but its not easy for a beginner to cram it all in so i forget things, this is why i dont like asking questions on fourms because i get un helpful comments like the one you just posted which has wasted my time and yours, so yeah thanks for the boost in my confidence with photography!
And i know im jumping in the deep end with trying all this but sometimes its the best thing to do

But to everyone else thank you loads for the help and helping me understand what im trying to succeed in

The reason I made the statement was based on you calling it the flashy thing, saying you didn't know what the shutter speed was or even how to set it and then saying you didn't actually have a reversing ring but just held the lens in front if the camera. We've had trolls on this site and some of you comments suggested that you were taking the ......

If you don't know what the flashy thing is, why not have a look what's written on it and let the several people who asked, know what it's called.

If you are genuine my response stands as you do need to learn more basics before doing this as you're not actually able to convey the question let alone understand the answer.

If you're genuine I apologise if my response upset you, but there is an expectation that people also try to help themselves by reading manuals and learning the basics before trying more advanced techniques.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Last edited:

jordycakes

Senior Member
Sorry to get abit snappy geoffc, i am trying to learn and this is a good way i think, i just dont like to be put down like that. also the flash thing is called a Jessops 320AFC (didnt know it had what it was called written on it im pretty sure its kinda old)
Also i dont learn by reading stuff too great iv always been a hands on kinda guy so trying bits and bobs will make me learn it easier
:)
 

Geoffc

Senior Member
Sorry to get abit snappy geoffc, i am trying to learn and this is a good way i think, i just dont like to be put down like that. also the flash thing is called a Jessops 320AFC (didnt know it had what it was called written on it im pretty sure its kinda old)
Also i dont learn by reading stuff too great iv always been a hands on kinda guy so trying bits and bobs will make me learn it easier
:)

No problem, the questions just seemed out of the norm. Now you've mentioned which flash @WayneF may be able to shed some light on it so to speak. I'm not familiar with that model.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Top