flash casting shadow on pics from wide angle lens

abraham

New member
I have the sigma 10-20 mm lens and it is so big that it puts a shadow on the bottom of my pictures when using the flash. Do I need a different flash or what? Thanks for any help.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
I have the sigma 10-20 mm lens and it is so big that it puts a shadow on the bottom of my pictures when using the flash. Do I need a different flash or what? Thanks for any help.

This the main problem with built in flashes. It leaves a shadow when using bigger lenses, especially with the lens hood on. One way to avoid this shadow is to take the hood off. The BEST way is to use a hot shoe flash, either on or off the camera. May I suggest the SB-700. Awesome flash at a reasonable price. Look around for deals, especially now.
 

abraham

New member
Thanks for the reply. It casts a shadow even without the hood. I will look into that flash suggestion. Will the sb-400 be tall enough to solve my problem or should I go bigger/better?
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Thanks for the reply. It casts a shadow even without the hood. I will look into that flash suggestion. Will the sb-400 be tall enough to solve my problem or should I go bigger/better?

No, the SB-400 is still too short for the lens you're using and any similar size. Seriously, the SB-700 is the way to go. It's idiot proof to operate, too. It can also be use off camera as a remote flash.
 

Donny1963

New member
Yeah the only way to avoid shadows at the bottom of your images, is to use an off camera flash at a high angle point downward at a 45 deg angle that will take care of it.
Now if your shooting out doors and your using your on camera flash as a fill flash, here is a trick i figured out that will take care of your problem, shoot the camera upside down that way the shadow will point to the sky which will not reach the sky and there you will not get a shadow..
I do this all the time..

How ever best way to take care of this problem is, Off Camera Flash setup, And using off camera flash will improve your image quality as well..

Hope this helps..
Donny
 
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Scott Murray

Senior Member
Yeah the only way to avoid shadows at the bottom of your images, is to use an off camera flash at a high angle point downward at a 45 deg angle that will take care of it.
Now if your shooting out doors and your using your on camera flash as a fill flash, here is a trick i figured out that will take care of your problem, shoot the camera upside down that way the shadow will point to the sky which will not reach the sky and there you will not get a shadow..
I do this all the time..

How ever best way to take care of this problem is, Off Camera Flash setup, And using off camera flash will improve your image quality as well..

Hope this helps..
Donny

This threads over 5 years old mate

Good idea about shooting upside down though ;) I have never thought of that.
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Good idea about shooting upside down though ;) I have never thought of that.

But I have problems shooting standing up straight. I would hate to think about shooting standing on my head. Oz But now that I think about it, I guess it's not a problem for you guys on the lower parts of the earth. You're used to it. Ha!!!
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
But I have problems shooting standing up straight. I would hate to think about shooting standing on my head. Oz But now that I think about it, I guess it's not a problem for you guys on the lower parts of the earth. You're used to it. Ha!!!

Haha very funny.
 

skene

Senior Member
But I have problems shooting standing up straight. I would hate to think about shooting standing on my head. Oz But now that I think about it, I guess it's not a problem for you guys on the lower parts of the earth. You're used to it. Ha!!!

You may want to get into yogi, it will help you with flexibility that way you can just shoot standing up and bent over backwards.
 
What you can do is cut one of the small petals from the hood. Put the gap at the top when you use the flash and rotate it to the bottom in the sun.
I usually buy a cheap Chinese hood for about $5 and fit it to the bayonet on the lens after some work in the lathe ..keep the original for re sale
 
Sorry but the rotate frame suggested is a total nightmare to use ..you must hold the handle while you rotate the camera within the frame and then you need one hand on the camera grip and another on the zoom ..your third hand holds the frame ...add that its too heavy and the flash is too high and heavy.Its so high it will give you shadows under the nose and chin ..forget it . What you need is this unit ..I have three ...always keeps the flash over the lens ...an SB 400 is ideal.
Compact Universal Flash Arm Bracket Grip Holder (style 4) | eBay
 
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STM

Senior Member
Consider going with an off-camera or hot shoe flash. The camera's flash on most Nikons are pretty much useless for general photography. They work a lot better as a trigger for other slaved units. They are pretty anemic when it comes to power and as you have found out, have problems with certain lenses. Get a larger flash that fits in the hot shoe or look for a flash that is attached to the camera either via a handle or flash bracket.
 
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