Flash Photography
How I got into flash photography
I only got into flash photography after deciding to get the Pentax AF201FG. Why made me buy a flash? Because, I was really happy with the photos that came out of the Ricoh GR IIIx and its portability. However, the fact that it did not have a flash, kept bugging me.
Not that I did any flash photography, even on the Sony NEX-6 which does have a flash. But then again, I don’t carry the NEX-6 around because it is heavier than the IIIx. That’s the main reason I got a flash. But, I also had an inkling though, that it would be useful. Besides, it was 10 times less than expensive than the GR IIIx itself. Just go ahead buy it will you?
So, I bought the Pentax AF201FG (Black) for S$255. I knew from Ali on YouTube that this flash was compatible with the IIIx and she uses it as such. I took a few test shots with the flash on ‘Auto’ and was so happy with the results. This was really a no-brainer to use. But, my curiousity and interest in photographypushed me to go find out as much as I could on flash photography. So, right now (9th Aug 2024), I’m reading the book “Understanding Flash Photography” by Bryan Peterson and a few other books, and I understand how important flash photography is.
My motivation for using a flash
Here are a list of my main reasons for using a flash:
this is what really differentiates photos from your camera. As much as phone cameras have come a long way in the last few years, most of them do a pretty bad job, especially in low light.
I find that during functions, be it in the office or in a personal setting, most of my shots are group potrait shots. Especially if the function is outdoor and in the evening, like what we had recently for the church BBQ function, having this flash would have allowed me to get better potrait shots.
The Pentax AF201FG
The back of Pentax AF 201FG Flash Gun
Initially, I was not very happy that my GR IIIx did not come with a flash. But now, I am happy that it didn’t, as it gave me a good reason to get the fairly decent flash shown above. And this is a fairly good one compared to the teeny weeny flash comes with DLSR and such cameras.
Side view of Pentax AF 201FG Flash Gun
Here are some characteristics of this flash:
Powered by 2 x AAA standard batteries and support NiMH rechargable batteries.
Guide Number of 20 on full flash power and ISO 100.
Easily pocketed just like the GR IIIx at 7.37cm x 6.6cm, weighing 140g.
P-TTL which is the Pentax variant of the Pre-flash Through The Lens pre-flash metering, fully compatible with Pentax DLSRs, Pentax K series and the Ricoh GRIII(x) cameras.
Allows for bouncing the light by tilting the flash head upwards.
P-TTL (Pre-flash TTL)
TTL stands for Through The Lens, which measures the light reflected off the sensor directly and terminates the flash at the correct exposure.
P-TTL measures the light with the lens wide open; both flash light and ambient light. It then calculates the flash power required to expose the shot.
Light intensity vs exposure time for a flash burst
The above diagram shows the concepts behind how the flash fires for a photographic exposure.
When you use a flash to take a photo, there are two light sources - the ambient light in the scene along with the light from the camera flash.
When you hit the shutter button to take the photo, the camera fires a pre-flash, where the camera light meter measures the light with its lens wide open, metering both flash light and ambient light, allowing it to calculate the flash power required to expose the scene. This calculation takes the set aperture and the distance to the focused object.
The camera then opens the shutter, immediately fires the flash and closes the shutter according to the exposure time required for the shot.