January 2020 Digital SLR Photography 57
Photo Masterclass
ANATOMY OF A FLASHGUN
There are a number of factors to consider
when choosing the right flashgun. Are you
happy with only manual power settings or
do you want TTL or other flash modes? The
former is nearly always cheaper than the
latter, although TTL does make flash
photography significantly easier for
beginners and, for the most part, delivers
fool proof results. Do you want a flashgun
with the added mobility of a tilt or swivel
head? We’d suggest so as it can offer greater
flexibility in adjusting the direction of the
light and make bouncing light off surfaces
much easier, especially if you sometimes like
to shoot on-camera flash. Do you want one
with an automatic zoom head that tracks the
focal length of your lens so to extend flash
coverage, or perhaps wireless master
facilities that allow it to control slave flashes?
Do you need a lot of power to bypass the
sun or high-spec modes such as high-speed
and rear-curtain sync? If you plan to shoot
sports or action, you’ll also need to pay
attention to the recycling times, for instance
Nikon’s flagship SB-5000 enables quick-fire
shooting for 100 or more shots, even at full
power, but not everyone needs this kind of
speed. If you’re planning to shoot with
multiple flashguns at some point or another,
you may want to get at least one flashgun
that can work as a master or invest in a
transceiver. Flashguns can vary dramatically
in size and weight, too, with more basic,
manual models being lighter and smaller
units than top-spec models.
Most camera brands offer their own range
of dedicated flashguns with advanced
connectivity, such as Nikon’s Creative
Lighting System. However, there are plenty of
third-party options offering similar features at
a lower cost. Nissin, Hahnel, Gloxy, Neewer,Kenro and Yongnuo are a few worth
considering – but if you do buy a TTL
flashgun, make sure that it’s compatible with
your brand and model of camera.
If you’re wanting more power than a
standard flashgun can offer, however, but
don’t want the expense or bulk of a portable
battery-powered studioflash like the Profoto
B2, Elinchrom ELB 400 or Interfit S1, there are
a number of models that bridge the gap.
CITI600 portable flash kit, Godox WitstroAD
360, Profoto A1 AirTTL-N or the new A1X are a
few that offer more power, faster recycling
times, longer battery life – and a higher price
tag – for those high-end shoots.1) FLASH HEAD: Some modelslet
you rotate, tilt and swivel the flash
head for optimum positioning and
for bouncing light off walls and
ceilings. You can even aim the
head so it's facing backwards.
2) AF A S S I S T: Projects an infrared
beam to help focus in low light.3) HOTSHOE CONTACTS: This
connects the camera to flash,
whether that’s directly or via a
triggering system. The contacts
are also used for communicating
data for TTL flash metering.
4) LCD SCREEN: Shows the status
of the flashgun. In this case the
metering mode, range, zoom
setting and f/stop are all visible.
Here, we can see that the unit is set
to TTL with the head at 24mm.5) CONTROL WHEEL: Use this to
select and set advanced features
on your flashgun.6) BOUNCE CARD & DIFFUSER:
Built into the top of the flash head
is usually a bounce card that lets
you direct a small amount of light
towards the subject and a diffuser
to disperse the light over a wider
area when shooting with ultra
wide-angle lenses.
7) POWER SWITCH: T h i s s w i t c h /
button turns on the power to the
flashgun and can set it to slave or
master, if your model allows.
8) CHARGE INDICATOR: When
the flash has fully recharged after it
fires and is ready to be used again,
this indicator lights red or green,
depending on the model.9)POWER SOCKET: Many
flashguns have a socket to plug in
a high-capacity external battery
pack for more power. Most
models also have a compartment
to use AA batteries.
10) ZOOM: On many models, the
flash head can be zoomed to
match the focal length of the lens,
ensuring even coverage. It's
especially useful for wide-angles.
11) MODE SELECTOR: Most
models feature a Mode or Menu
button that lets you select your
flash mode such a manual, TTL,
Stroboscopic and slow-sync.
12) H OTSHOE LOCK: When the
flash is slotted on to the hotshoe,
lock the flash in place to avoid it
falling off or losing connection.XXXXXX
X /SHU
TTERSTOCK127811 93 312564Above: Taking a flashgun off-camera lets you position it at
a more flattering height and angle for dynamic portraits.
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