which digital cameras don't use pre-flash?

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I want to get a low-end digital camera that I can use with a slave flash, as a way to see how the picture will actually look when I take it with my film camera. (Similar to the way studio photographers use polaroid film backs on studio cameras.) Unfortunately, a lot of digital cameras actually fire the flash twice, and the pre-flash fools the slave. Does anyone know which of the digital cameras fire the flash just once, with no pre-flash? Is there any way to tell whether a digital camera is firing a pre-flash?

Since this is just a preview tool, I don't want to spend as much as I would have to get one of the high end digital cameras that has a PC synch socket.

Thanks!

-- david brodwin (brodwidr@yahoo.com), July 07, 2000

Answers

Interesting question, though my take is from a different perspective.

I'm having trouble with my new OlympusC2500L: all my infill flash shots (indoors) feature people with closed eyes! I can onlyl guess that the pre-flash (for whiteBalance and metering) is the problem, as I do NOT have the "redeye" feature engaged.

I do have the F40 detachable flash made for this camera (A very HOT unit)but haven't used it wnough to comment yet.

If anyone has any thouoghts about program adjustments that would cure the closed eyes, I'm all eyes......

Ray Hull

-- Ray Hull (Rayhull@aol.com), July 07, 2000.


the nikon 990/950 does not fire a preflash. the 800/700 fires a preflash. the 990 has the ability to fire an external flash option, and uses a standard nikon flash mount... which if you need a pc socket, you can purchase the as-15 adapter to put on the nikon flash hotshoe...

the olympus d600l fires a preflash... only other digicam models that i'm familar with...

even for a preview tool, just remember that most of these digicams do not provide the wide range of apertures... look for a camera that will provide full manual control....

-- Keat Lim (keatlim@my-deja.com), July 08, 2000.


oh the easiest way to find out if a camera has a preflash is to try to take a picture of a slave flash (i have a pocket morris midi slave that i carry around in my bag)... if you take the picture and do not see the flash fire that means it does a preflash... if it's all washed out or you see the slave flash go off that means it is not doing a preflash... sometimes the reason why my 990 does overdo in very dark situations when it is confused because of the lack of light...

-- keat lim (keatlim@my-deja.com), July 08, 2000.

I have a cheap PDC 700 Polaroid 760x1000. It has no preflash, and the red eye reduction can be turned off. I find it great in that it is fixed focus, and has no time lag at all when you fire it. As to fooling it with a great deal more light than it is expecting.....I'm not too sur what to tell you. the problem is the cleap units are going to get blasted by the excess light. there is a 2 stop over or under adjustment, but most of the time with studio lights we are shooting somewhere nearer to 60x ambient. I am not sure how to get around this. With my Sony DSC S70, I can set the aperature manually up to F8, and then hold my finger over the flash deflecting it to the slave sensor, and get reasonable flash photos as long as I meter the lights to 1/30 sec at f8, but that is somewhat restrictive, and in all fairness, I don't think it gives an accurate preview. I have been looking for a simultaneous digital/film pro camera that will let me do digital previews, with film in the can, but nobody seems interested in doing that....they are only designing to go straight digital, and eliminate the film. Having erased some images unintentionally that I was sure I had cut to CD, I am not sure I am ready to abandon film yet, and it is still easier to work with , and lots cheaper in the printing department.

-- Richard Katris (chanan@sprynet.com), July 11, 2000.

The Olympus 2000, 2020, do not use preflash, tested with slave flash, works great. Nikon 950 also, not sure about 990 (havent tried). Dont understand why Oly replaced pc with Oly dedicated only, to sell Their flash I suppose (bummer).

-- Wayne Smith (waynsmith@hotmail.com), July 12, 2000.


I think if you read the online manuals to a few different digital cameras, you will find you can totally disable the flash modes. I know the C-2000Z lets you do just this.

-- Sue Bald (destiny3@ix.netcom.com), July 14, 2000.

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