Re: [photo-3d] Nimslo Flash with Stereo Realist

[Linda Nygren <lnygren@xxxxxxx>]

I will assume that you are using 100 asa film when you give the 5.6
aperture for automatic. Smaller modern flashes may indeed only give you
f 5.6 or even f4 as the smallest apertures that will work on automatic.
More powerful flashes *are* available, if not at the store you tried.

I primarily use a couple of Olympus flashes (T-20 and T-32) which give
up to f8 on auto for asa 100. They don't have synch cords either (if you
are using an adaptor)and the low profile makes red eye a little worse,
but I still like the T-20 because it is so compact and I am more likely
to have it along and use it. I have gotten good results with this.

Another option that is favored by many Realist flash shooters is the
Vivitar 283 or similar (as has been discussed on this list) which will
give you aperture settings to f11 with auto function at asa 100. 

The Nimslo flash would give you f 5.6 I believe, so should work in a
pinch on your Realist. But I don't think it actually gives you any
advantage in illumination. And it is incredibly slow to cycle up again
between shots. If it were actually powerful enough to use the bounce,
perhaps having the extra fill flash would be useful.

The problem with flash photography (with a light source in a single
location, at the camera) is that if you use more light so as to improve
the background illumination you will of necessity overexpose the
foreground. (The light decreases proportionally to the square of the
distance). Using longer exposures so that ambient light helps illuminate
the background somewhat will help. But to some extent you need to settle
for darker backgrounds. The good news is that depth of field is less of
a problem, since you won't see much in the background anyway. -Linda

"Feldman, Jack (Jack)" wrote:
> 
> Having been out of photography for, lets just say a long time, I took out my
> old, but nice Kmart flash gun to use with my Realist. Noticing that I would
> have to set the camera at f5.6, I went over to my local Helix store to look
> for something more modern. I was told that even the modern flashes require
> the camera to be set at f5.6, and the only thing I would gain would be a
> more sensitive thyrister (sp?). No need for that.
> 
> What I see as a problem is that the flash will shut itself down when the
> subject is illuminated enough for the exposure. The background will be
> ignored. The Nimslo has two flash units, one pointing front, and one at an
> angle to fill in some background light. Sounds like they knew what they were
> doing.
> 
> Has anyone tried using a Nimslo flash gun with a Stereo Realist? Since it is
> dedicated to the Nimslo camera, I don't think it will work on another
> camera, but the double flash would help fill in some of the background.
> Perhaps the Nimslo flash always assumes the camera is shooting at a pre set
> shutter speed, and all I have to do is find that magic f-stop and shutter
> speed.
> 
> Perhaps there is another alternative. Perhaps what I see as a problem really
> isn't.
> 
> Jack