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Home , Flash (photography), Guide number, Reflector (photography)

Telephoto

How it works and how to use it to improve all kinds of telephoto pictures

Henry Lloyd Bunker IV

ODOUBT YOU HAVE ATTENDED anevening I prefer to usea EL for my concert or football game and noticed since it has a flash "sync" of 1/125 second people in distant seats taking pictures with which lessensthe chance of a ghost image on -type cameraswith flashcubes. Do the slide. For a flash I prefer the Honeywell any of thesepictures ever turn out? Of course 462 used in the manual mode. However any not Part of the problemwould be eliminatedif flash unit of similarsize and outputis adequate. the photographerused a single lens reflex The fresnel lenses are available from Edmund camera with a but an amateur Scientific Company, 300 Edscorp Bldg, flash unit would be woefully inadequate.The Barrington, N.J. 08007. For a 200-250mm solution would be to turn the amateur flash use stock number 40,803 ($7.25) unit into a telephoto flash. and mount it 8V2 inches in front of the flash Telephoto flash is simply the processof For a 300-500mm lens use stock number adapting a shoe mount amateur flash unit to 60,498 ($7.00) and mount it 13inches in front of Illuminate selected faraway subjects rather the flash. The should be mounted than any or all nearby subjects.To do this the on camera lenses which do not twist to focus hght must be redirected. When leaves a suchas Leica, Novoflex, etc. Onmy Novoflex flash unit the angle of coverage is 45-50 I use the accessoryPistar ring with the degrees.In order to projectthe light necessary mount turned straight up. The fresnel is to redirect the light a greater distanceit is attachedby usinga smallL brace.The fresnel neceeary to redirect the light either with a lens is mountedhorizontally and parallel to the fresnel lens or a parabolic so that it film plane. The flash is mountedon the hot covers only several degrees. shoe over the camera pentaprism.The para- Flash thus modified becomes a useful tool to bolic mirror is mounted beside the camera the bird photographerwho often encounters body and allows twist focusingof the camera his subjects under less-than-ideallighting lens. The Camera 7 Maxiflash holds the flash conditions. Telephoto flash has two basic unit pointing backwardsand reflectsthe light drawbackswhich shouldbe noted. First, it can on the bird. It is available from Camera 7, 7 result in "pink eye." a horrible afflictionin Rue La Fayette 75, Parri 9e, France. In 1974 which the eye of the bird showsas a pinkorred the price was $44., but it is advisableto write reflector. This is elimiatedby catchingthe bird for a price quotationin New Francsand then when it is not looking directly at the photo- consult a bank for the current exchangerate grapher. Second, the will be "flat", The price will include air mail postage. since it is comingfrom exactly the sameangle The Honeywell 462 flash I use has a guide as the camera. But keep in mind that flat number of 56 with ASA 25 film. When I add the hghting is better than no lighting. These fresnel lens or the parabolicreflector it is an drawbacks are something to consider if effective of 190. This increase shootingfor salonprints but are not applica- enablesusage of f/5.6 at 35 feet; with ASA 64 ble if shootingto verify a sightrecord. film, f/5.6 at 50 feet or f/8 at 35 feet. These GREATLYPREFER USING available natural light figurescan serve as a guidewhen makingyour whenever possible but situations arise own tests. Probably the best way ofmeasunng which demand manipulation of the light. At the output of your flashcombination is with a the first signof low light I get out my flashunit. flashmeter. Set the meterfor the speedof your

962 AmericanBirds, September 1978 Fig. 1. Diagrammaticscheme of telefiashset-up. A. parabolicreflector B.flash unit pointing backwards C flash mount D.fiash unit E. fresnellens F. pistarring. DrawingbyT.L. DeMott favorite film and place it on a table. Pick a Leica or Novoflex, you might consider distancemarking on the lensbarrel and set the scratchinga series of thin lines along the focusto it. Back up until the flashmeter is in barrel. focus.Press the openflash button and observe ANYPHOTOGRAPHERS ADVOCATEusing a the readingon the meter. (Note: althoughthe mirror to reflect sunlight on a shaded tamingof the flashis not criticalwhen taking bird; but I have never had any successwith pictures,it iswhen testing with a meter,owing this approach. I have used automaticflash to the very small eye on the meter. Take unitsand placedthe detachableeye in front of severalreadings and use the highest. The result the fresnel lens and had limited success. The should correspondclosely with the above problem with automaticflash is that it never grade.) Determinethe correct aperturefor gives off exactly the same amount of light each distance marking on the lens barrel when it is repeatedin the samesituation and speedscomputing in the field. If you use a thus it is not for perfectionists.I prefer to use

Volume 32, Number 5 963 Fig. 2. Barred Owl in availablelight Fig. 3. BarredOwl usingtelephoto flash

Fig.4. Barn Owl, usingtelephoto flash, withparabolic mirror. Lensprefocused to $Sfeet. Pink eyewill occurif bird is looking directlyinto camera. flashin the manualmode and be assuredof the flash. These accessoriesare light, relatively light output. I shouldmention here that the inexpensive, and are capable of greatly 283 advertisestelephoto flash. I have improvingsome marginal pictorial situations. investigatedthis claim and found that they use Bibliography a small fresnel lens close to the unit which "Tele Flash?You Bet!! It's Simple" by Ed Scully, increasestheguide number from 60to 87. The ModernPhotography, August 1971, p.78. devicesI have described would change the "Keppleron theSLR" by HerbertKeppler, Vivitar guidenumber to 200. ModernPhotography, September 1972, p. 16. The pictures accompanyingthis article --904 Mr. HolyokePlace, Swarthmore, show some practicalapplications of telephoto PA 19081.

964 American Birds, September 1978