Strobe Filters?

[Tazzie]

I wonder if someone can help me please?

I've recently bought my first strobe (Fuji UW-120) and it's come with three different "filters". Can anyone tell me what I should be using for what type of photography please? They basically range from seethrough ish to completely non seethrough (can't think of a better way to describe it soz!)

Thanks in advance

[j.w.]

What colour are the filters?

John.

[triplefin]

They are called diffusers.........cos they diffuse the light!
Basically depending on which one you use they will cut down the harsh ness of the light and often spread it slighty as well, so the light is softened. But then that does mean it wont be so bright. It really depends on your diffusers and there should be some sort of guideline with them. As far as I can remember the average diffuser will alter the light by about 1F stop...........however as I usually use auto most of the time I havnt a clue!!! But I do use my diffuser most of the time and just leave it on as I prefer the softer effect it has and found I was getting a lot of things over exposed where it was too harsh, paticularly very close stuff. I think it will be a question of just experiment to find what is good for you.
I am sure someone will be able to give you a far better answer with more info soon.

[Okeanos]

I have the same strobe, I find that with macro I use full power and no filter or no.1 filter. On wide angle I use low power and no.3 filter for some of the closer shots to no.1 for more distance shots.

[Tazzie]

John - they are all white

Triplefin - no destructions at all with them I'm afraid

From what you and Okeanos have said I guess it's a case of attach all three to the housing and take the same shot with each of them to see the different effects then.

F stops Don't think I can change them on this camera

Thanks all

[Okeanos]

I have attached a loose cable tie to the flash cover, then a cable tie through each filter connecting it to the loose cable tie.

The loose cable tie is just long enough to allow me to put the diffusers in and out of the holder without loosing them.

If I was near it now I'd take a photo of it, but its at home and I'm at work

[Cussy]

Tazzie
Best thing you could do is to wait 'til its dark, find a nice dimly lit corner of a room, place something there to photo and try them out. Try them in wide angle and in macro. If you can see what they are doing in a nice environment like that you will get a better understanding of which one to use underwater and in whichever situation. I still practice shots in a dimly lit room as it means I don't waste valuable dive time and its a pretty good analogue for the diving environment.
HTH,
Rob

[Tazzie]

Okeanos - cheers chap, I was thinking of doing soemthing similar but with corded elastic to give me a fighting chance of changing them without too much hastle! If you do get chance to post a pic however please do just so I can check what's in my head is what you're talking about

Cussy - thankoo Excuse the dumb question but I take it from your answer the difusers are only to difuse the flash and reduce glare - will there be a similar amount of glare underwater as there is out of it?

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by Tazzie

Cussy - thankoo Excuse the dumb question but I take it from your answer the difusers are only to difuse the flash and reduce glare - will there be a similar amount of glare underwater as there is out of it?

It will be slightly different, but you will get an idea of what the diffuser does (spread light, makes light softer etc). I found that a lot of practice with a very shiny object really helped me with my strobe work. I then learnt to try and catch the object with the edge of the strobe beam as opposed to the full on light levels (reduces bright spots, reduces back-scatter, gives better continuous light levels etc). The dimly lit room is also excellent at learning about your cameras auto focusing. Some cameras prefer flat areas of objects, but my Oly wants to focus on sharp edges. Without a lot of topside practice I would have continued to a) either not get focus at all, or b) end up with lots of out of focus shots. If you have access to a pool then practice your heart out in it, save wasting learning curve time during the real thing.
Rob

[Tazzie]

Superb, many thanks for your help Cussy