Sony Wireless Flash : Ratio with F42am & F36am

So, you don't have a F58am or a F43am, but you have a F42am and a F36am, this does not mean you can't do wireless flash ratio setting with these two flashes. Yes, I am talking about a manual flash of Sony HVL F42am and a semi-auto Sony flash the HVL F36am.

A little introduction of this flash, the HVL F36am. It is a flash that was "carried over" from Minolta's flash, the 3600HS(D). Sony basically didn't change anything at all of this flash when it "migrate" from Minolta to Sony. The only thing that is obvious between these two is: the branding.

A little bit intro about HVL F36am

Sony HVL F36am is a semi-auto flash where the user has certain limited setting on this flash. The only manual setting for the flash is its zoom. The flash power output is entirely control by Sony's TTL or ADI system.

This flash is compatible with Sony HSS system and it listen to Sony WL flash language.

We can have certain control over this flash's output power by adjusting in-camera flash compensation level. If you do notice at your camera, there are two set of exposure compensation: one is for normal exposure compensation and the other one, which is shown under the exposure compensation scale, is the flash output compensation. Depending on the camera model, the flash compensation, similar to the exposure one, can be adjusted from -3 to +3. By adjusting the flash compensation, we could manage to control the flash output.

How does it work ?

Assuming the Sony's ADI system work flawlessly. First, we measure the exposure of the scene we wish to photograph and got a reading about it, say 1/60s, f/3.5, ISO200. Took the shot, and everything look ok. Then a F36am in WL mode, zoomed at 85mm, placed about 2 feet away from the subject, about 2 feet higher, on a flash stand,  is added to the scene so to create a key light onto a model. I wished that the face of the subject would about 1/3 stop brighter than the ambient. What I do is simply set the flash compensation to +1/3.

This is what been done in the camera: first, a preflash will be fired to calculate the exact flash output amount. Due to the command from in-camera flash compensation is set to +1/3, hence the flash output power would add another 1/3 stop. As simple as that, everything is calculated and done within the system.

Let's talk about flash ratio with a F42am

A Sony flash HVL F42am does offer a manual setting for the flash. Couple with F36am, flash ratio can be done with in-camera adjustment as I described above. I can show you the result of flash ratio done similarly as above.

Let me welcome my model of the day. She is the Goddess of Venus, if I am not mistaken. Well, let's call her Ms V then.

This shot was taken with ambient exposure with no flash. Flashes will be added next. The ambient exposure was recoded at 1/8s, f/2.0, ISO200. And the colour was a terrible tungsten yellowish colour !

Then a flash F42am was added into the scene. The flash was set at power level 1/8, zoomed at 105mm, placed about 3 feet away from the model, at camera left.

A control shot with flash fired from camera left, set at power 1/8, 105mm zoom.

The second flash, which is the HVL F36am was placed at camera right, about 2 feet high from the model, zoom at 85mm, pointed at the model's left face. 

Control pic with HVL F36am from camera right, high up. 

(Flash F42am from camera left was turned off.)

So, how do we play ratio with these two flashes ?

Assuming the F42am from camera left is the "right flash exposure" under this condition. What if I set my in-camera flash compensation to -3 ? Would the output of flash F36am would deducted to -3 stop from the F42am ?

Looking at the right side of the face of the model, the face is constantly illuminated by the flash F42am by comparing to the control photo as shown above. But on the left side of the face, however, is about 3 stop lower than the recommended (TTL flash output) flash exposure by comparing to the 2nd control photo as shown above. 

So, does the F36am flash output is -3 stops lower than the F42am's 1/8 level? I couldn't confirm as I don't have a flash meter to measure it, and flash meter can't do the measurement because of the pre-flashing of Sony WL system. However, by eyeballing between the illumination between both sides of the faces, it's a different ratio about 1:2.5 or something like that. Nonetheless, there is a ratio between both sides of the face.

Next, I set my in-camera flash compensation to -2, -1 and 1 respectively and the results are shown as follows:

F42am (level 1/8) Camera left, F36am (in-camera flash compensation -2) camera right.

F42am (level 1/8) Camera left, F36am (in-camera flash compensation -1) camera right.

F42am (level 1/8) Camera left, F36am (in-camera flash compensation 0) camera right.

I stopped my "experiment" at in-camera flash compensation at 0 since the effect of flash compensation +1, +2 and +3 is not easily distinguished under my in-door condition. 

One may say, when he/she wishes to play wireless flash photography, he/she may have to set the flash power manually as TTL system isn't trustworthy. I beg to differ though, because sometime, a TTL system may free us from technical aspect of photography, and we could concentrate on composition, and light direction of the subject we are photographing. Of course, this is only my own personal thought; I am just a lazy man to do the setting, and would trust the technology in giving me the best result. :p

My Very Own Review on Sony Wireless Ratio Flash System - Part II

I did my very own review on Sony Wireless Flash Ratio system way back in 2008. Sony's flash HVL F58am, when couple with a right camera body,  could be a commander for Sony's Wireless Flash Ratio system. I was amazed by the this powerful function that Sony is offering, but this function is very much ignore by many Sony Alpha owners. This is understandable as Sony's WL flash ratio functions is not easy to master: It is not well explained in the user manual of HVL F58am itself, is only available in limited Sony's huge line of DSLRs, one need two flashes to enable him/her to enjoy the function and there aren't much article that can be referred to explain more on Sony's WL flash ratio system.

The cameras that are compatible with F58am's WL flash ratio functions are Sony DSLR Alpha A700, Sony DSLR Alpha A850 and Alpha A900. I am glad to know that Sony's new SLT camera A77 offers this WL flash ratio function. Another good news is that Sony's latest flash, the "mini cobra", HVL F43am could tag itself and ready to perform into Sony's wireless flash ratio system.

My first review was done based on auto modes for the camera and flashes, i.e. P-mode for the camera, and TTL mode for the flashes. However, there are other combination of settings that can be done for this flash ratio system. One of the possibilities would be what if one of the flashes in the group is set to manual mode, would the flash will be ratio'd out? I will show the result afterwards.

The Preparation

I am using my workhorse, the Sony DSLR Alpha A700 to perform the test. I have one Sony flash HVL F58am and one Sony flash HVL F42am. Hence, I could only carry out a two group ratio flash test, which is [CTRL] and [RMT]. The "model" chosen for the test for this time is the famous Beethoven !

Please welcome, Mr Beethoven !

 Is he Mr Beethoven??

Anyway, let's call him Mr B then.

Mr B is chosen since he could maintain his pose for a very long time, he never charge me a cent for this test out and the most important thing is: he works overtime with no extra charges.

I temporary convert a bed-room of my house into a small studio as shown:

The HVL F58am and the camera is mounted on tripod, about 1.5m away from Mr B, meanwhile the F42am is mounted on the light stand, about 1.5m away from Mr B, and the flash head is pointed at the side of Mr B. Hence, the axis of the F42am is 90 degree perpendicular to the camera axis. The height of the camera and the flash F42am is adjusted so that the camera axis and the flash axis is on the same plane. Flash F42am is placed such this way so the flash could create a side lighting to illuminate the left face of Mr B, and create deep shadow to his right face. Any on-camera fill then can be easily spotted and the comparison between illumination ratio can be roughly judge. Light meter is no use in this test because of the pre-flash communication pulse between the commander F58am and off camera F42am.

The General Settings

The shutter speed of the camera will be set to its highest sync speed, which for A700 is 1/200th of a second. The aperture is f/11 and the is ISO 200. With this setting, the ambient would have no chance to deter the final result of my testing.

Ambient : 1.6s, f/8, ISO 200, WB: Auto

The other settings of my camera are: white balance: auto, DRO : off , metering mode: center-weighted and in-camera flash compensation : 0. Lens used is CZ24-70, zoom at 70mm.

The HVL F58am is set to [CTRL] and the F42am is set to WL. Since I have only one F58am, and one F42am, hence I could only do a 2 group flash ratio function (Group 1 is F58am on camera and Group 2 [RMT] is F42am, off camera).

Test Result

So, what does flash ratio 1:1:1 means ? And what does ratio 1:4:1 means ? We will see the result in a short while. At the mean time,  two photos was taken as control shots: direct flash in ADI mode and off camera flash shot with TTL mode.

 Control shot: direct flash, ADI mode.

Control shot: off camera flash, TTL mode.

Test No 1: All flashes in TTL mode

Apart from the camera is on Manual mode, all flashes, the on-camera F58am and off-camera F42am, are in TTL mode.

First Combination, flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:1:1

(Please ignore the [RMT2] setting. Same as follows.)

As expected, the flash intensity of the on-camera and off camera flash is equal. (They aren't much different contrast on the face of Mr B.)

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:2:1

The off camera flash's intensity is 2 times brighter than the on-camera flash. Hence, there is some contrast on the face of Mr B.

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:4:1

Off camera flash's intensity is 4 times brighter than the on-camera flash. The contrast is more significant on the face.

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:8:1

The off camera flash intensity is 8 times brighter than the on camera flash.

And lastly, Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:16:1

The off camera flash is 16 times brighter than the on camera flash.

This is consistent with the test result I did back in 2008 where the flashes and the camera were set in auto mode (P-mode for camera, TTL mode for the cameras.)

Test No 2:  On-camera flash (F58am) in manual mode, set at level 1/32, off camera flash F42am (at TTL mode)

For this test, the Commander flash of F58am is at manual mode with ratio command being key in, and the off camera F42am is at TTL mode. What would be the result for such combination ? Would the flash intensity of the off-camera flash be ratio'd as well based on pre-set power level of the commander? Let's see the result.


The F58am is set to level 1/32, the lowest power available on the flash. 

A Control shot with on - camera flash F58am power level at 1/32. Off-camera flash off.

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:1:1

The flash intensity for F42am is equal with the on-camera flash F58am. There is no much contrast ratio on the face of Mr B.

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:2:1

The off camera flash intensity is 2 times stronger than the on-camera flash when comparing the flash lighting on Mr Beethoven's face. Notice that the lighting on the left side of Mr Beethoven's face is constant when comparing this photo with the one above.

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:4:1

Off camera flash intensity is, by theory, 4 times stronger than on-camera F58am

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:8:1

The off camera flash intensity is 8 time stronger than the on-camera F58am.

Flash ratio : [CRTL]:[RMT]:[RMT2] = 1:16:1

The off camera flash F42am flash intensity is 16 times brighter than on-camera F58am. And I could hear the sound of F42am charging up. The sign of the F42am is fired at high power.

From the test result, even with the on-board flash F58am is set to manual, the F42am flash output will be ratio'd accordingly based on flash level of 1/32 of the F58am.

What if when the off camera flash is set to manual, and on camera is set to TTL mode ? This is what I am going to show on next testing.

Test No 3:  On-camera flash (F58am) in TTL mode, off camera flash F42am set at manual mode, level 1/8

For this test, the off camera flash, the F42am is at manual mode, the level is set at 1/8, and the on-camera flash commander, the F58am, is at TTL mode.  I would expect the result would be the similar to Test No. 2 with the reversed effect. Here are the outcomes:

Exif : 1/200s, f/11, ISO200

Exif : 1/200s, f/11, ISO200

Exif : 1/200s, f/11, ISO200

Exif : 1/200s, f/11, ISO200

Exif : 1/200s, f/11, ISO200

Well, a picture says a thousand words, and Mr B tells a lot while doing this test. The result is expected where the intensity of the off camera flash is constant (since it's on manual with fix level at 1/8) and the on-camera flash output power is reduced accordingly.

This is different from Test No 2, where the flash output for on-camera F58am is constant (set at manual mode, level 1/32), but the off camera flash output power is increased accordingly.

So, what if all the flashes are set at manual mode ? Will the off camera flash be triggered and the on-camera flash would provide on-axis fill ?

Test No 4:  On-camera flash (F58am) in manual mode , off camera flash F42am set at manual mode


For this test, I would like to see if when all flashes are in manual mode, would the on-camera F58am be used as an on-axis fill flash ? Would the on-camera F58am "downgrade" to a commander only when at manual mode ? 

The on-camera F58am is at level 1/32, and the off camera flash F42am's level is changed accordingly.

As expected, manual setting for the flashes are possible, and on-camera fill flash flash can be done. This is particularly useful when a ring flash adapter is used or when an on-axis flash is needed to provide a on-camera fill effect. The F58am on-camera commander could be as the commander for the off-camera flashes as well as acting as an on-axis fill.

Manual settings for the flashes are possible, but would the in-flash power ratio effect the manual output of the flashes? In other word, will the flash be ratio'd accordingly even both flashes are in manual mode? The next test will answer these questions. 


Test No 5:  On-camera flash (F58am) in manual mode (level 1/16), off camera flash F42am set at manual mode (level 1/4) with different in-flash ratio settings

All flashes, the on-camera commander, F58am, and the off camera, F42am, are at manual mode. F58am is at level 1/16 and F42am is at level 1/4. Such combinations is chosen so the "base ratio" would be a constant between two flashes. Hence, if the ratio function kick in, the effect could be compared. However, since everything is in manual, I wouldn't expect to see the flash output will be ratio'd out. 

Well, it's expected that manual modes will overwrite the TTL function and the in-flash ratio setting will not affect the output of the flashes, provided the camera is on manual mode as well. This would not happen on auto modes of my camera (P, A and S modes).

And here is the comparison chart of different WL flash ratio output:

(Click for larger view.)

Sony's wireless ratio flash system is a very interesting function that offer limited controls over the flash output ratios when using Sony wireless flash system. Although the flashes' couldn't be adjusted in the commander under manual mode, but by adjusting the flashes' intensity of the off camera flashes under TTL mode, the outcome would be quite similar with that of manually adjusted one. This is particularly useful for a multiple flashes set up shoot in a control situation, such as in-door shooting; the ambient consistency would not effect the TTL system of the camera, hence the flash power could be "adjusted" accordingly.


Next, I will carry out more test on Sony wireless flash ratio system, and hopefully, if God permits, I shall carry out a three group flash ratio test out with a F43am. :D

Charriots of the Gods

I am not a religious man. But I am not a god-less free thinker. I have a religious teaching to follow with and as a guidance of my life. The teaching from Confucius, Taoist and Buddhism are my guidance. These teachings, however, do not much cover the God chapter. Though I am a God believer that there is only one God regardless of which religion someone is following, be you are a Christian, Muslim, Hinddu or Chinese believers. As I believe God's teachings are to bring goodness to man-kind. And religion blossoms as different people has different cultures, hence such religion fit to such people.

During my teenage, I could keep myself in deep thinking of the existence of one-self, and the God. Once I am boldly enough to assume that there is only one God and He hand down His teaching through different languages, hence religion is created. And I was boldly assume that God is actually aliens from outer-space ! That was when I was 17.

Until recently when I watched the History Channel I know I am not alone to have this kind of "weird" thinking. There is a series of documentary in the History Channel titled as "Alien Astronauts" where the evidence of Earth being visited by alien in the pre-historic time is discussed. From there, I got to know Mr Eric Von Daniken and his book, "Chariots of the Gods".

Shame of me, this is my ever first English book (apart from text book of school and university). With "heavy heart", I started reading this book and got fascinated by the facts and hypothesis he made. He got my imagination runs wild !

First, Mr Von Daniken started his stories with a suppose that in our near future, man would have developed enough to travel to outer space out of our solar system into deep space. Then our astronauts found a Earth-like planet with alien creatures live on the surface. Due to the need of refueling the spaceship, our astronauts land on the planet, and started to build bases and harvesting minerals that required for the fly-home. The humanoid creature that live on the planet is so under develop that they resemble pre-historic human age. Few of the brave locals approach our astronauts who came from the sky with gigantic flying spaceship. Our astronauts were kind enough to interact with the locals, and hence the brave ones were elected as priests, or even kings. The local treat our astronauts as gods with advance technology. Our astronauts teach them simple knowledge of sciences, arts, numbers and mathematics. When the minerals required for a fly-home is enough, our astronauts left the planet. Since then, the locals treat our astronauts as Gods with powerful power!

Of course this kind of assumption so science fiction like, but it sounds logic to me. From the number itself, we, human or homo-sapien, can't be the only intelligent species in the vast universe! Someone, or something must have habitat one planet out there, unknown to us, that may one day we would contact them.

The book continues with stories and finding and paintings and writing from ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Sumerian, Greek and Hindu. Surprisingly, the stories of how God decent from sky is so similar in the holy text of these civilizations. That could be explain, in my opinion, that geographycally these civilizations are quite near to each other. People may travel from one place to another, carrying with them their legend, and been translated into language and culture that fit to them.

But what been written down and drawn by the ancient people of Latin America is really an un-explain. What Mr von Daniken says are quite logic as no way the ancient people would produce such a precise workmanship that require very precise accuracy! How would the ancient people move that gigantic rocks ? Why are the faces of that rock so alien-like ? Why pyramid?

One thing I don't understand is that Mr von Daniken never consider the myths told by Chinese as part of the "prove" that alien did visited Earth. For example: there is a myth about flooding in ancient China. There is a myth about how earth and heaven was form by a giant awaken from an "egg". There is a myth about how human been made from dirt. And the the myth of a princess flew to the moon. I myself had studied these Chinese mythology and felt convinced that our ancient Chinese did interact with the alien! Then why the story of God of the Chinese myth is so different from the near-by civilization ? Can this be explain as geographically China is separated from India and the Middle East by the Himalayas? Hence the story of God descending from heaven with gigantic spaceship is much different from the Chinese one.

The whole book writes about alien-traces in religion texts and ruin city walls of some major civilizations. It is a fun book to read. Many things seems to be un-explained can be explain by von Daniken. His points are some how valid and logic to me.


It's a nice book to read. I don't consider this book as an anti-religious book as it never challenge the existence of God. You can treat it as a science fiction story books, but what is written inside is too real to be fake. It's a fun book to be read.

Ad-hoc Connection Between PC and Mac with Internet Access

I am always a PC user until I bought myself a pre-own MacBook Pro some months ago. I don't call myself a total shift from PC to Mac as my main working station is still my Dell computer which run under Windows 7. I do, however, found out that both Windows 7 and Mac Os X has lots of similarities that I have no difficulties switching between my PC and my Mac.

I used to run a virtual router on my old XP desktop computer which I could create an internet shared WiFi hotspot in my home with a Asus WiFi adaptor. The virtual program come together with the adaptor. Some clicks away, and my old XP desktop computer could turn into a WiFi hotspot. With this setting, I could have internet access for both of my desktop and laptop computer.

However, after I upgraded to Windows 7, the virtual router program no longer useable as that program is designed for Windows XP. The reason why is not known; I've tried to install the program, but the program just couldn't run. This drop me to the idea of direct computer connection via ad-hoc connection.

Back then when I was a PC user, my mind was set at that PC and Mac would not communicate in a direct or in-direct way. I didn't know that to connect both PC and Mac through ad-hoc connection is possible. Even with some settings on PC and Mac would make an ad-hoc connection with internet access for both PC and Mac is possible.

I am using Celcom internet broadband service with my PC as my main computer. My PC, which is a Dell computer would be connected to Celcom broadband, and my Mac would access to internet via ad-hoc connection through my desktop PC. And I will show you how to set up an ac-hoc connection with internet access between a PC and a Mac.

Preparation

This is my Asus Wifi adaptor. This adaptor would be plugged onto my PC as my WiFi transmitter. My Mac has its own AirPort as its WiFi receiver. Once the adaptor is plugged onto the computer, Windows 7 will set it up automatically. A wireless network connection will be created under my computer's network connections.

Network Setting Up

On my PC, I will set up a private network by bringing up the network windows as shown below:

Double click on "Set up a new connection or network". Under "Choose a connection option", select "Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network" and click "Next".

One friendly explanation what is an ad-hoc connection is all about will be shown. Read it, or skip it by clicking "Next".

In the next windows, the name of the ad-hoc network shall be named, and a password to be assigned for this network. In this example, select security type as "WEP" and I've named my network as "ExampleAdHoc". Give any name to your liking. A password has assigned to it. Check "Save this network" as well before click "Next".

If everything has done correctly, the next window will inform you that the network you have just created is ready to use.

To check if the network that has been created just now is ready to use, simply double click onto the wireless signal icon on the bottom right taskbar. A pop up windows will shown all wireless network that is available.

A "Waiting for users" prompt indicates that the network is ready to use, and waiting for any computer that want to connect with it.

Proxies

The next step is to set up the proxies for the PC. This step is important as proxies will ensure that all computers within the same network would have a fix IP address and made internet access for other computers within the network possible.

To set the PC's IP address, simply double click "Change adapter settings" that is located on the left hand side of the "Network and Sharing Center" window. A windows of "Network Connections" will be brought up as shown :

Right click on the "Wireless Network Connection" (in my case, "Wireless Network Connection 2"), and select "Properties", under "Networking" tab, select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", and click on "Properties" button.

Check "Use the following IP address:", and key in the IP addresses as shown:

Leave the "Default gateway" and "DNS severs" blank, click "Ok" and you are done with the proxies.

The next step is to share the internet connection via this wireless network that been created. This can be done by sharing the internet connection with the broadband services that is connected to my PC. I am using Celcom broadband service, hence what I did was under "Network Connections", left click the "Celcom" icon, choose properties, select "Sharing" tab, and check "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection". Select the "Home networking connection" by choosing "Wireless Network Connection" as shown:

Click "OK" and you are done with my PC. My PC now is ready to be connected as a router for other computers as well.

Setting on Mac

Since my Mac would share the internet connection via PC, hence what I should do is to assign an IP address to my Mac and to assign the router IP address, which is my PC's IP address into my Mac's network setting.

To start, simply select the "System Preferences", and select "Network" under "Internet & Wireless" section.

Under the Network window, select "Advanced..."

Select "TCP/IP" tab, under "Configure IPv4", select "Manually" and key in the IP addresses as shown below:

Click "OK", and click "Apply", and you are done !

Turn on your AirPort, and you should be able to find your network name under "Devices". Select and join the network that you've created, key in the password, and walla, you are ready to surf the internet from your Mac.