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D3100 FlashHow to force it to fire.

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Posted by Adco: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 05:48

1^st Post

I have a D3100 and I am using it with a Sigma 105mm Macro lems. I want to take pics of insects primarily. I was advised to get an external flash to help me light up the subjects. At the moment I get reasonable shots (see my gallery) using ambient light only.

The question is this: how do I make the camera fire the flash even if it thinks it is not needed? I am shooting in "P" mode. I am looking for a setting like the one on a mobile phone where you can force the flash to fire every time.

Also, am I going about the Macro route correctly? I see there are also LED Macro rings available but the reviews aren't great. Any comments on LED rings?

Posted by Robert: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 07:13

2^nd Post

Simple, press the button which raises the flash, it should fire for every image while it's raised.

If you are in fully auto mode you may need to point the camera into a dark area or with the lens cap momentarily else the camera may not raise the flash, even if you press the flash raise button. My 3300 is a bit picky about raising the flash in fully auto mode if it thinks it isn't needed.

A tip, if the flash is overpowering the lighting is to drape a piece of white paper tissue over the flash, it will defuse the flash and cut it's brightness so it's a less intense pinpoint of light. A tab of sticky tape will hold it in place if needed.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by Adco: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 07:47

3^rd Post

Robert wrote:
Simple, press the button which raises the flash, it should fire for every image while it's raised.

If you are in fully auto mode you may need to point the camera into a dark area or with the lens cap momentarily else the camera may not raise the flash, even if you press the flash raise button. My 3300 is a bit picky about raising the flash in fully auto mode if it thinks it isn't needed.

A tip, if the flash is overpowering the lighting is to drape a piece of white paper tissue over the flash, it will defuse the flash and cut it's brightness so it's a less intense pinpoint of light. A tab of sticky tape will hold it in place if needed.Duh! That is so easy! Who would have thought....Thanks for that.

Posted by Robert: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 10:28

4^th Post

My pleasure, the D200 and D300's work exactly the same way

My problem is the D3300 flash popping up in broad daylight! Gaffer tape fixes it, but it's still annoying.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by Eric: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 13:06

5^th Post

Adco wrote:
I have a D3100 and I am using it with a Sigma 105mm Macro lems. I want to take pics of insects primarily. I was advised to get an external flash to help me light up the subjects. At the moment I get reasonable shots (see my gallery) using ambient light only.

The question is this: how do I make the camera fire the flash even if it thinks it is not needed? I am shooting in "P" mode. I am looking for a setting like the one on a mobile phone where you can force the flash to fire every time.

Also, am I going about the Macro route correctly? I see there are also LED Macro rings available but the reviews aren't great. Any comments on LED rings?
It's my experience that the more hardware you wave at an insect, the more likely you will scare it off! This is especially true in the field.

Switching the flash on, in P mode, will force the camera to use its flash shutter sync speed. Not sure what that speed is for the D3100 but it may be too slow for moving bugs...and it may cause the camera to choose too wide an aperture ...that isn't ideal for macro.

____________________
Eric

Posted by Eric: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 13:21

6^th Post

Robert wrote:
Simple, press the button which raises the flash, it should fire for every image while it's raised.

If you are in fully auto mode you may need to point the camera into a dark area or with the lens cap momentarily else the camera may not raise the flash, even if you press the flash raise button. My 3300 is a bit picky about raising the flash in fully auto mode if it thinks it isn't needed.

A tip, if the flash is overpowering the lighting is to drape a piece of white paper tissue over the flash, it will defuse the flash and cut it's brightness so it's a less intense pinpoint of light. A tab of sticky tape will hold it in place if needed.
At a school reunion (Jan's) I was wandering round taking impromptu shots with a serviette wedged over the flash on my D300 ...while holding a plate of food in the other hand. Caused a great deal of amusement...and got lots of spontaneous smiles.

____________________
Eric

Posted by jk: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 14:10

7^th Post

Teeheee.
They didnt know what a good photographer you were Eric!

____________________
Still learning after all these years!
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Posted by Eric: Sun Nov 12th, 2017 14:56

8^th Post

jk wrote:
Teeheee.
They didnt know what a good photographer you were Eric!
WERE?

:lol:

____________________
Eric

Posted by Adco: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 04:20

9^th Post

Eric wrote:
Adco wrote:
I have a D3100 and I am using it with a Sigma 105mm Macro lems. I want to take pics of insects primarily. I was advised to get an external flash to help me light up the subjects. At the moment I get reasonable shots (see my gallery) using ambient light only.

The question is this: how do I make the camera fire the flash even if it thinks it is not needed? I am shooting in "P" mode. I am looking for a setting like the one on a mobile phone where you can force the flash to fire every time.

Also, am I going about the Macro route correctly? I see there are also LED Macro rings available but the reviews aren't great. Any comments on LED rings?
It's my experience that the more hardware you wave at an insect, the more likely you will scare it off! This is especially true in the field.

Switching the flash on, in P mode, will force the camera to use its flash shutter sync speed. Not sure what that speed is for the D3100 but it may be too slow for moving bugs...and it may cause the camera to choose too wide an aperture ...that isn't ideal for macro.Generally, the insects are either stationary or moving very slowly anyway. The fast moving or flying insects don't get snapped because they just become a blurry mess.

I don't think the additional bulk will make a difference. Either they don't care and stay put or they see you coming and move to the other side of the leaf or stalk. I found that a fly on a leaf can stay put for a long time. It's as if they are sleeping. A leaf hopper never seems to sleep and I always only get a fleeting glimpse of them as they disappear.

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 05:50

10^th Post

Adco wrote:
Eric wrote:
Adco wrote:
I have a D3100 and I am using it with a Sigma 105mm Macro lems. I want to take pics of insects primarily. I was advised to get an external flash to help me light up the subjects. At the moment I get reasonable shots (see my gallery) using ambient light only.

The question is this: how do I make the camera fire the flash even if it thinks it is not needed? I am shooting in "P" mode. I am looking for a setting like the one on a mobile phone where you can force the flash to fire every time.

Also, am I going about the Macro route correctly? I see there are also LED Macro rings available but the reviews aren't great. Any comments on LED rings?
It's my experience that the more hardware you wave at an insect, the more likely you will scare it off! This is especially true in the field.

Switching the flash on, in P mode, will force the camera to use its flash shutter sync speed. Not sure what that speed is for the D3100 but it may be too slow for moving bugs...and it may cause the camera to choose too wide an aperture ...that isn't ideal for macro.Generally, the insects are either stationary or moving very slowly anyway. The fast moving or flying insects don't get snapped because they just become a blurry mess.

I don't think the additional bulk will make a difference. Either they don't care and stay put or they see you coming and move to the other side of the leaf or stalk. I found that a fly on a leaf can stay put for a long time. It's as if they are sleeping. A leaf hopper never seems to sleep and I always only get a fleeting glimpse of them as they disappear.
I haven't done any bug photography for some years. This is the last and it was 6years ago. 8-)

. Time really does fly!

Attachment: 8FD92CF4-BAF6-4A86-8506-FD0C66B332F0.jpeg (Downloaded 5 times)

____________________
Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 05:53

11^th Post

Really made me feel old as I looked back to when my wife and I were doing a lot of bug photography and that's....10years ago!!! :needsahug:

Attachment: FDA0B2BB-A7B6-4325-A631-F480E19CACCD.jpeg (Downloaded 5 times)

____________________
Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 05:54

12^th Post

Here's one of my wife's....

Attachment: C77B61AF-A97E-4B8D-AF21-796D80A9D154.jpeg (Downloaded 5 times)

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Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 05:57

13^th Post

Dragonflies are very obliging as they settle on bare sticks to digest their food...and don't move. The robber fly was eating its lunch ...on the side of our car!!

____________________
Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 05:58

14^th Post

Here's a shieldbug on our double glazed window...hence the shadow.

Attachment: B4FA6765-B75E-4B01-8390-E13777B3D150.jpeg (Downloaded 5 times)

____________________
Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 06:00

15^th Post

I had a bit of fun with the shield bug....caught it in a plastic cup and waited till it climbed out. It then went round and round the rim, so I decided to do a crazy multi image. Only problem was it turned round and went back the other way just as I wanted to get the 4th image. :whip:

Attachment: DB24788E-03D2-4AEA-8062-4D58847DE1A0.jpeg (Downloaded 5 times)

____________________
Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 06:07

16^th Post

Should have said ....all taken with natural light. I am not a fan of ring flash as it gives a flat lighting effect. IMHO. I did try the expensive Nikon SBR1 flash head unit. Found it good in that you can vary lighting side to side to give more shadow control ....but it was bulky and a pain to set up. (I am a lazy photograper! :lol:

)

____________________
Eric

Posted by Adco: Mon Nov 13th, 2017 06:45

17^th Post

Nice shots Eric. Thanks for sharing.

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