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Photo Forum / Film Photography / 35 mm / November 2004Older SLR and Red Eye Reduction Flash
I'm starting to shoot more with my old Pentax ME-Super and would like to get a new/used flash to operate with it. I notice that the flashes from that era, the AF series, don't have red eye reduction. Am I wrong on this topic? Can anyone recommend a flash to use with this body with red eye reduction? I would prefer it to be a Pentax unit. My primary use is just indoor candid shots of people...gatherings, holidays, etc. Thanks in advance. They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red eye" affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case with every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4 inches above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will rarely have a problem. Better yet, bounce that flash and you'll do much better than any 'red eye reduction" mode can offer. Walt Hanks > I'm starting to shoot more with my old Pentax ME-Super and would like > to get a new/used flash to operate with it. I notice that the flashes [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks in advance. > They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red eye" > affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case with > every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4 inches > above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will rarely > have a problem. Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction" feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes several times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective. If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the lens as possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye will not be a problem. One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye correction these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images are analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes. Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well. Just touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without affecting the eye color. Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan your film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was. > > They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red > eye" [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan your > film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was. I never did many inside shots with my SLR but did a lot of them with my Digital Rebel this summer using the built in flash. What I noticed is that some people are prone to red eyes. What I mean is that while most people would have red eyes from time to time, some would always have red eyes. I correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing. I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420 :) Just have your subjects not look into the camera lens. Have them focus insted on some thing above or to the side of the camera. This eliminates red eye plus will keep them from having the floating yellow spot after the flash. Been doing that for years. Works great. >>>They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red >> [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing. > I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420 :) > > > They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red > > eye" [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing. > I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420 :) It may not be as strange as it appears. If some peoples' retinas tend to "open" more than others' then there is a greater potential for red-eye. Unfortunately, red-eye is not the only problem associated with flash. Harsh shadows and a flat image usually accompany images taken with a single flash. While it may sometimes be necessary to use flash, I try to find a way to exploit available light whenever possible. There is something about a photo lit with a single flash that screams "Amateur." > It may not be as strange as it appears. > > If some peoples' retinas tend to "open" more than others' then there is a > greater potential for red-eye. The retina doesn't change size. You're thinking of the iris' pupil. The pupil dilates in low light (or when sexually aroused... perhaps the result of evolution giving less than lovely girls the benefit of softer focus...?) http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/eyeret.html > Unfortunately, red-eye is not the only problem associated with flash. Harsh > shadows and a flat image usually accompany images taken with a single flash. > > While it may sometimes be necessary to use flash, I try to find a way to > exploit available light whenever possible. There is something about a photo > lit with a single flash that screams "Amateur." Not if the flash is directed at a ceiling or wall. This softens the light and fills the background while usually getting rid of redeye. Having said that, what screams "pro" or at least accomplished amateur is judicious balance of natural and flash light... the later usually as fill. Cheers, Alan.  Signature-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm -- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm -- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin -- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch. > Not if the flash is directed at a ceiling or wall. This softens the light and > fills the background while usually getting rid of redeye. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Cheers, > Alan. This is exactly what I'd like to explore once I get my new flash. The last not built in flash I had was pre-TTL. I had to read the aperture to use from a distance vs. ISO chart printed at its back :) |
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