MaxTech Transceiver - Manual (Page 48)

49
Eq ualization A djus tmen ts
W ith all the variable factors above it may seem that perf ormin g the m ath nec ess ary for
equalization is daunting. Here are some techniques for fine- tuning or adjusting
equalization times without using specific math:
On some 35m m c ameras you can gauge timing without using film. If your camera
allow s t rig ger ing with the film bac k op en you ca n ver ify s ync hroniz ation visu ally.
1. Perf orm th e steps above to get bas ic equ alization started
2. Poin t the f lash at a blan k wa ll
3. On the camera NOT attached to the flash, set the shutter speed to 1/60
4. Open that camera’s back
5. Point the camera at the same wall as the flash
6. As the camera and flash are being triggered look through the shutter plane
t hr ou g h t he le ns at th e lig h t f ro m th e f la sh h it tin g th e w all. C A U T IO N : M A K E
SURE the flash is set to a comfortable level for your eyes!
7. N ote the s hap e of th e light bu rs t. If it is a perf ect b righ t cir cle th en th e cam era is
in sync. If the circle is dark or has a hard line running along one edge then the
cam era is not in syn c. T he h ard lin e is th e sh utter in m otion w hile th e flas h is
still generating light
8. Ad jus t the s hu tter s peed up or dow n u ntil you s ee a per fec t cir cle
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The delay time setting screen is instantly active. W hile in numeric entry mode
you can adjust the delay up or down and the displayed value will be executed on the
next trigger. Using the “through-the-back” method above or by shooting film, Polaroid,
or dig ital you c an ad jus t the d elay and view the res ults to m ore s uit your sp ecif ic
camera’s timings.
The mathematical formulas used thus far are designed for equalizing at 1/125. The
final off set n um ber (0 .002 5 for exam ple) m ay need to be adju sted when attemp ting to
equalize at faster shutter speeds or slower ones with wide lag variation cameras. The
offs et num ber tries to move the f lash b urs t to the m iddle of th e exposu re to
compensate for drifting lag time. Experiment with different offsets to fine tune your
sh utter s peed, f lash d uration, and cam era timing com binations . T oo long or s hort of
an of fs et an d you lim it a c am era’s abilit y to ge t the expo su re if the lag d rif ts , even by a
sm all amoun t.
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Vis it h tt p: // ww w .p oc k et wiz ar d. com / for m ore inf orm ation on cam era s pec ific
equalization tec hniq ues . As more in form ation bec omes available it will be pos ted
there.