any reason to use flash if you have a strobe?

[Scotttyd]

I was practicing the other day with my camera in the local pool, trying different settings etc. On the way home I got to think, if I have a strobe, is there anytime I would turn it off and just use the camera's internal flash? I cannot think of a time you would, but my curiousity is getting the best of me. I would think if you have something to far away to use the strobe, the camera's flash would be equally worthless. The only time I could think to is if your strobe is just to powerfull, but then would you not simply turn down the exposure??

 

[herman]

I can't think of any reason to use just the flash. Most of the time I keep mine covered, like you, I need it to drive my strobe but there are times I uncover it so that I get light from a couple of angles instead of one. For instance, I may move my main strobe over a subject to light it from the top and use my camera flash to light it from straight ahead. But to use just the internal flash....can't think of a good reason to.......Well, one thing did just come to mind, IF your main strobe can not be turned down, moved or the camera F-stopped enough to keep the shot from being overexposed AND your flash is controlable enough to do so, I guess that might be a time to use just the flash. My 5050's flash is very controlable but so is the Inon so I have never had a reason to do so.

Scotty at the local pool reef.

 

[seaducer]

My optical link fell off one night and only the onboard flash fired on an octopus. Made for a really cool effect.

For artistic effect I may, otherwise I can't think of a reason. You can get a variable power strobe and add a difuser if you need some light but not alot...

 

[Larry C]

Fish or Octopus in a hole, where you can't fit the strobe.

 

[Scotttyd]

I can't think of any reason to use just the flash. Most of the time I keep mine covered, like you, I need it to drive my strobe but there are times I uncover it so that I get light from a couple of angles instead of one. For instance, I may move my main strobe over a subject to light it from the top and use my camera flash to light it from straight ahead. But to use just the internal flash....can't think of a good reason to.......Well, one thing did just come to mind, IF your main strobe can not be turned down, moved or the camera F-stopped enough to keep the shot from being overexposed AND your flash is controlable enough to do so, I guess that might be a time to use just the flash. My 5050's flash is very controlable but so is the Inon so I have never had a reason to do so.

Scotty at the local pool reef.

great pic!!

bye the way, ikelite emailed me and they are sending a fix for the halo problem, a black rubber band to fill in the gaps, hopefully it will work,

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

It may depend on the camera. Here is a link to a collection of strictly stock flash photo's with my Oly 5050. I doubt a strobe would have improved the majority of these shots.

halemano : photos : GreaterUluaFlash- powered by SmugMug

A strobe for this system is typically NOT ttl, while the auto/P stock setting does do ttl. These pics were mostly taken during scooter dives, which are problematic for strobe systems.