Question Choose Camera Balance of Three Ease of Use, Cost, Quality for Macro

[tursiops]

BTW we are talking about flashes, and not strobes, a strobe is something that flashes repeatedly on a specific, programmed frequency, for specific reasons. I guess people just thought 'strobe' sounded cooler, even if incorrect.

This is not a universal definition. You may be confusing the verb with the noun.

ADDED: this is one of those terms that has evolved with time. Originally, all the photographers had were continuous lights, or one-use flash bulbs. When Edgerton developed the Xenon flash tube in 1931, it was innovative because it could flash repeatedly, not just once...and could be used for stroboscopic effects to "stop" rotary motion, for example, once you got the flashing rate right. Strobe came the word used to describe a light that could flash repeatedly, whether it flashed repeatedly or not, as in strobing.

Today, in photography, "flash" and "strobe" are used interchangeably, because with the disappearance of flash bulbs there is no more confusion if you call something a flash.

Now, of course, we find folks that insist a strobe must flash repeatedly, or it is just a...well...flash. I bet they'd be surprised to discover that other terms have also evolved in photography. For example, the standard 35mm frame is 24x36mm...and is called 35mm because that is the width of the sprocketed film that was used for commercial film-making. That film was cheap and readily available. The frame size then was 18x24mm, so when the strip ran vertically in the camera or projector you had a horizontal rectangular image. When Barnack produced the first "35mm still camera" in 1912 and then Leica started commercial production in 1924, the film ran horizontally, so to keep a horizontal format the frame size was doubled to 24x36mm, and was thus called a double-frame size. Many years later some companies decided to make a smaller camera, so went back to 18x24mm, but by then the 24x36mm had become so common and standard that the new smaller cameras were called "half-frame cameras."

 

[justinthedeeps]

This is not a universal definition. You may be confusing the verb with the noun.

If you are saying that the nouns flash and strobe are technically equivalent, or that "Mini-strobe II" would be better name than "Mini-flash II", I cannot agree.

A strobe is a flash, but a flash is not necessarily a strobe. Further details in the wikipedia article.

 

[tursiops]

If you are saying that the nouns flash and strobe are technically equivalent, or that "Mini-strobe II" would be better name than "Mini-flash II", I cannot agree.

A strobe is a flash, but a flash is not necessarily a strobe. Further details in the wikipedia article.

Wikipedia is not a credible source for your argument. Sorry. I added to my post; that might help.

 

[justinthedeeps]

Ok I am glad we had this debate

Next up: when I use a close-focusing lens to photograph small subjects, I consider this micro photography. I do not consider it 'macro.' I do not use a 'macroscope' to look at microscopic things, either.

I think this also reflects some confusion (and trendy terminology) in the photography world. Because who doesn't like the cool sound of "macro lens: it makes things bigger"

 

[justinthedeeps]

And let's not get started on "I attached my 'diopter' (sic) [actually: close-up lens] for this 'shot' [firearms terminology -> photograph]"

 

[rmorgan]

If you are saying that the nouns flash and strobe are technically equivalent, or that "Mini-strobe II" would be better name than "Mini-flash II", I cannot agree.

A strobe is a flash, but a flash is not necessarily a strobe. Further details in the wikipedia article.

Actually, the full name is “Backscatter Mini Flash 2 Underwater Strobe MF-2.” So, I guess the good folks at Backscatter think the two words are synonyms. Anyway, If “strobe” is good enough for, well, everyone (including Martin Edge), I’ll stick with Wikipedia’s observation that “When using macro lenses, photographers are much more likely to use 100% strobe light for the exposure.”

 

[justinthedeeps]

Actually, the full name is “Backscatter Mini Flash 2 Underwater Strobe MF-2.” So, I guess the good folks at Backscatter think the two words are synonyms. Anyway, If “strobe” is good enough for, well, everyone (including Martin Edge), I’ll stick with Wikipedia’s observation that “When using macro lenses, photographers are much more likely to use 100% strobe light for the exposure.”

Backscatter knows their market, and people seem to like both terms. We do this for fun and enjoyment, after all.

@tursiops mentioned a working definition for 'strobe' to simply be a flash that can fire more than once. That might have been an important distinction, some time long ago. Perhaps from that [quite old] definition, we see the modern blending of terms.

Another possible definition is that a flash is typically built into the camera--or attached directly to it--whereas in studio lighting, separate standalone units are often called 'strobes'--whether or not they are flashing versus strobing. But this seems like a non-technical distinction.

An obvious example of a true strobe is say a navigational beacon or distress beacon.
Since most of our torches and flashes now also have a beacon mode, they too can operate as actual strobes.

One instance where I think a flash is in fact strobing is for programmed flash burst modes, including focus bracket/stacking shots.
The Marelux Apollo III is actually strobing here. It is definitely a strobe.

Whereas us shutterbugs snapping away manually at the flash trigger every second or so? Ok sure, we can call it whatever we find fashionable and agreeable.

 

[Bubblesong]

I don't know what the OP means by huge. I mean like 3 ft x 4 ft (90x120 cm) or so.

Yes! Wall art for over the fireplace!

 

[Nemrod]

Yes! Wall art for over the fireplace!

Then you will need this:

NA-A9III Housing for Sony A9III Camera

Now available! Technical Specifications Depth Rating 100m Dimensions 347mm(W)x 171mm(H) x 127mm(D) Weight in Air 2.65kg Buoyancy in Water 0.48kg (includes camera & battery) Port Mount N100 Front Accessory Ports 1x M24 and 1x M10 Rear Accessory Ports 1x M14 split The Sony A9 III Sony continues...

www.nauticam.com

And about $12,000 to completely outfit.

 

[PatW]

Yeah, Backscatter East is a support office, not a showroom

I checked and that looks to be the case. I think the New York area does get major scuba trade shows regularly and you might be able to get hands on then.