Focus Lights

[Midget]

How important is it that a focus light have the auto off feature when the strobe fires?

 

[Kilili]

I've shot thousands of photos and have concluded it really doesn't make any difference. Snoots could be an exception though.

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

wouldn't it be an issue if it is a night shot with the strobe head is inches from the subject thus the amount of light from the strobe will be minimal?

 

[bvanant]

In general, it makes no difference at all. If you look at the brightness of a strobe, I have never seen a case where the focus light actually made any difference. Don't forget that the focus light turns off when the strobe light (mostly reflected from the subject) hits it so that only the ambient part of the light hitting the sensor is from the strobe. Even if the strobe is right on the subject (assuming TTL of course) it is hard to see it making a big difference.
Bill

 

[Kilili]

wouldn't it be an issue if it is a night shot with the strobe head is inches from the subject thus the amount of light from the strobe will be minimal?

Don't think so. Turn off the lights, jump in the tub, and try it. Could do this without the water, but more fun with.

Of course, difficult to properly assess without knowing what kind of focus light you use, perhaps 30-50 lumen. Mine is 500 lumen, which is very bright, and I don't see it causing problems.

 

[jd950]

I have at times wondered if a focus light that does not turn off creates its own backscatter problems. If you think about it, these lights are usually mounted on the housing, very close to the lens. I have not decided this for sure yet, but especially with all the new 600, 1000 and 1500 lument focus lights out there, I think it is certainly a potential issue. I wish there were more auto-off lights out there to choose from.

 

[Cumbo]

EDIT: Misread the original post.