where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
alphanikonrex said:
OK, thanks soap. I think I kind of grasp the idea, but it's too old for me to really understand how to use.
What part did I fail to explain clearly enough?
It's a relatively dumb auto mode. It doesn't work nearly as well on digital as it does on film because of film's softer shoulders - film is much more forgiving when it comes to exposure.
You explained it well, soap, it's just me failing to understand. Maybe I'm just tired as well.
Like I didn't get the ND filter thing. Or the card thing. But otherwise I just barely understand how the thing works. Kind of.
I'll bet your spell check wouldn't bother you if you spelled it thyristor and not thrysistor, alpha. ;-)
ND filter thing:
The thyristor eye triggers at a specific light level. You can't change that. If you want the thyristor eye to trigger at a higher light level you "fool" the eye by putting a ND filter in front of it, so it takes more light to trigger it. On my 285 this is what the control dial does - it just dials in different ND filters.
The card thing:
You're solving for three variables. A handy X/Y chart can only show you a solution for two.
So you have multiple cards. Think of the separate cards as single steps on the Z axis.
But I did jonny!
Still don't understand the ND card thing. The thrysitor thing has it's own flash inside? I don't get it.
I did understand the card thing though :^)
Oh, did you have a typo before jonny with an "e' instead of an "o"? That's what I saw and I thought that was the difference. Let me try the correct spelling:
thyristor
You were right!
Thanks jonny.
The thyristor is the shirt-button-sized eye I believe I circled in blue in the photo above. (Not 100% that's a thyristor flash).
(and if that's not confusing enough, I circled in red in the photo below) ;)
The thyristor is an electronic eye on the flash unit which controls the flash's power by shutting off the flash tube itself once enough (reflected) light reaches the thyristor. In a nutshell if you want the thyristor to shut off later (giving you a brighter image) you fake out the thyristor by covering it with a ND filter, so less light gets to the thyristor and it keeps the strobe on to make things brighter.
Oh, so the ND filter is like flash compensation? That makes a lot more sense—thanks soap :^)
Mind you - not all thyristor flashes were user variable power. Film exposure has enough latitude that many ones just went for broke - made a lot of assumptions and let the photo lab sort it out.
That's all fascinating soap but as usual you over complicate things. It's not a "window" it's a fill flash! It looks like a Metz model.
Looks like this:
as well, which isn't a fill flash, it's a thyristor in a fancy plate.
I don't see a "window" on your photo there soap. LOL
But whatever dead horse moving on...
If you don't find the black dot in gray field pattern matches the what I circled on the flash from the article, I can't help you. LOL
EDIT - I thought this was a dead horse - why do you keep posting?
Did you even click the link I put up? IT'S A FILL FLASH! Not a freakin' "window"?!?
Explain why there would be a "window" on a flash? A window to what?
PM me
Since you continue to edit your post, I will reply.
My initial observation on the area under the main head of the article's flash has been well explained in the thread. I included photos with annotations, and an explanation of what I thought I was seeing. I also included photos of another potato masher _without_ a fill flash, yet a similar looking area. I think my words speak for themselves, and I apologize for using the word "window" which clearly has you chasing a mental tangent unrelated to the point I was making.
Ha Ha way to "cover your tracks" soap but make up your mind about PMing me if your going to reply here. Choose one.
I accept your "apology". Now go get me a breakfast bagel or something. :^)
Break it up you two! ;^)
Look at how much I learned though—there are three types of polaroid flashes: ones with thyristors, ones with fill flashes, and ones with windows. Thanks for the lesson you two! ;^)
Whoa - none of those flashes are instant-film specific.
I'm only kidding—I understood everything perfectly—you have a knack at explanations soap :^)
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