Curious Drake » flash

Finally! my 7D on-camera flash finally gave in

Vince — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:10:47 +0000

On-camera flash on my 7D had intermittent problems, now the problem is permanent. This is a good news for me, getting even with the Canon service center; in the past rejected with a smile implying a con, failed to reproduce the problem on the spot, surely you’ve experienced this embracing feeling, I would have my satisfaction now, rejecting the repair no longer possible, proving that the con is Canon service center, set up in a way allowing them to dismiss an intermittent problem without making a proper effort in reproducing a problem, exhibiting a disturbing pattern, finally having my camera repaired and, hopefully, working properly in a few weeks.

Rancilio Audrey Group Head

Vince — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:08:26 +0000

Today I disassembled my Audrey with the intent to install pre-infusion mod and to clean the group head. I did not install the mod though. I realized that my mental picture of the mod is not matching what I found in the machine.

I am looking for a place to attach the water shock absorber. I have a couple of ideas now. I can connect the shock absorber right at the high pressure nozzle of the pump. It would give me an opportunity to connect a pressure gauge. That would force me to replace or modify the high pressure tube, which, to my surprise, is made out of heavy plastic. The plastic holds 15 bar pressure. Impressive! Another possibility is to attach it to the input of the OPV valve. It is a less attractive option because of the lack of space around that area.

The second option is an Allen screw that looks like a screw on the E61 head. It might be there for the same reason too. If it it the case, then I should be able to use it either for a water temperature gauge mod, or use it for the pressure gauge and shock absorber.

I also disassembled the shower head and discovered that it is a bit different. I think it is a simpler design than on the Silvia.It might be less efficient as well. I have not way test that. I do not have a SIlvia.

I am posting a few pictures of the Audrey head here.

Three-way Solenoid Valve

Three-way Solenoid Valve Label

Assembled Shower Head

The difference between the Silvia and Audrey is visible on the following picture. On the Silvia, the shower head has a removable disk below the shower screen. On the Audrey, the disk is not removable. The small black dot on the right of the deep part of the head is the water orifice.

Shower Head with the Screen Removed

Finally, a little bonus for phone junkies like me. I used the Audrey water container as a light modifier for taking the pictures above. I am using a Nikon SB 28 with a PocketWizard Plus II, You can see the flash at the top of the picture and the Wizard in the left bottom corner.

Audrey Light Modifier for Off-Camera Flash

Playing with Olympus E-520

Vince — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:01:14 +0000

Olympus E-520 is a really neat little dSLR. It is all plastic, but does not feel flimsy. In addition, Olympus has great menu structure. It is easy to navigate, contrary to the most of the reviews that I have read. It does have highlight clipping problem, but it is still manageable. I would readily carry this camera with me over my bulky Canon 7D. Oly’s image quality is not as high, but it is good enough when you choose between convenience and quality.

Pretty good performance, RAW supports and all bells and whistles possible in a dSLR at a price point and convenience of a prosumer Point and Shoot. Here is a couple of shots made with this camera. Judge for yourself:

Outdoors, low light, on-camera flash

Indoors, off-camera flash

Non-dSLR Cameras with External Flash

Vince — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:09:53 +0000

I am looking for a go-around camera for my daughter. I am going to use this camera too. My list of requirements for the camera

compact, smaller than dSLR
good image qualitiy
external flash with higher than 250 sync speed
reasonably priced

It is not easy to find a relatively small camera that would produce reasonable good quality pictures, good zoom range, and external flash synchronization. There are many nice looking cameras that would give good quality noways. But external flash is apparently a rarity among them. Super-thin camera designs are very dense. It is understandable that they would not have any space to spare for a hot shoe, and some of them are too thin anyway. But bulkier prosumer-style dSLR looking cameras do not have them too. Isn’t is strange? You would think that they have plenty of room for a hot shoe or a PC terminal port.

Most of the dSLRs, are not going to sync with high speed, except Nikon D70 and D70s. I already have a D70. Olympus E420 is small, but sync speed of 1/180 sec. slower than on any other dSLR.

So, I reckon, my best bet is in the prosumer P&S and digital “Range finder” category. I decided to compile a list of not single lens reflex camera that can be used with an external flash. I am not sure which ones have electronic shutter capability. I know that most of the Canons would sync at very high speeds using CHDK hack.

Canon

PowerShot G11
PowerShot G10
PowerShot SX20 IS
PowerShot SX1 IS
PowerShot SX10 IS
PowerShot G9
PowerShot S5 IS
PowerShot G7
PowerShot G5
PowerShot G3
PowerShot Pro90 IS
PowerShot G1

Epson

Epson R-D1x

Fujifilm

FinePix S200EXR
FinePix S100fs
FinePix IS-1
FinePix S9100

Kodak

EasyShare Z981 (proprietary)
EasyShare Z980 (proprietary)
EasyShare P712
EasyShare P880
EasyShare P850

Leica

Leica M9
Leica X1
Leica M8.2
Leica D-LUX 4
Leica V-LUX 1
Leica M8
Leica Digilux 3

Nikon

Coolpix P6000
Coolpix P5100
Coolpix P5000

Olympus

PEN E-PL1 (proprietary)
PEN E-P2
PEN E-P1

Panasonic

Lumix DMC-G10
Lumix DMC-G2
Lumix DMC-GF1
Lumix DMC-G1
Lumix DMC-L10
Lumix DMC-FZ50

Ricoh

GXR
GR-D
Caplio GX200
G600
Caplio GX100

Samsung

NX10

Sigma

DP2s
DP1x
DP1s
DP2
DP1

Sony

DSC-F828
DSC-F717