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You've got questions? We've got answers.
Q: Beat your slave
I’m trying to use a slave flash with my Nikon Coolpix 3100, but even on auto flash (not redeye) there is a quick preflash that triggers the slave. What can I do to have the slave synchronize with the camera flash?
-Kunio Matsumoto
Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil
A: When using any camera, digital or film, which has a built-in flash that uses a preflash ranging or exposure system, you have to use a slave with a preflash setting. When you set the slave to “preflash” it will fire the flash only when a second flash pulse is detected. Independent manufacturers such as Sunpak, Metz, and many camera companies make units that incorporate this feature. Wein makes a stand-alone flash slave with preflash detection.
Q: Filter the difference
I have been using filters for film photography, but now I’m shooting with a digital camera. Will the filter effects be different with digital?
-Ashok Chatterjee
Gold Canyon, AZ
A: They sure will, unless you turn off the camera’s auto white-balance control, which cancels out the effect of many filters used with film cameras. For the same reason, conversion filters such as daylight-to-tungsten are not necessary with digital cameras. Polarizers can be used to control reflections, and UV or skylight filters protect lenses in dusty conditions with both digital and film cameras.
Q: What time is it?
I recently purchased a digital camera, but it lacks the date/time feature of 35mm cameras. Does Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 have the capability of adding dates and comments to digital photos?
-Harold Hayashi
Wahiawa, HI
A: Yes, by going to File Browser and clicking on the metadata tab, you can see the date, time, and EXIF data for every image. By using the Text tool you can add or modify this information, plus add comments. However, it’s a manual, one-at-time process, not an automated one.
Q: Pain in the glass
During a recent trip to SeaWorld, in Orlando, Florida, I was disappointed that most of the subjects I wanted to shoot were indoors and behind aquarium glass—and I couldn’t get a decent photo. How can I get better shots when shooting through aquarium glass?
-Heidi Sorkness
via e-mail
A: Shoot with an SLR and use a rubber lenshood pressed lightly against the glass to eliminate reflections. Fast color-print film or digital ISO settings in the 400 to 1600 range will help, since flash is troublesome in these situations.
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