I'd use the flash in manual mode with the camera set to X sync speed and the aperture set according to the distance. Perhaps 1/3-1/2 stop under to assure good saturation. This way you'd be assured of correct exposure with no P-TTL preflash to spook the critter. (Yep, coons are fast!) Either flash should allow decent DOF at that distance.
Don > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom Reese [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 6:55 AM > To: discussion Pentax > Subject: flash photography at night > > > This is a repeat message. The first one apparently didn't go through. > > I have an interesting photographic situation and I'd to get some > opinions on the best way to proceed. > > I hang a suet feeder in a tree that's about 12' from the bathroom > window. The feeder brings in woodpeckers and other birds that I > photograph from inside the bathroom. Lately, a raccoon has been > emptying the feeder every night. I want to try to get a shot of > him if I can. > > It will be very dark and impossible to focus so I plan on > pre-focusing the lens. I'd like to stop it down to about f/5.6 or > f/8 to give me some room for error. I plan on using something > between a 50 and 100mm focal length to include the context of the > raccoon, the feeder and the tree. I'll obviously have to use a > flash to get the shot. > > I have an AF-360 FGZ and an AF-500 FTZ that I can use with my > MZ-S. I'll be shooting with slide film so exposure is critical. I > figure I'll only get one shot before he hauls ringedtail for the woods. > > Do you think I'd have better luck using the flash on the manual > setting, the P-TTL in the AF360 or the TTL if the AF500? I'm > thinking I might need the power of the AF500. I'm also wondering > about whether the P-TTL or TTL would overexpose the tree and > raccoon trying to light the darkness beyond. > > Does anyone have any experience with night time shooting? > > Does anyone have any ideas or am I missing anything? > > thanks for your thoughts. >
