Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi. Awaiting for my AB800's and cyber commander and receivers to arrive. I have a question regarding the process of bracketing...

Lets say I have the camera set up to 1/200 F16. I want to set a 3light AB8000 studio shot then to the proper flash power for that camera exposure.. Ok,

So let me understand the process correctly please..

I individually set each flash to f16 metering at the subjet.
Lest say I then go to "ALL" and take a flash reading and it reads F22

My question then I am unclear what is the sequence from there to get to bracket down the combined "all" flash power to read F16?

Do have to keep notching down the power a bit at a time, take another all flash reading till it reads F16? Or Can I just bracket it down from the last measured Fstop to a new Fstop number arbitrary (in this case F22 to F16) and the CC uses the previous reading as a calibration to know exactly how much to adjust the power by to achieve my specific commanded new desired Fstop?

Only thing I could find on this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty4bsveB ... 870ECA260C
I understand the need to dump the power but from how he describes it, it is trial and error.

Once the meter reading in ALL has bee performed, you just lower the power collectively. The Cyber Commander will adjust all lights porportionally. Also the meter will automatically update as the power is raised or lowered. Power adjustment is done via the up/down direction of the left joystick.

Ok, I understand it adjusts the powers all together and proportionately. But when you change the power are you just changing the power by some arbitrary amount and then have to take another flash/meter reading readjust the power again, take another meter reading until you get to your desired Fstop. (iterative manor open loop type control) ..... , or can you do this in just one step where you simply would enter in a new target Fstop value and the cyber commandeer is able to smartly calculate and readjust the power necessary to achieve the new desired Fstop.

The difference in workflow would be rather then taking multiple steps of adjusting, readjusting power levels untill you get to your desired Fstop, you would do this in two steps.. a)Take an "all" flash meter reading to get a baseline calibration which would show the current Fstop, then punch in a new desired Fstop, CC makes the calculations and readjusts the the power.. then take a second reading (after power dump) to verify.

^^this is how it works.^^


This is very close. But to be specific, you take your all meter reading. Then you decide you want a lower f/ value. you then use the left joystick down to reduce power. As you are reducing power, the meter scrolls down simultaneously. But, really, it is the same net effect.