Older SLR and Red Eye Reduction Flash

I'm starting to shoot more with my old Pentax ME-Super and would like
to get a new/used flash to operate with it. I notice that the flashes
from that era, the AF series, don't have red eye reduction. Am I
wrong on this topic? Can anyone recommend a flash to use with this
body with red eye reduction? I would prefer it to be a Pentax unit.
My primary use is just indoor candid shots of people...gatherings,
holidays, etc.

Thanks in advance.

They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4 inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will rarely
have a problem. Better yet, bounce that flash and you'll do much better
than any 'red eye reduction" mode can offer.

Walt Hanks

"Chris Lindgren" wrote in message
m...
I'm starting to shoot more with my old Pentax ME-Super and would like
to get a new/used flash to operate with it. I notice that the flashes
from that era, the AF series, don't have red eye reduction. Am I
wrong on this topic? Can anyone recommend a flash to use with this
body with red eye reduction? I would prefer it to be a Pentax unit.
My primary use is just indoor candid shots of people...gatherings,
holidays, etc.

Thanks in advance.

They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4 inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will rarely
have a problem. Better yet, bounce that flash and you'll do much better
than any 'red eye reduction" mode can offer.

Walt Hanks

"Chris Lindgren" wrote in message
m...
I'm starting to shoot more with my old Pentax ME-Super and would like
to get a new/used flash to operate with it. I notice that the flashes
from that era, the AF series, don't have red eye reduction. Am I
wrong on this topic? Can anyone recommend a flash to use with this
body with red eye reduction? I would prefer it to be a Pentax unit.
My primary use is just indoor candid shots of people...gatherings,
holidays, etc.

Thanks in advance.

"Walt Hanks" wrote in message
...
They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red
eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4 inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will
rarely
have a problem.

Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction"
feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes several
times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the
subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective.

If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the lens as
possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye will
not be a problem.

One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye correction
these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images are
analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes.

Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well. Just
touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without
affecting the eye color.

Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan your
film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was.

"Walt Hanks" wrote in message
...
They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red
eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4 inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will
rarely
have a problem.

Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction"
feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes several
times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the
subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective.

If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the lens as
possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye will
not be a problem.

One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye correction
these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images are
analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes.

Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well. Just
touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without
affecting the eye color.

Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan your
film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was.

"Jeremy" wrote in message
link.net...

"Walt Hanks" wrote in message
...
They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red
eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case
with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4
inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will
rarely
have a problem.

Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction"
feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes several
times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the
subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective.

If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the lens
as
possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye
will
not be a problem.

One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye correction
these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images
are
analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes.

Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well.
Just
touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without
affecting the eye color.

Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan
your
film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was.

I never did many inside shots with my SLR but did a lot of them with my
Digital Rebel this summer using the built in flash. What I noticed is that
some people are prone to red eyes. What I mean is that while most people
would have red eyes from time to time, some would always have red eyes. I
correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing.
I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420

Just have your subjects not look into the camera lens. Have them focus
insted on some thing above or to the side of the camera. This
eliminates red eye plus will keep them from having the floating yellow
spot after the flash. Been doing that for years. Works great.

Paul Bielec wrote:

They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The "red

eye"

affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case

with

every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4

inches

above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will

rarely

have a problem.

Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction"
feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes several
times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the
subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective.

If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the lens

as

possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye

will

not be a problem.

One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye correction
these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images

are

analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes.

Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well.

Just

touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without
affecting the eye color.

Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan

your

film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was.


I never did many inside shots with my SLR but did a lot of them with my
Digital Rebel this summer using the built in flash. What I noticed is that
some people are prone to red eyes. What I mean is that while most people
would have red eyes from time to time, some would always have red eyes. I
correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing.
I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420

"Paul Bielec" wrote in message
...
"Jeremy" wrote in message
link.net...

"Walt Hanks" wrote in message
...
They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The
"red
eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case
with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4
inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will
rarely
have a problem.

Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction"
feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes
several
times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the
subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective.

If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the
lens
as
possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye
will
not be a problem.

One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye
correction
these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images
are
analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes.

Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well.
Just
touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without
affecting the eye color.

Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan
your
film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was.

I never did many inside shots with my SLR but did a lot of them with my
Digital Rebel this summer using the built in flash. What I noticed is that
some people are prone to red eyes. What I mean is that while most people
would have red eyes from time to time, some would always have red eyes. I
correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing.
I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420



It may not be as strange as it appears.

If some peoples' retinas tend to "open" more than others' then there is a
greater potential for red-eye.

Unfortunately, red-eye is not the only problem associated with flash. Harsh
shadows and a flat image usually accompany images taken with a single flash.

While it may sometimes be necessary to use flash, I try to find a way to
exploit available light whenever possible. There is something about a photo
lit with a single flash that screams "Amateur."

"Paul Bielec" wrote in message
...
"Jeremy" wrote in message
link.net...

"Walt Hanks" wrote in message
...
They don't have red-eye reduction because they don't need it. The
"red
eye"
affect occurs when the flash is too close to the lens, as is the case
with
every built-in flash system. Put a flash on a hot shoe, at least 4
inches
above the lens, or offset the flash on a flash bracket, and you will
rarely
have a problem.

Completely agree. Also would like to add that the "red eye reduction"
feature of today's flashes leaves much to be desired. It flashes
several
times before the main flash, intending to have the effect of having the
subjects' pupils close. It often fails to achieve its objective.

If you put your flash unit on a bracket, and move it as far from the
lens
as
possible, the angle of the light on the eyes will be such that red eye
will
not be a problem.

One final thought: Kodak and other photofinishers offer red-eye
correction
these days. If you use Kodak's "Perfect Touch" processing, your images
are
analyzed by software that can identify faces and can delete red eyes.

Vivitar sells a professional "Red-Eye Reduction Pen" that works well.
Just
touch it to the red eye in your prints, and it deletes the red without
affecting the eye color.

Also many editing software packages have red eye deletion, if you scan
your
film and edit it. Red eye is not the problem. that it once was.

I never did many inside shots with my SLR but did a lot of them with my
Digital Rebel this summer using the built in flash. What I noticed is that
some people are prone to red eyes. What I mean is that while most people
would have red eyes from time to time, some would always have red eyes. I
correct them with Photoshop Elements before printing.
I'll be fixing my problme for good soon buying a Speedlite 420



It may not be as strange as it appears.

If some peoples' retinas tend to "open" more than others' then there is a
greater potential for red-eye.

Unfortunately, red-eye is not the only problem associated with flash. Harsh
shadows and a flat image usually accompany images taken with a single flash.

While it may sometimes be necessary to use flash, I try to find a way to
exploit available light whenever possible. There is something about a photo
lit with a single flash that screams "Amateur."

Jeremy wrote:


It may not be as strange as it appears.

If some peoples' retinas tend to "open" more than others' then there is a
greater potential for red-eye.

The retina doesn't change size. You're thinking of the iris' pupil. The pupil
dilates in low light (or when sexually aroused... perhaps the result of
evolution giving less than lovely girls the benefit of softer focus...?)

http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/eyeret.html



Unfortunately, red-eye is not the only problem associated with flash. Harsh
shadows and a flat image usually accompany images taken with a single flash.

While it may sometimes be necessary to use flash, I try to find a way to
exploit available light whenever possible. There is something about a photo
lit with a single flash that screams "Amateur."

Not if the flash is directed at a ceiling or wall. This softens the light and
fills the background while usually getting rid of redeye.

Having said that, what screams "pro" or at least accomplished amateur is
judicious balance of natural and flash light... the later usually as fill.

Cheers,
Alan.

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