The practical workflow aspects here are worth exploring.... The landscape photographer will have to be mindful of battery drain when choosing to run Live View extensively. Certainly it's a risk, and might rule out a live view only approach throughout extended landscape sessions.

Personally I like to use both LV and VF during tripod sessions. I prefer to frame up and position the camera and the zoom setting (if a zoom lens) through the viewfinder. Once the scene is set exactly then that's locked down with the tripod levers. Then I switch into LV and perform manual focusing using the zoom in (info button) feature to target some clear object that is an approximate hyperfocal distance away....(this is likely to be impossible to see accurately through the viewfinder, especially at 14mm!).

After this object is focused perfectly I come out of LV, and then use Mirror up with remote control to take the exposures, usually multiple shots and often with a varying exposure time for some different exposure levels, all done manually.

I find that this three step approach nicely separates the framing, focusing and capture processes and helps to keep the whole workflow methodical and carefully paced.

It was stu62 who changed brands ... The first three letters of their usernames are the same.

Photos turn out much nicer when it's not raining anyway.

Yes, we've had so much of old lenses on new cameras .... Now it can be new lenses on old cameras!

I suspect he meant to revamp that WR macro but add the newer HD and SP coatings ...?

And let's face it, having new looking lenses like this HD FA 35mm in the range, but without WR, is only going to add to the confusion! At least the older FA versions look a bit plasticy and leaky

Ill admit this new prime is tempting, even for aps-c users. Finally there's a high performing new option at a price the poorer amongst us can manage, as we don't always want to be scouring the classifieds for our decent glass. The lack of WR and silent focussing is a fair compromise to get into the game.

Thanks!

Thanks Philip, I would rather like to do model shoots, but I can't get out to a camera club and the consequences should I bring any models into the house don't bear thinking about!

Thanks also Gareth, I'm glad you saw the shots

You're welcome Andy, thanks! David, I'm glad you saw the thread, and yes the main point is to encourage and show some possibilities in a simple setting, an alternative to the usual portraits we associate with flash photography.

The vertical orientation works brilliantly, with powerful foreground right at the bottom and perfectly placed horizon, all making a classic composition!

Yes, and I was aiming to show how in fact no photo really exists in the configuration as shot without flash, as the light distribution is completely wrong (assuming we don't sacrifice dynamic range limits completely). Richard I'm glad you saw this and I hope you re still enjoying exploring new possibilities with your flash. I strongly recommend getting a flag type diffuser and going for sideways (and slightly upwards) bounce, as the results can be far better than basic ceiling bounce.

And Stuart, yes, lets keep on photographing the mundane things about life, so long as we use flash to control the contrast and quality of light!