The Magazine Fort At Phoenix Park

• The Magazine Fort At Phoenix Park
• OpenAI’s European Headquarters
• The City Arts Centre And Decades Of Dereliction On City Quay
• Sphere Within Sphere By Arnaldo Pomodoro
• A Vibrant Mesoamerican Dialogue At Trinity College
• This Is Not A Generic Red Metal Sculpture
• Modernist Form In College Park By Gerda Frömel
• Unveiling Failing Better
• Sculpture By Henry Moore At Trinity College
• Vernon Arch On Castle Avenue 22 July 2026
• Street Art On View At Malborough Place
• The Pond And Associated Follies
• Photographs Of St Anne's Park
• Deformed Trees And Exposed Roots

MY FIRST TIME TO USE A FLASH ON THE SONY A1 II

THE LEGACY CATALOG

* In The Year 2008 * In The Year 2011 * In The Year 2017 * Henrietta Back In 2010

The Magazine Fort Reopening

The Magazine Fort Reopening: Public Access or Public Relations?

• Recent headlines across national media announced that the historic Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park has finally reopened to the public following an extensive multi-million-euro conservation project. Promoted as a major milestone for local tourism, the news naturally invited a closer look.

• Intrigued by the publicity and keen to document the site, I set aside time today to head up Thomas Hill to inspect the restored works. However, anyone expecting to simply walk up and explore will be met with a stark reality: the main gates remain firmly locked.

The Operational Reality Behind the Headlines

• While the coverage presents the fort as an open heritage asset, operational access is tightly restricted:

• Locked Gates: Outside of specific, brief windows, the perimeter gates are locked shut. Arriving at 13:00, I found the entire site sealed.

• A Single Daily Tour: Access inside the walls is permitted only via an official OPW guided tour running once per day at 11:00 AM.

• Strict Capacity Limits: Each tour is capped at just 12 visitors, with tickets requiring advance booking online or through the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

• There is no self-guided roaming, no drop-in entry, and no public access outside that single morning slot. For a site declared "open to the public," locking the gates for 23 hours a day feels like a considerable contradiction.

Getting There: The Visitor Challenge

• For local residents, a locked gate is easily written off as a minor inconvenience—there is always plenty more of Phoenix Park to explore and photograph. But for tourists or first-time visitors making a dedicated journey, the experience could prove frustrating.

• The fort sits in a relatively quiet elevated section of the park. While Dublin Bus route 80 serves the immediate area with a nearby stop, public awareness remains thin; even the driver on my service today was unfamiliar with the Magazine Fort stop. Combined with limited signage and strict booking rules, navigating a visit requires careful forward planning rather than a spontaneous outing.

Final Thoughts

• The structural stabilisation and restoration of the Duke of Dorset Gate by the OPW are undeniably positive steps for Dublin's built heritage. However, national reporting that declares a site "open" without detailing these severe access constraints does a disservice to visitors.

• If you plan to visit, ensure you secure an 11:00 AM tour ticket well in advance. Otherwise, you will be limited—as I was today—to capturing the formidable outer ramparts from beyond the perimeter fence.

Railway Stations

* Clontarf Railway Station * Docklands Railway Station * Malahide Railway Station

Recommended Photo Galleries

• Shalom Park In Cork
• Lyreen River And Linear Park
• Walled Garden In Maynooth
• Botanic Gardens In Belfast
• My Visits To Phoenix Park
• Man And Dog Sculpture At Cork University Campus
• Many Years Of Sculpture In Context
• Public Art As Photographed In 2024
• Examples Of Public Art 2023 Catalog
• Annie Lee Tower And Bridge
• The Clock Tower And The Walled Garden
• Northside Dublin
• Formally Known As The Irish Suzhou Garden At St Anne's Park
• St Ann's Holy Well At St Anne's
• St John The Baptist Cemetery In Clontarf

Our Equipment Choices

Yesterday I updated my Sony A1 II firmware to version 4.0 and all went well, I also purchased a Godox IT30Pro S and it worked amazing well today.

The Godox iT30Pro S is the Sony-dedicated (Multi-Interface Shoe) variant of Godox's ultra-compact TTL mini speedlite. Weighing only 120 g, it provides a pocket-sized, modern fill-lighting option.

When paired with modern, high-resolution Sony camera bodies—such as the Sony A1 II or A7R VI—it serves as an unobtrusive fill light for street shooting, family events, or as a master trigger for off-camera Godox studio lighting.

• Technical Specifications at a Glance
• Guide Number (GN): 15 m (at ISO 100) / ~49.2 ft
• Flash Output Range: 1/1 to 1/128 (in 1/3 EV increments)
• Exposure Modes: Sony ADI / P-TTL, Manual (M), Multi-Stroboscopic
• Sync Modes: High-Speed Sync (HSS up to 1/8000s; supports Sony global shutter sync speeds), 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain
• Wireless Radio: Integrated 2.4 GHz Godox X System (Transmitter & Receiver; 32 Channels, 4 Groups)
• Display & Controls: 2.8" Full-Colour Touchscreen + Tactile Rear Scroll Dial
• Power Supply: Built-in 7.2V / 900 mAh Li-ion battery (USB-C rechargeable)
• Recycle Time & Battery Life: ~1.5 seconds full power; ~560 full-power flashes per charge
• Dimensions & Weight: 65 × 46 × 47 mm; 120 g
• EU Price Range: ~€65 – €85 (varies slightly by regional retailer)

Technical Review: Pros, Cons & What to Be Aware Of

The Pros

• Native Sony Multi Interface (MI) Connection: Communicates seamlessly with Sony’s P-TTL auto-exposure system across all mirrorless bodies.

• High-Speed Sync Capabilities: Works seamlessly up to 1/8000s HSS for outdoor fill in harsh daylight. It is also fully compatible with Sony high-speed electronic / global shutter readout protocols.

• Integrated Wireless Commander: Acts as a lightweight 2.4 GHz Godox X master trigger to fire larger off-camera strobes (e.g. Godox V1, V860III, or AD-series studio lights) while retaining a backup direct flash on the camera body.

• Integrated Diffuser Panel: The mechanical side WN switch drops an internal panel across the optical lens to broaden beam spread and reduce harsh, direct highlights.

The Cons & Things to Be Aware Of

Low Axis Height & Lens Shadowing (Crucial Sony Warning): Because the flash sits extremely low to the top plate (only ~46 mm high), wide-angle, long, or thick G Master lenses—such as the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II or 50mm f/1.2 GM—will physically block the lower portion of the flash beam at short distances. To avoid a noticeable dark semi-circle shadow at the bottom of your image, you must remove the lens hood or shoot with compact primes (like the 24mm/40mm/50mm G compact series).

• Fragile Multi Interface Shoe Construction: Sony's MI shoe design uses fragile electronic contacts at the front edge of the hot shoe foot. Avoid forcing or rocking the iT30Pro S into place, and always depress the quick-release lock when mounting to prevent bending the pins.

• Touchscreen Sensitivity: Carrying the camera across your chest on a strap can lead to accidental touch input on the 2.8" screen. The touchscreen lock feature is essential when moving.

• Fixed Flash Head: The flash head does not bounce or swivel. Direct light is your primary option unless you hold it off-camera via the Godox X system.

• Modest Power (GN 15): On high-resolution bodies like the 61 MP A7R VI, exposing for wide landscape scenes will require raising ISO, as GN 15 is strictly optimized for close-range subject illumination.

Ideal Settings & Step-by-Step Setup

Recommended Operational Settings for Sony

• Street / Environmental Fill-Flash: Set mode to Sony TTL, with Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) set between -1.0 EV and -1.3 EV. This lifts deep shadow detail on faces while maintaining the ambient background exposure.

• Wide-Angle / Close Range: Slide the WN switch to "W" (Wide) to ensure full coverage down to 24 mm focal lengths and soften the beam output.

• Open-Aperture Daylight Shooting: Enable HSS (High-Speed Sync) on the flash menu to sync past the standard focal plane sync limit.

Step-by-Step Instructions 1

• Mount Carefully to Sony MI Shoe
• Mechanical setup
• Turn off both the camera and flash. Press and hold the quick-release foot button on the iT30Pro S, gently slide the shoe completely forward into the Sony Multi Interface shoe, and release the button to click into place.

2

• Power On and Select Exposure Mode
• Initial power
• Switch on the flash. Tap the top-left mode icon on the 2.8" touchscreen to select TTL for automatic Sony metering, or M for manual control.

3

• Set Diffuser Position
• Beam configuration
• Slide the physical WN switch on the side of the unit to "W" when using lenses wider than 35 mm or when shooting close-up portraits to prevent hard flash drop-off.

4

• Adjust Exposure Compensation
• Output adjustment
• In TTL mode, rotate the physical rear scroll wheel to set your preferred FEC (e.g. -1.0 EV for subtle fill). In Manual mode, spin the dial to choose the exact flash fraction.

5

• Engage Touchscreen Lock
• Lock settings
• Press and hold the on-screen lock icon to lock the control panel, preventing accidental setting changes when carrying the camera on a shoulder strap.

Why Are Official Sony-Branded Flashes So Expensive?

While the Godox iT30Pro S retails brand new for roughly ~€65 – €85, official Sony-branded speedlites carry significantly higher price points.

Pricing Context (EU Market) Godox iT30Pro S: ~€65 – €85 (New) Sony HVL-F28RM: ~€280 – €320 (New — Sony's entry-level compact TTL speedlite) Sony HVL-F46RM: ~€430 – €480 (New — Mid-range tilt/swivel speedlite) Sony HVL-F60RM2: ~€650 – €700 (New — Flagship Sony speedlite)

Key Reasons for the Sony Price Premium

• Weather Sealing and Thermal Integration: Official Sony flashes (such as the HVL-F28RM and HVL-F60RM2) feature extensive silicone gasketing designed to match the weather sealing of high-end bodies like the A1 II and A7R VI. They also incorporate heat-resistant materials designed to withstand sustained burst shooting.

• Advanced MI Shoe Communication: Sony’s proprietary flashes feed precise lens distance data (ADI metering) and white balance telemetry directly into the camera's BIONZ processing engine for accurate colour rendition.

• Mechanical Flexibility & Power: Higher-end Sony speedlites feature rotating bounce heads (such as Sony's Quick Shift Bounce system) and zoom heads ranging from 24 mm to 200 mm with higher output power (GN 28 to GN 60).

• Proprietary Wireless Ecosystem: Sony speedlites integrate natively into Sony's radio command network without requiring third-party firmware updates when Sony issues major camera system updates.

However, for creators prioritising minimal weight and simple fill light, the Godox iT30Pro S provides high-speed sync, TTL accuracy, and Godox X system integration at a fraction of the cost.