Using the built in flash ... what am I doing wrong?

[sdd]

Can anyone tell me what the best setting is for a Canon's built in flash when I am shooting people.

1. The thing is that the flash keeps on firing short bursts when it is trying to lock on in a dim environment ... this kinda irritates people ... what can I do to shoot better pics in the dark.

2. Under normal flurescent lighting (CFL light bulb) my shots of people look like deers in head lights ... what am I doing wrong? I suspect it has something to do with shooting wide with the 18mm lens and the flash is not lighting everything. This should not happen with my Sony p&s camera.

Using a Canon 400D.

 

[koffiejunkie]

What camera are you using?

1. The 40D does that because it doesn't have an AF assist lamp. You press the shutter half way (and keep it there). It use the bursts to lock focus. You can disable that in the menus somewhere.

2. Put the camera in AV and specify a larger aperture (smaller number). The flash will automatically become a fill-flash, instead of a try-to-light-the-whole-frame flash.

 

[bullfrog]

2. Put the camera in AV and specify a larger aperture (smaller number). The flash will automatically become a fill-flash, instead of a try-to-light-the-whole-frame flash.

The 350D and 1000D doesn't work correctly in AV with the built in flash at all, unless you set it correctly in the custom functions. I'm not sure of the 1000D, but the 350D has such a setting in the custom functions. You can either change it to 1/200 seconds exposure or auto. Auto I've found doesn't work at all for some reason.

Just something to look out for if you have one of these cameras and want to follow the above advice. Not sure for any of the other cameras in canons range.

 

[BigAl-sa]

The 350D and 1000D doesn't work correctly in AV with the built in flash at all, unless you set it correctly in the custom functions.

It does work correctly. In Av mode, it tries to compensate for the background lighting (p96 of 350d manual), which usually results in a rather low shutter speed. (It's something in Canon cameras that I REALLY hate.)

To the OP, the onboard flash is not very good. I suggest you try and get a 430ex flash - it's really much better than the onboard flash. The AF assist beam is also far superior to that used by the onboard flash.

 

[koffiejunkie]

It does work correctly. In Av mode, it tries to compensate for the background lighting (p96 of 350d manual), which usually results in a rather low shutter speed. (It's something in Canon cameras that I REALLY hate.)

Amusing. That's something I really like. The background is gets exposed well, but the flash is just strong enough to fill the subject.

I can't imagine what the camera would be doing otherwise?

 

[BigAl-sa]

Amusing. That's something I really like. The background is gets exposed well, but the flash is just strong enough to fill the subject.

I can't imagine what the camera would be doing otherwise?

Setting the shutter speed to expose according to whatever exposure metering mode you've set? I mean if you set the exposure to spot metering, you want the picture exposed according to the spot and not the background??

You see my most photographed item is birds and for birds you want the highest shutter speed available, so when I use fill flash I don't want it slowing the shutter speed down to compensate for the background. (The 1/250s on the Av shutter speed override is too slow when using a long lens.)

 

[BigAl-sa]

ITo the OP, the onboard flash is not very good. I suggest you try and get a 430ex flash - it's really much better than the onboard flash. The AF assist beam is also far superior to that used by the onboard flash.

Just to add to this, the external Canon flashes also zoom to match the lens (works from about 16mm to 105mm focal lengths). This would overcome one of the problems you mention.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Setting the shutter speed to expose according to whatever exposure metering mode you've set? I mean if you set the exposure to spot metering, you want the picture exposed according to the spot and not the background??

That goes without saying. Does the 350D not do this when the flash is up? I mean, I haven't specifically tested this, but so far the camera does what I expect. It seems (I'll have to check the manual on this) that when I pop the flash in AV, it meters and exposes exactly the same way it would if the flash wasn't up, and the flash only fires strong enough to expose the area that are in focus.

You see my most photographed item is birds and for birds you want the highest shutter speed available, so when I use fill flash I don't want it slowing the shutter speed down to compensate for the background. (The 1/250s on the Av shutter speed override is too slow when using a long lens.)

Wouldn't M make more sense for this? Choose appropriate shutter and aperture and let ETTL work out the exposure?

 

[koffiejunkie]

Just to add to this, the external Canon flashes also zoom to match the lens (works from about 16mm to 105mm focal lengths). This would overcome one of the problems you mention.

The Sigma does this too. Scared the **** out of me the first time that happened!

 

[BigAl-sa]

That goes without saying. Does the 350D not do this when the flash is up? I mean, I haven't specifically tested this, but so far the camera does what I expect. It seems (I'll have to check the manual on this) that when I pop the flash in AV, it meters and exposes exactly the same way it would if the flash wasn't up, and the flash only fires strong enough to expose the area that are in focus.

In trying to compensate for the BG, you usually end up with a slower shutter speed, and as you say, the flash then adds enough light to balance the pic. What gets me is the slower shutter speed results in blurred pics. Couldn't figure out why my first flash pics were so bad until I figured it out that it was a Canon "feature".

Wouldn't M make more sense for this? Choose appropriate shutter and aperture and let ETTL work out the exposure?

I do use M for all my flash work, the problem is if you're tracking a bird, you don't always watch the exposure meter as you move in and out of shadows areas which messes up the exposure

Your gripe is auto-ISO, mine is flash & Av

 

[bwana]

Can anyone tell me what the best setting is for a Canon's built in flash when I am shooting people.

1. The thing is that the flash keeps on firing short bursts when it is trying to lock on in a dim environment ... this kinda irritates people ... what can I do to shoot better pics in the dark.

not sure what your camera is but on the 400d you want to go to custom functions number 5 and change the af assist beam to "2: Only external flash emits."

 

[BigAl-sa]

Just for interest, there's a 2nd hand 430ex going for a song here in Pta:
http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=6722&cat=5

 

[sdd]

not sure what your camera is but on the 400d you want to go to custom functions number 5 and change the af assist beam to "2: Only external flash emits."

Sorry for late reply ... I am using a Canon 400D.

@bwana: I will try this when I get home tonight.

I read an article saying that M is the way to go on the Canon when using the flash. http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/12/flash.php
and http://www.digicamhelp.com/taking-photos/lighting-techniques/dslr_flash.php


Another thing that I found out is to dial up the FEC ... it now makes the indoor night time shoots much brighter and better exposed. Check this article >>> http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index3.html

 

[sdd]

guys ... I decided to go for this flash (Sigma EF - 500 DG SUPER) purely because of price (R1599) ... before I commit - does this represent good value?

Or should I save up and get the 430EX (R2699 from Makro)

 

[bwana]

guys ... I decided to go for this flash (Sigma EF - 500 DG SUPER) purely because of price (R1599) ... before I commit - does this represent good value?

Or should I save up and get the 430EX (R2699 from Makro)

Get the sigma. I've got that flash and its by far the better of the two.

 

[koffiejunkie]

In trying to compensate for the BG, you usually end up with a slower shutter speed, and as you say, the flash then adds enough light to balance the pic.

Even with spot metering?

I do use M for all my flash work, the problem is if you're tracking a bird, you don't always watch the exposure meter as you move in and out of shadows areas which messes up the exposure

Your gripe is auto-ISO, mine is flash & Av

Auto-ISO (properly done) would be your solution here.

guys ... I decided to go for this flash (Sigma EF - 500 DG SUPER) purely because of price (R1599) ... before I commit - does this represent good value?

Or should I save up and get the 430EX (R2699 from Makro)

The DG SUPER is more in line Canon's 580EX. I can vouch for it, I have the slightly newer one (530 DG SUPER). It works great, very powerful. And it can be triggered optically off camera. For that kind of money, buying the 430EX would be stupid.