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Electronic Flash and the R Series

Started 1 month ago | Discussions
phcd Forum Member • Posts: 93
Electronic Flash and the R Series

For indoor events DSLR cameras and electronic flash worked quite well using Manual (M, 1/125 or 160 sec.) settings.

With the R series the viewfinder is too dark in Manual.  What is the best strategy to use electronic flash indoors with the R series cameras?

Franz Kerschbaum
Franz Kerschbaum Senior Member • Posts: 1,242
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series
3

You only have to disable "Exposure Simulation" for the viewfinder to avoid a dark screen in manual settings.

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Steve Balcombe Forum Pro • Posts: 15,571
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

phcd wrote:

For indoor events DSLR cameras and electronic flash worked quite well using Manual (M, 1/125 or 160 sec.) settings.

With the R series the viewfinder is too dark in Manual. What is the best strategy to use electronic flash indoors with the R series cameras?

I have no problem using flash on my R5 and R7 - the body detects the flash and automatically adjusts the viewfinder brightness when I half-press the shutter button. I may have forgotten something but I don't think I had to make any special settings, it just worked out of the box. I didn't have to disable Exposure Simulation, the camera overrides it automatically when using flash.

I mostly use M exposure mode and ETTL-II flash, but sometimes manual flash.

Franz Kerschbaum
Franz Kerschbaum Senior Member • Posts: 1,242
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

I have also a R5 and R7 and I want to have a permanently(!) bright finder when in M mode with my canon 600ex ii rt flash independently of my manual aperture, time and ISO settings. This is possible only with Exp.Sim. OFF. When ON the finder emulates the brightness that would be present without the flash. I've used this for many thousends of pics.

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Steve Balcombe Forum Pro • Posts: 15,571
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

Franz Kerschbaum wrote:

I have also a R5 and R7 and I want to have a permanently(!) bright finder when in M mode with my canon 600ex ii rt flash independently of my manual aperture, time and ISO settings. This is possible only with Exp.Sim. OFF. When ON the finder emulates the brightness that would be present without the flash. I've used this for many thousends of pics.

If you insist on 'permanent' then yes, obviously you have to turn Exposure Simulation off. But you don't need to, because the R5 and R7 are smart enough to turn it off temporarily for you when the flash is attached and switched on, and you have half-pressed the shutter button. I've used this for many thousands of pics.

Gam3r01 Contributing Member • Posts: 572
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Franz Kerschbaum wrote:

I have also a R5 and R7 and I want to have a permanently(!) bright finder when in M mode with my canon 600ex ii rt flash independently of my manual aperture, time and ISO settings. This is possible only with Exp.Sim. OFF. When ON the finder emulates the brightness that would be present without the flash. I've used this for many thousends of pics.

If you insist on 'permanent' then yes, obviously you have to turn Exposure Simulation off. But you don't need to, because the R5 and R7 are smart enough to turn it off temporarily for you when the flash is attached and switched on, and you have half-pressed the shutter button. I've used this for many thousands of pics.

My RP and R6 both behaved the same way with my 430EXII. If the flash was off (or asleep) the simulation would be dark, but on a half press it woke the flash up and the exposure sim adjusted to include the flash as well.

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Franz Kerschbaum
Franz Kerschbaum Senior Member • Posts: 1,242
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

If I halfpress then I do AF. Something I dont want to do before I aim the camera...

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Steve Balcombe Forum Pro • Posts: 15,571
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

Franz Kerschbaum wrote:

If I halfpress then I do AF. Something I dont want to do before I aim the camera...

I agree it can be inconvenient sometimes. But so can having to explicitly switch Exp Sim off and on - it's way too useful to just disable.

deebatman316
deebatman316 Forum Member • Posts: 65
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Franz Kerschbaum wrote:

If I halfpress then I do AF. Something I dont want to do before I aim the camera...

I agree it can be inconvenient sometimes. But so can having to explicitly switch Exp Sim off and on - it's way too useful to just disable.

With a Canon speedlite mounted exposure simulation is disabled automatically. A 3rd party speedlite may NOT disable exposure simulation.

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PicPocket Veteran Member • Posts: 5,897
Re: Electronic Flash and the R Series

Franz Kerschbaum wrote:

If I halfpress then I do AF. Something I dont want to do before I aim the camera...

This is a good use case where exposure and AF don't need to be on same button. I have them decoupled and do each when I need to

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PicPocket

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