combination of flash and shutter time

[Takki]

please correct me:

i made an indoor shot with Av mode, ISO400, F5.6, AWB, @24mm and built-in flash used.

i was making the shot, suddenly the shutter (exposure time) was 2 secs!
please tell me WHY 2 secs shutter time when using flash!!!
why is that?

i THOUGHT when using flash there is ALWAYS a FAST shutter.
is this correct or wrong?
or is my EOS 300D/Rebel/Kiss broken?

or is that normal?
please help me.

Takki

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[RichW]

Av is a very poor choice. The camera is metering ambient only. The flash metering is separate. Manual or P mode is a much better choice. Here is a reference:

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

Good luck,

Rich

please correct me:

i made an indoor shot with Av mode, ISO400, F5.6, AWB, @24mm and
built-in flash used.

i was making the shot, suddenly the shutter (exposure time) was 2
secs!
please tell me WHY 2 secs shutter time when using flash!!!
why is that?

i THOUGHT when using flash there is ALWAYS a FAST shutter.
is this correct or wrong?
or is my EOS 300D/Rebel/Kiss broken?

or is that normal?
please help me.

Takki

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[PhantomAndy]

DId this happen only once or can you duplicate this issue?

--
Andy
http://www.pandasystems.net/gallery

 

[RichW]

Low light, lens stopped down. You better have a long shutter speed. Flash metering is a separate issue.

Rich

DId this happen only once or can you duplicate this issue?

--
Andy
http://www.pandasystems.net/gallery

 

[Takki]

the flash metering is apart.

it looks like the camera is still using a slow/long shutter when i prepare for the built-in flash.

read this: the shutter opens and the flash fires.......after 2 secs the shutter closes.

the shutter is not really synchro-ing the flash.
i thought long/slow shutter will be used when the flash is not used.
but using flash the shutter is still slow (when using Av mode).
so whats the need of the flash then??!!

But its normal a guy said.

Takki

DId this happen only once or can you duplicate this issue?

--
Andy
http://www.pandasystems.net/gallery

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[Stan]

..use the Russian Hack Firmware. Works fine! I generally like to use flash in M mode if there is time..since you can easily play with ambient + flash lighting to your advantage.

Stan

 

[Sandman]

Takki,

Did you read the reference? Here it is again:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/#faq1
And here is another useful reference:
http://www.popphoto.com/assets/download/821200311318.pdf

And here is a link to a post I made a few months ago on how to get the most from your flash:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=6949576

Lots of useful information for you to study and digest!

Cheers,

jim

--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3

 

[Takki]

thanx for that great pdf sheet, i'm already comfortable now because its normal.

i love my Rebel!


see you at my next problem!

Takki

Takki,

Did you read the reference? Here it is again:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/#faq1
And here is another useful reference:
http://www.popphoto.com/assets/download/821200311318.pdf
And here is a link to a post I made a few months ago on how to get
the most from your flash:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=6949576

Lots of useful information for you to study and digest!

Cheers,

jim

--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[Takki]

i found a solution...
i use Tv mode and set the shutter to 1/200s while using the built-in flash.
works okay, but only the foreground is lit up (bright).

i have to live with that...thats life...

OR buy an external flash unit!!!

Takki

..use the Russian Hack Firmware. Works fine! I generally like to
use flash in M mode if there is time..since you can easily play
with ambient + flash lighting to your advantage.

Stan

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[Takki]

thanx for your link, i really need lessons/guides for an amateur like me.
the built-in flash is really bad.

Takki

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

Good luck,

Rich

please correct me:

i made an indoor shot with Av mode, ISO400, F5.6, AWB, @24mm and
built-in flash used.

i was making the shot, suddenly the shutter (exposure time) was 2
secs!
please tell me WHY 2 secs shutter time when using flash!!!
why is that?

i THOUGHT when using flash there is ALWAYS a FAST shutter.
is this correct or wrong?
or is my EOS 300D/Rebel/Kiss broken?

or is that normal?
please help me.

Takki

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[Takki]

are there any external flash units that let me use a FAST shutter than a max of 1/200s ?

Takki

 

[Ray Chen]

are there any external flash units that let me use a FAST shutter
than a max of 1/200s ?

Don't expect to get the full power range from the flash when in the high speed sync mode, as it has to work extra hard to light your subject. It is great for outdoor fill at f/2.8, however.

--
Ray Chen

It's not about the equipment, but even the best photographer can't make a white wall interesting with a pinhole camera.

 

[Sandman]

Takki,

Ray is exactly right! This is just one of the strengths of the 550EX. It is a great flash, but again, it is imperative that you understand how to use it. I'm amazed at how complex it is. This is about as far from user-friendly and intuitive as anything I've ever seen! But once you understand the pitfalls and strengths, no other flash offers this level of versatility, with the possible exception of the Metz (but you will pay for that). And, for what it is worth, I think there is no more essential accessory for your camera. If you have the demands placed on you like I do, everyone expects you to take great shots in all lighting conditions. The on-board flash simply can't deliver on this demand. Everyone likes ambient light photography over flash photography ~ however EVERY professional photographer has a mighty flash unit on his camera and KNOWS how and when to use it. It is ESSENTIAL!

Cheers,

jim

--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3

 

[Takki]

that 550EX is great??
the Sigma EF500 DG super is almost the same right?
(much cheaper too).

if i can use a faster shutter than 1/200s while using flash, then i'm happy with it.

who knows the fastest shutter i can use with that 550EX?

keep helping me guyz!

Takki

Takki,

Ray is exactly right! This is just one of the strengths of the
550EX. It is a great flash, but again, it is imperative that you
understand how to use it. I'm amazed at how complex it is. This
is about as far from user-friendly and intuitive as anything I've
ever seen! But once you understand the pitfalls and strengths, no
other flash offers this level of versatility, with the possible
exception of the Metz (but you will pay for that). And, for what
it is worth, I think there is no more essential accessory for your
camera. If you have the demands placed on you like I do, everyone
expects you to take great shots in all lighting conditions. The
on-board flash simply can't deliver on this demand. Everyone likes
ambient light photography over flash photography ~ however EVERY
professional photographer has a mighty flash unit on his camera and
KNOWS how and when to use it. It is ESSENTIAL!

Cheers,

jim

--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[Brian Wadie]

that 550EX is great??
the Sigma EF500 DG super is almost the same right?
(much cheaper too).

if i can use a faster shutter than 1/200s while using flash, then
i'm happy with it.

who knows the fastest shutter i can use with that 550EX?

keep helping me guyz!

Takki

with the sigma 500dg super and you can exceed the 1/200 syncro of the on-board flash. I think (but don't know for sure) that you can do the same with the Canon 550ex

Brian

 

[Kodack]

Highspeed flash sync is a joke. A high shutter speed has no affect in flash photography.

The pulse of light from your flash is so fast that it freezes the action greater than any shutter. Increasing the shutter speed of a flash photo does not freeze the action any more and has almost no affect on the photo.

The only time your shutter speed has an affect is if you use a slow shutter with a flash for motion blur before the subject is frozen with the flash.

The flash you select has no bearing on what shutter speed your camera selects either. The rebel will try to expose for fill in flash when you select AV or TV. If you don't want a fill flash you have to select manual or P mode and use the dial to change shutter/aperature combo's.

if i can use a faster shutter than 1/200s while using flash, then
i'm happy with it.

who knows the fastest shutter i can use with that 550EX?

keep helping me guyz!

Takki

Takki,

Ray is exactly right! This is just one of the strengths of the
550EX. It is a great flash, but again, it is imperative that you
understand how to use it. I'm amazed at how complex it is. This
is about as far from user-friendly and intuitive as anything I've
ever seen! But once you understand the pitfalls and strengths, no
other flash offers this level of versatility, with the possible
exception of the Metz (but you will pay for that). And, for what
it is worth, I think there is no more essential accessory for your
camera. If you have the demands placed on you like I do, everyone
expects you to take great shots in all lighting conditions. The
on-board flash simply can't deliver on this demand. Everyone likes
ambient light photography over flash photography ~ however EVERY
professional photographer has a mighty flash unit on his camera and
KNOWS how and when to use it. It is ESSENTIAL!

Cheers,

jim

--
Shoot more, ***** less!
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

--
Michael Scott
http://www.pbase.com/kodack
http://kodacksdarkness.com

 

[Takki]

which do you guyz choose if you have the money?

that 550EX is great??
the Sigma EF500 DG super is almost the same right?
(much cheaper too).

if i can use a faster shutter than 1/200s while using flash, then
i'm happy with it.

who knows the fastest shutter i can use with that 550EX?

keep helping me guyz!

Takki

with the sigma 500dg super and you can exceed the 1/200 syncro of
the on-board flash. I think (but don't know for sure) that you can
do the same with the Canon 550ex

Brian

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[Steve Lupton]

i found a solution...
i use Tv mode and set the shutter to 1/200s while using the
built-in flash.
works okay, but only the foreground is lit up (bright).

i have to live with that...thats life...

OR buy an external flash unit!!!

Takki

Internal / External flash is only part of your problem. The onboard flash is performing correctly for you.

If you want the background and foreground to be bright, you need to correctly expose for the background without the flash.

Find the settings that expose your background in the way you want it, then simply pop up the flash. The flash will auto fill the front for you. You may need to use FEL to make sure the flash meters on your foreground option, and not part of the background.

You really do need to thoroughly read the Photonotes article about ETTL flash metering to get the best out of it.

Just buying an external flash will not solve your problems.

Steve

 

[Takki]

you mean with the built-in flash i can make shots as well like using an external flash?

i know the option FEL (star-button on the Rebel) for metering.

if i use FEL for the dark background and then use the flash for the foreground/object, the result is the foreground will be very bright/overexposed.

and i can't move the pop-up built-in flash (not bouncing).
these days i'm not really happy with my built-in flash.
i can't find the correct metering for fore- and background together.

Takki

i found a solution...
i use Tv mode and set the shutter to 1/200s while using the
built-in flash.
works okay, but only the foreground is lit up (bright).

i have to live with that...thats life...

OR buy an external flash unit!!!

Takki

Internal / External flash is only part of your problem. The onboard
flash is performing correctly for you.

If you want the background and foreground to be bright, you need to
correctly expose for the background without the flash.

Find the settings that expose your background in the way you want
it, then simply pop up the flash. The flash will auto fill the
front for you. You may need to use FEL to make sure the flash
meters on your foreground option, and not part of the background.

You really do need to thoroughly read the Photonotes article about
ETTL flash metering to get the best out of it.

Just buying an external flash will not solve your problems.

Steve

--
'look for a great spot,
shoot for a great shot!'

Takki

 

[hm]

Highspeed flash sync is a joke. A high shutter speed has no affect
in flash photography.

If "flash photography" means "photography lit only by flash" then you're correct, but flash photography oftens mixes flash with ambient light, and the shutter speed certainly has an effect on the exposure from ambient light, which is the purpose of "FP flash" and cameras with fast sync speeds.

The most relevant scenario is one where you're using the flash as "fill flash" outdoors on a very sunny day, and you want to use a wide aperture to achieve shallow depth of field. It's possible for the proper shutter speed for the ambient light to be faster than a 1/200 sync speed, so use of "FP flash" or a camera with a faster sync speed can help you use a faster shutter speed to allow you to keep your wide aperture.
-harry