Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: willie45 on August 09, 2006, 07:05:16 pm
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Hi
Could anyone tell me please if it is possible to use fill in flash with the 20d. the manual doesn't really seem to cover this in any detail and I have never tried it before. Is it a case of the camera determining the degree of flash and automatically deciding that it is fill in which is required ( depending on one of the automatic program type modes being operable) or is there more to it than this? Is it maybe even the case that I would need to buy a separate flash unit for the camera to use fill in?
Thanks for your patience with an inexperienced contributor.
Willie
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All EOS cameras have auto fill flash algorithms built in. If you use your flash in any mode in bright light it will automatically reduce flash output for a natural look. P mode defaults to main light in dim light (below EV 10) whereas Av, Tv and M (if you follow the meter!) always expose for the ambient and use fill-in flash.
It's also possible to defeat auto fill flash reduction via CF 14.1 and dial in your own reduction (you don't want to dial on top of auto fill flash reduction as its hard to predict what the camera will do).
So basically you can point 'n shoot 'n get great fill flash or set CF 14.1 and roll your own.
You might want to study these "EOS Flash Bibles" for details:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/ (http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/)
http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/flashwork/index.html (http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/flashwork/index.html)
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I recomment turning off auto fill flash reduction and controlling flash exposure via straight Flash Exposure Compensation. When mixing flash and ambient, I usually shoot in manual or Av mode, and adjust the shutter speed (via Exposure Compensation when in Av mode) to control ambient light, and FEC to adjust flash fill. In Av mode, try starting with +1/3 EC and -1 FEC, and adjust from there to get the look you want.
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Hi Guys
Thanks very much for your informative answers. I will probably start by letting the camera show me for a while before I start to control it myself. The guidance for using manual seems quite straightforward though and I will give it a go pretty soon.
Your comments have been very helpful.
Willie
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Is it really that difficult? On a Nikon camera you push a button near the flash and turn a dial to select the flash level relative to the ambient e.g. -2 stops.
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Is it really that difficult? On a Nikon camera you push a button near the flash and turn a dial to select the flash level relative to the ambient e.g. -2 stops.
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And it's even easier on a Canon: merely turn the QCD (big dial on the back). There's a ruler-like scale in the VF and LCD.
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I suppose like everything else, its easy when you know how. Now I have checked it out it does seem very simple indeed. However as a newcomer to this I didn't find the manual very helpful and wanted to check with more experienced photographers.
Thanks again
Willie
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With CF14/1 I use a -2 for overcast, -1 1/3 for bright overcast and full sun can need 0 or even +1/3
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More useful tips. Thanks again
Willie