hi, i'm from brazil and at my new job i have to use iso800 film. the problem is that often the subjects in my photos are overexposured when i'm using the 540ez in ttl mode. so i'd like to know if there is a minimum output smaller than 1/128 in the ttl mode. do i have to use a smaller aperture to correct it? well, thanks to everybody and sorry for my poor english.

-- Marcelo Min (mmin@uol.com.br), August 10, 2000

Answers

Try "-" (negative) flash exposure compensation. If your subject is too near try "bouncing" the flash or use a diffuser.

-- Dave (dherzstein@juno.com), August 11, 2000.

First, make sure the flash's hotshoe foot is fully and correctly seated in the camera's hotshoe. Next, verify that all of your camera and flash settings are correctly set. (What shooting mode have you been using--Av, Tv, P, or M? Also, how CLOSE are you to your subject when you tend to encounter flash over-exposure, and what metering mode are you typically using with the flash?). When using either a 540EZ or 550EX flash INDOORS, I will employ BOUNCE flash whenever feasible, and when I must use the flash head-on, I usually program the flash for some degree of negative flash exposure compensation, i.e., anywhere from -1/2 to -2 stops; by doing so, one can often greatly reduce or eliminate the "lit" look that direct electronic flash can tend to impart. I rarely use "direct" flash indoors without some degree of negative flash exposure compensation. IMO, if your setup is properly configured, the flash will electronically "know" the ISO of the film being used, and TTL should be operative. There should be no need to resort to manual flash mode, let alone dialing in 1/128th flash power in manual mode, to solve this problem. Most likely (and as previously suggested) you likely need to merely "dial in" some negative flash exposure compensation. But, first try BOUNCING the flash whenever possible, and if you must use direct or head-on flash, then shoot some test shots employing progressive amounts of flash exposure compensation.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), August 11, 2000.