EOS 3 shutter speeds with flash

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Being a recent Nikon convert I am having a little trouble with Canon's exposure when using flash. I have a Metz 54MZ-3 Canon E-TTL dedicated and have used a 550EX with the same result. I use AV 99.9% of the time. With Nikon as soon as you put a flash on the camera the shutter speed defaults from a 250th to a 60th depending on your apperture and will not dip bellow a 60th unless you switch to manual. Now with the Canon when I use a flash I get the same shutter speed as if there were no flash on the camera sometimes as low as 1/4 sec or lower {100 ASA, film indoor lighting, f2.8} I have even tried the FEL button and get the same reading. I tried this with the D30 and got the same results. Both cameras had perfect exposures but to slow to hand hold. It seems that the only way to get a higher shutter speed is to use TV and the apperture will blink as is there is not enough light or use manual exposure. These work but the look of the images is quite different. The camera manual really does not help and I would be really greatful for your sugestions, explinations, and help.

Thanks in advance

John

-- john (mr.-n-mrs.g@att.net), December 20, 2001

Answers

This will help: http://bobatkins.photo.net/info/faq30/flashfaq.htm

The quick answer is that is "P" mode with flash, the camera automatically uses a shutter speed between 1/60 and 1/200. In Av and Tv modes, the flash provides fill for the appropriate ambient exposure (great for outdoor fill flash) For indoor flash, where the flash is the main light, I prefere manual exposure, to control both the apeture and shutter speed.

-- Kenneth Katz (socks@bestweb.net), December 20, 2001.


Thank you very much the article helps imensely.

Thanks again

John

-- john (mr.-n-mrs.g@att.net), December 20, 2001.


The short answer is to set your camera to manual (M mode) and select the shutter speed and aperture you want to use. On the 550ex I rely on ETTL most of the time. In my experience I find that setting FEC (I do this on the 550ex, not the camera body) to +2/3 gives me good exposures most of the time in low light. I shoot weddings now and then. For most interior shots I set the camera to M mode, the aperture @ f5.6 and the shutter speed to 1/30 and the 550ex to +2/3 FEC and my photos are almost always well exposed. The flash supplies adequate light on the subjects and the slow shutter speed captures some ambient light to show some background detail.

Good luck.

-- Jim Hicks (jhicks992@aol.com), December 22, 2001.


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