Exposure Starting Point

[hihowdy]

I am taking some pictures for a friend and I have decided that it is time to move on from the green box mode if I want to get serious! I have used M with success after just pretty much playing with the Ap and SS values until they look good to me on the viewfinder. My questions is

1) Do you have a starting point for indoor work that you put your camera to and then adjust from there. (I Will be using my 50mm 1.8 lens and a 550ex flash)

2) How do you know for sure it is a good exposure. It looks good on the viewfinder but what should i be looking for in the histogram?

3) How do you get an exposure reading with a flash? I can get one without my flash but have to manually pop up my flash to use it (that is when I don't have the 550 ex on)

Thanks!

[Mark_Cohran]

1. I use a shutter speed of 1/200 and an aperture of f8. If I need more or less depth of field I adjust me aperture from there. The 550EX will put out enough light to expose correctly as long as the subject is within reasonable range.

2. A good exposure will show a histogram that is balanced across the x-axis, that is to say it won't be too far to the left or the right (clipped).

3. To get an exposure reading with the flash, you have to use the flash. From the initial test shot you can use FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation) to adjust the flash output to desired.

Mark

[nevilleb]

Its ok if its weighted to the right as long as the highlights aren't clipped - you can always "reduce the exposure" in the raw processing software. As a matter of fact, with digital cameras its better to "expose to the right" as its called. Again, don't blow out the highlights (unless you intend to for some reason).

Regarding the flash, you could do as Mark pointed out. Or, learn all about tonality, guide nos etc etc, and use take much of the guesswork out of FEC.

nevilleb

[PhotosGuy]

1) Do you have a starting point for indoor work that you put your camera to and then adjust from there. (I Will be using my 50mm 1.8 lens and a 550ex flash)...
1. I use a shutter speed of 1/200 and an aperture of f8. That would work. Better would be to decide what DOF you need, set that f-stop, & move the light around to get it using the histogram. Then set the shutter speed to balance out the background exposure if that's the effect you want.

[hihowdy]

I am taking a 10 person group photo indoors with no other light than my 550ex. I just want to make sure I get enough light in the shot and have everyone in focus! Any idea where to start now? What DOF/Av should I use?

[PhotosGuy]

Any idea where to start now? Answered by everybody above. We'd need to know the shooting distance you're going to have, the guide # for the strobe, wall color, ceiling height, etc. Take a shot & chimp it. That's what we all do.

[Curtis N]

I just want to make sure I get enough light in the shot and have everyone in focus!Depth-of-field charts will get you in the ballpark in terms of f/ stop if you have an idea of the distance and lens focal length.

The distance scale on the back of the flash will tell you if you have enough power. After you set the ISO and f/ stop, half-press the shutter button and the distance scale will show up. If it's indicating the flash range is a little short, either open up the aperture or use a higher ISO.