Help with blown out pictures...

[kcheek]

I need quick help...I'm at the beach for the week and it's a bright, sunny day. I am shooting with a Canon DRebel 300/D, Canon 50mm f/1.8, Sigma 70-200 f/4.5-5.6 and a Promaster 7500DX.

Problem I'm having is all pictures with flash are totally blown out! I'm wondering if my equipment is limitting my success with the flash unit. Max shutter w/flash is 200, but w/o flash in P or AV mode camera chooses 2000. I've also tried adjusting the EC w/flash, using FEL and custom WB, but nothing seems to work.

Any ideas or suggestion...besides another Canon body? Actually, I may have access to a 10D body...

Thanks in advance and hopefully this isn't too generic of a question!

Kevin

[Smooth1]

That's because the flash sync speed is 1/200. Does the flash have high speed sync mode? You'll have to use that to be able to get faster shutter speeds and still use the flash.

[René Damkot]

Enable HighSpeedSync on the flash. Alternatively, lower the ISO and stop down, untill the needed shutterspeed is below maximum sync.

[form]

Bright days require stopping down and using minimum ISO settings. Shots are blown out because too much light is reaching the sensor within the 1/200th sec. max flash sync time; about 10x too much light, if Av suggests 1/2000th for the scene. If your flash unit doesn't have high speed synch capabilities, then you absolutely have to stop down and minimize ISO until Av declares 1/200th or near to be acceptable.

[Curtis N]

Since your Promaster 7500DX flash doesn't have high-speed sync, you need to stop down, one way or another. In sunny conditions, you could just reduce your aperture (higher f/number) until you get shutter speeds of 1/200 or slower. But it's probably easier in that environment to use Tv mode and set your shutter at 1/200.

This is a mistake that every SLR flash user makes at some point (including me). And the lesson to be learned is to pay attention to the numbers in the viewfinder. If you choose an aperture too wide, the shutter speed will flash at 200. It's important to pay attention to the blinking numbers!

FP flash (high-speed sync) is an option on some Canon flash units like the 430EX and 580EX, and also the Sigma EF-500 DG Super. It allows the use of faster shutter speeds but reduces the flash distance range.

[kcheek]

Bingo! You guys are all right on! Thanks a million!! Need to take the Promaster back and spring for the Sigma or a Canon 430.

Thanks again to all...you all are GREAT!!

Kevin

[Curtis N]

Need to take the Promaster back and spring for the Sigma or a Canon 430.Another feature lacking on the Promaster is FEC, which you really need unless you hack your 300D.

[JMHPhotography]

Bingo! You guys are all right on! Thanks a million!! Need to take the Promaster back and spring for the Sigma or a Canon 430.

Thanks again to all...you all are GREAT!!

Kevin

If you get the Sigma... get the Super as the DG ST doesn't do FP flash. Also, the Sigma is tricky to operate in this way. Once you get used to it, it's no big deal but if you go above your max sync speed set the FP flash enabled, you're golden, but it will automatically turn off if you drop your shutter back below the max sync speed. Canon flashes don't turn off until you turn them off. One thing that's always bugged me about my Sigma's. But I'm used to it so I know to expect it now.

[SonyaL]

Also you might try shooting early am and later pm at the beach.



Sonya