ETTL and fill flash question.

[breakdown]

I'm going to the fire exit stairwell with my girlfriend later on to take a few more pictures with my new flash. I just need help clarifying something before I head out there.

I went over there earlier today to meter available light and it appears I could shoot at ISO 400, aperture 1.8 and shutter speed 1/60 - 1/125 depending on where I aimed.

I want to play around with using the flash to fill as well as using the flash as the primary light source since the stairwell is pretty small. I'm still not entirely sure how ETTL works.

For fill flash, will I just set my camera up correctly for available light then set the flash to -2 EV and start shooting?

Then, for using the flash as the primary source, I'll probably up the shutter speed to 1/200 then lower the ISO to 100 then set the flash to +1/3 EV and start shooting. Does that sound about right?

I understand that nothing is exact and it depends on the situation but are these guidelines I've set out not too bad or are they pretty far off?

[Curtis N]

-2 FEC will make the flash very subtle. Be prepared to crank it up to at least -1, maybe even 0. For flash as the main light source, you'll probably want FEC around +2/3.

Other than that, I think you're on the right track.

[breakdown]

Thanks Curtis.

I'll post up some pictures for critique after I've taken them.

[Just Be]

-2 FEC will make the flash very subtle. Be prepared to crank it up to at least -1, maybe even 0. For flash as the main light source, you'll probably want FEC around +2/3.

Other than that, I think you're on the right track.

Curtis. You ar the lighting man around here. That's for sure. Your posts are very helpful. Thanks!!!! :grin:

[jasonlprice]

-2 FEC will make the flash very subtle. Be prepared to crank it up to at least -1, maybe even 0. For flash as the main light source, you'll probably want FEC around +2/3.

Other than that, I think you're on the right track.


I second that, I appreciate your (Curtis') help in my topic regarding ttl flash too. You are a great asset to these forums. Breakdown I look forward to seeing your results. What Curtis said about maybe setting FEC up (maybe even to 0) is very true according to my experience anyway. E-TTL 2 seems to me to do a very good job of managing the flash as secondary lighting.

[malla1962]

wrightly or wrongly for fill flash I set the flash to shoot -1 under the cameras meter reading.:confused:

[Sledhed]

Depending on your distance to the subject 1.8 can be very thin DOF. Keep that in mind if your close to her and you want her whole face in focus.