I need speedlite 430 for dummies....how to meter?

[harleybabe]

Just got a speedlite for Christmas. I have not had my rebel xti long, but I figured out how to shoot in manual (for a non mobile subject of course!).

Now how the heck do I know what setting to use, how do I measure what the exposure is going to be with the flash?? I can look at the histogram afterwards and adjust accordingly, but that gets old quick......

[JaertX]

if you're using the FLASH in manual mode, you'll want a light meter. If the camera is in manual mode and the flash is in ETTL mode, the flash will meter itself. It's not really that easy, but reading the stickies will help on that.

[harleybabe]

I have heard of light meters, but never laid an eyeball on one.:lol:

How does it work? I get that it reads the amount of light present or reflected....but do you put in an iso, aperature or shutterspeed and it give you the rest???? Hate to sound as ignorant as I am on this subject!

[JaertX]

you don't want a lightmeter with the 430. well maybe.

for a strobe, generally you set the iso speed you're using, shutter speed you want to use and then trigger the strobe to get what aperture setting to use.

anyway, read here....lots of info:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907

[Curtis N]

Camera in manual mode, flash in E-TTL mode, brain in learning mode. ;) Just let the flash do the metering and adjust FEC as needed.

A flash meter is more of an advanced option, really not necessary with the equipment you have.