D30 and 420EX

[Clement]

I have just got a 420EX flash for my D30. Despite being reasonably proficient at photography I have never used a flash before. Consequently, I'm having a few problems with the new unit.

Exposure settings on the program modes are fine but when I switch to 'M'. 'AV' or 'TV' it's like the flash isn't there.

I know this is supposed to be the case but, other than guess at the correct exposure what am I supposed to do if a want to flash light a scene using a narrower aperture than the program modes allow (they nearly always go for a wide aperture)?

Can anyone point me at some good tips? I'd be most grateful.

All the best

[Morden]

I know what you mean about the way the D30 (D60 in my case) uses the flashgun in Av, Tv and M modes.

Of course, in Av mode you set the aperture. You can use Custom Function 6 to force the shutter speed to 1/200 seconds when using flash in Av mode.

In Tv mode, there isn't a lot you can do about the aperture; the camera will choose whichever aperture it thinks is 'right' to expose the background correctly.

In M mode, you set both aperture and shutter speed, and the ETTL flash metering should get a correct exposure from the flashgun. Many people find that Canon's ETTL system often results in underexposed photos when using a flash. Flash expsosure compensation can correct this in many cases.

I hope that this helps.

[Clement]

It does.

I should've just used the 'M' example to illustrate what I meant. In this the camera meters as if the flash isn't there. I know this is supposed to be because the camera isn't assuming the flash will be the primary light source as is thus giving a reading accordingly.

The troube is that it'll give you a reading of (for example) 1" and 4.5 when the program mode sets things at 60 and 4.5. Now if you want a narrower aperture (to give a greater DoF) you have to guess how much faster the shutter speed should be to compensate. If only the camera assumed the light from the flash as it does with the program modes you'd be fine.

[Clement]

Sorry. Reading your reply properly this time.

So I should crank up the Flash exposure compensation to make up for the camera 'ignoring' the flash gun in 'M' mode then?

[Morden]

So I should crank up the Flash exposure compensation to make up for the camera 'ignoring' the flash gun in 'M' mode then?
The underexposure 'problem' when using flash occurs even in P mode; using flash exposure compensation is a 'fix' for that (in all modes) but I'm afraid it won't help you solve the problem you are having. As far as I know, the camera does sort of 'ignore' the flash for metering calculations in Av, Tv and M modes. Even though you have set, taking into account the flash, what you know to be a 'good' shutter speed / aperture combination, the camera will warn that the shot will be underexposed. Why not just ignore the warning and take the shot anyway, knowing that your 420 will fire and illuminate your subject correctly? Remember that, because of the ETTL flash system, the flash will cut out once the camera has seen enough light hitting the sensor. Flash compensation may be required, but trial & error and a little practice will soon produce good results.

I use a 420EX with my D60 and - although I wish I could set the camera to 'factor in' the presence of the flashgun in Av, Tv and M modes - I get good results most of the time. The exception is Tv mode, where the camera does what it wants with the aperture setting, usually opening up fully unless there is a lot of ambient light.

However, if you need to ensure a certain aperture for a desired DoF. you won't want to use Tv mode, will you?

Hope this helps.

[Clement]

Neil wrote:

Why not just ignore the warning and take the shot anyway, knowing that your 420 will fire and illuminate your subject correctly?

***

That's what I've been doing, using program modes to get an approximate reading, then switching to manual and compensating for the narrower aperture by guestimate. I was wondering whtehr there was another way.

Still, that's yet another bonus of digital photography isn't it? You can bracket like mad with no extra cost.

Ta for all your advice.

[oops]

I don't use a flash often either and each time it is 'Back To School' time.:(

There have been some fantastic replies to your problem in this forum over the last year or so that you can find with a dedicated search. I hated my 420EX/D30 combo until I tried some of the suggestions here.

I even graduated to using ambient light in the background (like a lamp by the subject) as part of the "M" mode equation and took some of the best flash shots of my life with the help of this forum, my 420EX, and the D30.

Sigh. If I had known this was information I needed to remember past 24 hours I would have etched it on my arm and could give you some REAL help. Now we both need to find it again.:) But, it's out there.

[Morden]

I've been looking through previous posts concerning flash use myself. One poster, "toycollector", suggests the following:
Set D60 to Manual (M) mode (not P), set aperture to F8 and speed to 1/125th. Drop speed down if pictures are too dark for you.

This setup works great with my D60 and 550EX. Hopefully it will work with your 420EX as well.
I admit that I haven't yet had a chance to test this method myself, but follow ups to the post from "toycollector" are encouraging.

[Morden]

I have now tried using M mode, F8, 1/125 sec, and got good results as long as I also set flash exposure compensation at +1.0.