Shutter speed with HF-DC1 flash unit

[chrishi]

Hi Folks,
Only went digital quite recently. Used to use good quality Canon 35mm gear (T90 etc) so not too clued up on how to get automated point and shoots to do what you want. I'm also new to using external flash gear so I apologise in advance for any stupid questions. Ive got an sd870is which I'm using with an HF-dc1 flash and am wondering if there is any way of making the camera use a higher shutter speed. (Stupidly) I'd hoped that by adding the extra flash I might be able to make the camera choose a quicker shutter speed in low light situations but all it seems to do is light up more background. Anyone know a way of fooling the camera into upping the Tv on these ultra auto machines? Thanks in advance!;-)

PS I know that I would be better off with a not-so-automated P+S/ DSLR / Hasselblad or whatever but am otherwise very happy with this wee camera!
(Mind you I would love to have at least apeture/shutter priority...and a hot shoe...and a 18mm lens!!)

[Bob_A]

Are you shooting in Av? If so the camera will probably be at 1/60s (or lower) if shooting indoors with flash. For my G9 I set the camera to Tv at whatever shutterspeed I want and live with the fact that the aperture will often be wide open. The reason I like to choose the ss is that 1/60s is sometimes too slow when there is enough room light to cause some ghosting. Keep in mind though that when the room light is dim 1/60s is plenty fast enough because the flash is freezing the action anyway.

The only reason I even consider using Tv for indoor flash with my G9 is that the sensor is so tiny that even wide open there is a ton of DOF even with the aperture wide open. This isn't an approach I use with my DSLR.

The only other choice I have with the G9 is to place the camera in manual (which is how I shoot with flash on a DSLR), but unfortunately flash ends up being in manual too! This one thing is my biggest complaint about the G9 (no auto-flash with camera in manual).

[chrishi]

Thanks Bob. Unfortunately the sd870is doesn't have either Tv or Av modes. It has various scene presets and then what Canon call "Manual". This mode isn't manual at all really as the camera still chooses apeture and shutter speed but allows you to adjust things like exposure compensation, iso, focus mode etc. In essence the apeture and shutter speed are always set by the camera but I was hoping there might be some way of getting it to select a quicker shutter speed (a "sports" mode/preset for example)

[Bob_A]

Thanks Bob. Unfortunately the sd870is doesn't have either Tv or Av modes. It has various scene presets and then what Canon call "Manual". This mode isn't manual at all really as the camera still chooses apeture and shutter speed but allows you to adjust things like exposure compensation, iso, focus mode etc. In essence the apeture and shutter speed are always set by the camera but I was hoping there might be some way of getting it to select a quicker shutter speed (a "sports" mode/preset for example)

Sorry to hear that chrishi. It looks like there isn't much you can do.