Canon T5i with Speedlite 430EX II Issues

I have not used the flash much and I have some questions on the flash. With Auto ISO selected and the flash mounted and set to ETTL and Zoom, the shutter speed is way in the mud, like 1/5 sec. When I mount and turn on the flash is there something I need to change?

Are you using Av mode? If so, use manual shutter speeds. Av meters for ambient light, thus slow shutter speeds in poorly lit environments.

I think it happens in the A and P mode.

This is one time to use manual, even if your not comfortable with M (Manual mode).

Set the flash to eTTL and the flash will compensate to create a proper exposure, like Av does with changes to shutter speed (and ISO if set to auto).

Try shutter speeds from 1/60th to 1/200th (the higher the speed the less effect the other light source will have, ie. sun or light fixtures). 1/60th might also make for a bit of soft edges around your subject, just bump the speed if you need to.

Try setting the ISO so the camera is metered below center on the meter in your viewfinder.

Also try bouncing the flash off walls behind and to the side of your subject, or off the ceiling above them. The light will be much more flattering. I found with most of my Canon's until just recently that having the FEC set to +2/3, or +1 created more pleasing colours/exposure. When you set FEC (flash exposure compensation) it's a lot like setting the EC (exposure compensation) in Av mode. But you are asking the flash to supply more (or less) light instead of asking the camera to adjust shutter speed (or ISO).

The 430ex is amazing. You have a very capable setup. Play a bit with it and change the settings a bit to see what happens.

SereneSpeed wrote in post #18782428
Try setting the ISO so the camera is metered below center on the meter in your viewfinder.

I don't have a meter in the viewfinder.

chzuck wrote in post #18782439
I don't have a meter in the viewfinder.

Yes, you do have a meter. It is called the “Exposure level indicator”.

chzuck wrote in post #18782439
I don't have a meter in the viewfinder.

If you haven't shot in M mode, you probably think of the meter as your exposure compensation scale, because the automated modes (Av, Tv, P, Auto) adjust settings so that the meter "needle" always sits at 0.

In M mode, though, the needle sits wherever the settings have placed it, and you can only move the needle by adjusting your exposure settings (iso, aperture, or shutter speed).

If you are just learning about flash, set your camera to P and your flash to ETTL. The results will be perfect pretty much all the time. As time goes on and you get more advanced, you can move on to Manual mode in both.

James P wrote in post #18782577
If you are just learning about flash, set your camera to P and your flash to ETTL. The results will be perfect pretty much all the time. As time goes on and you get more advanced, you can move on to Manual mode in both.

Well I took some of the group photo in P but forgot about setting the ISO and it Auto selected 1600, therefore grainy photos and I needed to pay attention to where it was focusing. I have learned much via this forum today.

You can't rely on so many auto settings if you want to control the output and get consistent results. If the camera is picking the exposure, the flash power, and the iso you have no way of anticipating the final outcome. So start thinking about what's most important about the image you are about to create. The first step is to lock the iso down so you know where it's at when using flash. Ettl flash tries to balance flash with ambient exposure so using av mode with flash can result in the camera picking slow shutter speeds to achieve that balance. The auto flash allows you lots of latitude to pick your shutter speed and aperture in manual mode and the flash will complete the exposure triangle. But the key is to start making decisions and wresting some control back from the camera.

SereneSpeed wrote in post #18782428
This is one time to use manual, even if your not comfortable with M (Manual mode).

Set the flash to eTTL and the flash will compensate to create a proper exposure, like Av does with changes to shutter speed (and ISO if set to auto).

Try shutter speeds from 1/60th to 1/200th (the higher the speed the less effect the other light source will have, ie. sun or light fixtures). 1/60th might also make for a bit of soft edges around your subject, just bump the speed if you need to.

Try setting the ISO so the camera is metered below center on the meter in your viewfinder.

Also try bouncing the flash off walls behind and to the side of your subject, or off the ceiling above them. The light will be much more flattering. I found with most of my Canon's until just recently that having the FEC set to +2/3, or +1 created more pleasing colours/exposure. When you set FEC (flash exposure compensation) it's a lot like setting the EC (exposure compensation) in Av mode. But you are asking the flash to supply more (or less) light instead of asking the camera to adjust shutter speed (or ISO).

The 430ex is amazing. You have a very capable setup. Play a bit with it and change the settings a bit to see what happens.

This

chzuck wrote in post #18782439
I don't have a meter in the viewfinder.

Might be a good excuse to read the manual and pick up a guide book on that specific cameras model.

Reading the manual is one thing, remembering what I read is another. Guide book sounds like a good idea. I had one for my XT and appreciated it.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions from everyone!

chzuck wrote in post #18783333
Reading the manual is one thing, remembering what I read is another. Guide book sounds like a good idea. I had one for my XT and appreciated it.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions from everyone!

He yes, I for one has to return to the manual repeatedly