Probably Gonna Get An XS

So are you bouncing it straight up, 45 degrees, other?

Also, is there anyway to mess with the on-camera flash (using a mirror to bounce it up, etc)?

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #9174325
So are you bouncing it straight up, 45 degrees, other?

Also, is there anyway to mess with the on-camera flash (using a mirror to bounce it up, etc)?

You can get creative in how you bounce. You usually want the light to fill in the subject well, so it depends how far away you are. If you are close, you even bounce behind sometimes.

There are people that have made bounce cards for their pop up flash, but it is not very easy to use. There's a goofy product called the kobre light scoop that is supposed to let a pop-up bounce well.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #9174325
So are you bouncing it straight up, 45 degrees, other?

Also, is there anyway to mess with the on-camera flash (using a mirror to bounce it up, etc)?

I mostly bounce straight up, but experimenting can reveal when it is better to kick it back a bit (usually for close subjects) etc.

The on-camera flash is not friendly to bouncing for a few reasons.

To start, the OCF has a very small guide number (GN) which is the range of the flash. For example, as GN 12 flash can reach 12 meters at f/1.0 and ISO 100. Put into terms that make sense, the GN 12 flash can reach 4.3 meters at ISO400 and f/5.6.

That reach (4.3 meters) might sound like enough until you consider that when you are bouncing the flash distance is from camera to ceiling to subject. Also, every bounce interface probably cuts the GN in half.

So suppose you bounce the onboard flash to the ceiling and then again to a subject. This gives us a working GN of about 4 meters with the 2 bounces. If you use a prime lens and high ISO.....

ISO1600, f/2 - flash range is 4 meters with bounce.....meaning the subject had probably better be within 1 meter of the camera. It is not really workable.

There is a great deal on the XS:

http://www.abesofmaine​.com …EOSRDXS1855K&l=​CJ&KBID=CJ

It's $473 there, then you can get another $20 off by using coupon code AMDEAL20

x2 on the flash. Just set a shutter speed of between 1/60 - 1/200 (depending on whether you want the background light in the picture, or how dark the room is) and set the ISO to 100-400 (again, depending on how dark the room is and how fast you want the flash to recycle.

Literally just point the flash at the ceiling and click away, ETTL does the rest. just imagine a projectile is being shot out of the flash, bounced off the ceiling and shooting your subject in the top of the head. aim your flash so that "the projectile" hits them directly in the head, and not too far in front or behind.

Whats the 1/200 shutter speed? What about the other number? Aperature or something? I'm guessing in M mode as I will find out, you can adjust the shutter speed? I'll have to play with auto mode for a bit first..lol until I understand all of this

There are also lots of XSi's on the forum recently with under 5k clicks going for about $400...I would look into those as well. Good luck and let the addiction begin!

Erik_L wrote in post #9174436
x2 on the flash. Just set a shutter speed of between 1/60 - 1/200 (depending on whether you want the background light in the picture, or how dark the room is) and set the ISO to 100-400 (again, depending on how dark the room is and how fast you want the flash to recycle.

Literally just point the flash at the ceiling and click away, ETTL does the rest. just imagine a projectile is being shot out of the flash, bounced off the ceiling and shooting your subject in the top of the head. aim your flash so that "the projectile" hits them directly in the head, and not too far in front or behind.

Good advice, except I would say you want it to hit them in the face. If it comes down to directly on top of them, their eyes can be a bit shadowed.

chugger93 wrote in post #9174635
Whats the 1/200 shutter speed? What about the other number? Aperature or something? I'm guessing in M mode as I will find out, you can adjust the shutter speed? I'll have to play with auto mode for a bit first..lol until I understand all of this

Yes, 1/200 is the shutter speed. The aperture is something like f/2 (f-stop).

Basically, the aperture is the 'hole' that allows light into the camera's sensor. The bigger the number (f-stop), the smaller the opening and therefore, the less light that's let in. So f/11 would let a lot less light in then say, f/1.8. Shutter speed, on the other hand, is how long the aperture is open (letting light in). If you shoot at 1/200, that's 1/200th of a second (pretty fast). If you shot at 1, that would mean that your shutter is open (and letting light through the aperture) for 1 second (sounds fast, but in fact it's pretty slow). Now, using aperture and shutter speed together is one of the challenges of learning the dSLR system. You could set the aperture real small (a big number) but leave the shutter speed open for a longer amount of time and still let enough light for a proper exposure.

I hope that sort of made sense. Good luck to you!

Avoid the evil auto mode, use Program mode if you must have full automation. notice that if P is selected, you can roll the dial to inversely increase/decrease the aperture/exposure time. Because you are using flash, it will meter as though you are NOT and you may get slower than necessary exposures.

DO THIS if using flash

Flash on hotshoe, powered on, in E-TTL mode. 2nd curtian sync on/off (play with it to see what it does, and go from there.
camera in M
shutter speed at 1/125
aperture at lowest number, or F8 with kit lens for max sharpness
ISO at 100-200, 400 if it's really dark and you are using F8

that should be enough to get you going

I think we are confusing the guy here.

Bottom line = Camera + 18-55 IS + flash = great starter setup. Maybe all you ever need. Take it slow and you'll get it. It is not rocket science, you just have to be willing to learn and experiment.

Enjoy your XS. It is a very capable camera. As everyone ahs recommended, a flash is a good idea if you take a lot of indoor photos or low light photos.

Don't get too scared about the modes. I would experiment with them. Many people do full manual, but there is no shame in using other modes, especially if you are new. I would recommend palying with Tv and Av mode, they are good for getting a feel for what the shutter speed and aperture opening means.

Hope you have much fun as i have with my XS

dont forget to visit the XS part of this forum found in my sig we are one happy family

another +1 for the 430ex makes a huge difference in photos and works well even before you know how to work all the features!

The XS is a Great camera for the price. I have had the opportunity to shoot with one for a bit here recently (bought one for a friend), and I found it impressive! Not a bad little camera at all.

A test shot in manual mode with Kit lens, and on board flash. Some PP done, but not much really...

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