Tamron 17-50 non VC or 24-105L paired with 430EX II Indoor for kids shooting

what i was referring to was the exposure meter portion keeps blinking. the photo was dark, unless if i cranked up the flash to +2 stop.

EOS mE wrote in post #12867563
ok.. i just tried it on my 24-105L + 580EX2 in M mode. this is what i get. the exposure keeps blinking, even though i can still shoot but it's dark. see attached.

sample

Its telling your exposure will be under exposed.

You can set your flash to ETTL and ignore the blinky, flash will compensate.

strobe monkey wrote in post #12869490
Its telling your exposure will be under exposed.

You can set your flash to ETTL and ignore the blinky, flash will compensate.

i think i set it to ETTL as well on the flash, since it was also showing ETTL on the 580EX2. or is there another way?

EOS mE wrote in post #12869648
i think i set it to ETTL as well on the flash, since it was also showing ETTL on the 580EX2. or is there another way?

AFAIK the flash will compensate (sorry I don't have any flash now as I sold them last month), so I don't know what you did. Can you try to post pictures, or do it again taking note of your settings and post your results?

Follow Silverfox1's advise in post number 25.

strobe monkey wrote in post #12869707
AFAIK the flash will compensate (sorry I don't have any flash now as I sold them last month), so I don't know what you did. Can you try to post pictures, or do it again taking note of your settings and post your results?

Follow Silverfox1's advise in post number 25.

ok, i will try to post up some samples tonight.

EOS mE wrote in post #12869648
i think i set it to ETTL as well on the flash, since it was also showing ETTL on the 580EX2. or is there another way?

Be sure and simply shoot in " One Shot " AF and not AI Servo indoors with the flash attached and in ETTL mode. Make sure your Flash batterys are fully charged and adjust your vertical bounce angle if your white ceilings are higher then 8ft. Patience as your getting there.

Regards, Ron

thanks Ron. i was in Ai Servo mode, which is a mode I'm usually in when shooting subjects running around. i'll try the one shot tonight and see.

or would it be easier if i left it in Av or Tv mode/ f5.6/ 125s/ auto ISO?

EOS mE wrote in post #12871695
thanks Ron. i was in Ai Servo mode, which is a mode I'm usually in when shooting subjects running around. i'll try the one shot tonight and see.

or would it be easier if i left it in Av or Tv mode/ f5.6/ 125s/ auto ISO?

Just use "One Shot" and Manual mode per the guide providing the kids dont run like like " Barry Sanders " did !

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=0TflnHlQMt8

You can always shoot manual, f4, ISO400, SS 1/400 with your flash in ETTL mode and One-Shot.

Use AV or TV outdoors. Personally i never use auto-ISO, although i do use AV indoors like alot of folks with my f2.8 & lower primes without the external flash in decent indoor ambient light.

Regards, Ron

In addition to the above, enable High speed sync

got it.. let me try out those settings tonight. i never shot in M mode before.. so this is very new to me.

EOS mE wrote in post #12872954
got it.. let me try out those settings tonight. i never shot in M mode before.. so this is very new to me.

You have a nice camera, but never shot in M mode ?

ateet, yes that's correct. i rarely shoot in M mode. most of the time i'm in Av or Tv mode and shooting with natural lighting.

50f1.4 for low light pics and 24-105 for rest. It is better not to be too near to a child as it distracts them. Therefore for me, 40-105mm is more useful range.

While the range of the 17-50 might be more generally useful on a crop, you don't really need wider than 24 for kids. You would be downgrading by going to the Tamron here, if only for focusing speed and accuracy indoors.
Much more useful would be a shorter general purpose prime, for times when you don't want to use flash. I am not a fan of flash for candids, because there are instances when you just want to grab the camera and shoot photos of the kids. I have 2 camera bodies handy for this - The T2i has the Canon 35f2 on it, and the XS has the Canon 50f1.4. I get better candids with the 35f2.
You need fast enough shutter speeds for photos of kids, and the shorter focal length will make it easier to catch them in the frame. If you don't mind very high ISOs, you can get by with a zoom (and no flash), but I often need f2 or f2.2 if I want to shoot at ISO 800 or 1600 and 1/60 or 1/80. A faster shutter speed is really better, and the shots are sharper at 1/80 with the 35 on a crop.
The Canon 24-105 gives you the equivalent field of view of about 40-170 on film, and this will be good outside. Personally, I am a fan of primes, and usually go to zooms for the wide end of focal lengths.

artyH wrote in post #12875772
While the range of the 17-50 might be more generally useful on a crop, you don't really need wider than 24 for kids. You would be downgrading by going to the Tamron here, if only for focusing speed and accuracy indoors.
Much more useful would be a shorter general purpose prime, for times when you don't want to use flash. I am not a fan of flash for candids, because there are instances when you just want to grab the camera and shoot photos of the kids. I have 2 camera bodies handy for this - The T2i has the Canon 35f2 on it, and the XS has the Canon 50f1.4. I get better candids with the 35f2.
You need fast enough shutter speeds for photos of kids, and the shorter focal length will make it easier to catch them in the frame. If you don't mind very high ISOs, you can get by with a zoom (and no flash), but I often need f2 or f2.2 if I want to shoot at ISO 800 or 1600 and 1/60 or 1/80. A faster shutter speed is really better, and the shots are sharper at 1/80 with the 35 on a crop.
The Canon 24-105 gives you the equivalent field of view of about 40-170 on film, and this will be good outside. Personally, I am a fan of primes, and usually go to zooms for the wide end of focal lengths.

That is what I am thinking. Forget 17-50 Tamron at this point in time and use 50mm f/1.4 for indoor portraits. 85mm is a great lens but overkill for crop sensor and is not the most useful range on crop too.

24-105 with flash for indoors and just lens for outdoors. Will probably invest in 20 to 35mm range prime later. For now 50mm can do the job. I am not a big nature photographer, so UWA is least of my proirites.