Yongnuo 565 shooting questions.

I've had the 565ex for a few weeks now. It's almost magic... everything looks better.

..but I don't understand how I should be using it. I have it set to ETTL mode, which is auto mode, right?

I keep the camera is manual mode... It seems that the flash is automatically adjusting to create an ideal exposure. My light meter is reading WAY underexposed, but it looks great after taking the shot. If it does overexpose, I either lower my iso, or I FEC down a stop or 2.

Is this how I should be using it?

Second question.. Is there any way at all for me to have faster shutter than 1/200 with the flash? I know it doesn't support HSS... but it there a different mode that I can use? (or something?)

Thanks so much!

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019477
I've had the 565ex for a few weeks now. It's almost magic... everything looks better.

..but I don't understand how I should be using it. I have it set to ETTL mode, which is auto mode, right?
I keep the camera is manual mode... It seems that the flash is automatically adjusting to create an ideal exposure. My light meter is reading WAY underexposed, but it looks great after taking the shot. If it does overexpose, I either lower my iso, or I FEC down a stop or 2.

That is correct, ettl is auto flash mode. Using the camera in manual with the flash in ettl is a fantastic technique.

Nope, youre stuck at 200 or below. Remember though that if youre only light source is the flash, then even though the shutter is only open for 1/200th of a second, the flash pulse is much faster. Are you getting motion blur in your images?

Honestly there isnt anything shooting indoors where you want to go over 1/200. If your flash is 2 stops brighter than ambient the flash will freeze motion. More often than not, you'll want a slower shutter speed, often called dragging the shutter to balance ambient and flash better so your shots look less flashed. Outside for fill a faster shutter speed would be nice, but that flash doesnt support it. If you use an ND filter you can keep your exposures within sync speed for the most part.

Thanks for the response!

Yes, I get a little motion blur... Can this be avoided? Higher ISO and lower flash power?

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019708
Thanks for the response!

Yes, I get a little motion blur... Can this be avoided? Higher ISO and lower flash power?

What are you shooting where you get motion blur? What shutter speed combo?

Oh.. and can I re-ask my other question... Is it right that my camera is metering way low before taking the photo?

Yes, thats correct. The camera is metering the ambient light, not the flash.

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019708
Thanks for the response!

Yes, I get a little motion blur... Can this be avoided? Higher ISO and lower flash power?

Are you sure you're not confusing motion blur with OOF or just lack of sharpness?

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019734
Oh.. and can I re-ask my other question... Is it right that my camera is metering way low before taking the photo?

Yes, your camera meters only the ambient. It has no way of metering or predicting the flash. Thats a seperate process.

I was shooting my wife while she was painting. She doesn't paint that fast.

I was probably at f/3.5, 1/200. Flash was ETTL. (so I don't know the specifics)

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019742
I was shooting my wife while she was painting. She doesn't paint that fast.

I was probably at f/3.5, 1/200. Flash was ETTL. (so I don't know the specifics)

Can you post a sample? something isnt right. Motion blur at 1/200 while painting.

Something is wrong then. Even 1/200th with no flash should freeze that fairly well. Even more so if youre in camera meter is reading severely underexposed.

To clarify, the blur isn't like a big swipe... it's just a little bit diffused.

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019754
To clarify, the blur isn't like a big swipe... it's just a little bit diffused.

This is why what you are saying doesnt quite compute. If you meter is underexposed that means you are shooting without a lot of ambient light. When the flash fires its of a very brief duration, as short a 1/1500 of second, certainly not more than 1/500 of a second so its going to freeze the motion of whatever it hits. Shutter speed is largely irrelevant as its only recording the low levels of existing light. In many flash shots the difference between 1/60 and 1/200 is indistinguishable.

Dan Kearley wrote in post #15019754
To clarify, the blur isn't like a big swipe... it's just a little bit diffused.

It's probably out of focus (OOF) then?