i don't think i get it

ok i have the 30d and 430ex. when i take pictures inside i get the exact same shutter speed with flash and without flash is that right?

also the picture is blinking and has the white blowing out but everything is in the middle of the histogram am I reading it wrong?

24nofear wrote in post #2682555
ok i have the 30d and 430ex. when i take pictures inside i get the exact same shutter speed with flash and without flash is that right?

If you're using Av mode, that's what you'll get. The camera meters for ambient light whether you have the flash on or not. That's what Av and Tv modes are for. If you don't want to use the ambient light, use Manual mode.

Probably. If there are blinky areas there should be a spike on the right side of the histogram. If the blinky areas are large, the spike will he tall. Post a sample if you want a more detailed analysis.

Flash Photography 101 (link in my signature) is fairly short and should help you with some flash concepts. The EOS Flash Bible is much longer but if you want to understand how your camera's flash system works, it's required reading.

u can go into the custom functions and set the camera to stay at 250 shutter speed. this will help you indoors.

thanks for the help fellas i've read it twice and still having a hard time understanding i need a picture book.

It looks fine to me. You are getting fill flash in the first picture which is what it is supposed to do if I am not mistaken -- the "in focus" area is evaluated for flash and not the out of focus background.

Nice shiner.

Bill

Set your camera to manual and pick the aperture you want for the flash to automatically control the exposure.

If you set your camera to Av mode, you're getting fill flash, i.e., a combination of ambient light+flash. The flash fills in the shadows. I find it helpful to adjust the flash exposure compensation down a stop or so in this case.

24nofear wrote in post #2683863
should flash allow me to use a lower iso the only way i can get theexposures right is to jump it up 800?

With flash as your main light source, ignore the meter in the viewfinder.

I'll say that again.

Ignore the meter in the viewfinder. It's measuring ambient light. It's only useful if you're relying on ambient light.

Maybe you do need pictures, but you can make them yourself.
Start with this little excercise, indoors.
With your camera in manual mode, set it to 1/200, f/8, ISO 100.
Your viewfinder meter will be pegged and blinking at -2.
Take a shot without flash. It will be completely black.

Now turn the flash on in E-TTL mode and point it straight ahead.
Your viewfinder meter will still be pegged and blinking at -2.
Take the shot with flash. It should be more-or-less correctly exposed.

how do you know how much flash to use when bouncing?

blam wrote in post #2684424
how do you know how much flash to use when bouncing?

You don't.

But the E-TTL system will figure it out, and usually get pretty close.

Start with your FEC at +2/3, check your histogram and adjust accordingly.

Ah ignore the view finder now i'm starting to get it watch out.

thank you Curtis

Curtis N wrote in post #2684459
You don't.

But the E-TTL system will figure it out, and usually get pretty close.

Start with your FEC at +2/3, check your histogram and adjust accordingly.

I'm trusting ya... i've got the 420ex, so we'lll see!!