fill flash: how to meter?

hi,

I was wondering how you guys set your camera and use your speedlight as a fill flash.

Suppose I have to make a group shot outside at a normal sunny day at M-setting: 125th f8, iso 100/200.(like normal) Do I have to meter my camera at 0 (for ambient light / background) and set FEC around -1? or should I underexpose my camera lilttle bit and 'play' more with the flash?

is there a nice rule of thumb?

thanks in advance!

prinspaul wrote in post #5829727
hi,

I was wondering how you guys set your camera and use your speedlight as a fill flash.

Nice sunny day - Av mode, aperture F8, ISO 100, no FEC, Press the shutter button.

prinspaul wrote in post #5829727
Suppose I have to make a group shot outside at a normal sunny day at M-setting: 125th f8, iso 100/200.(like normal)

I would go with 1/250 and f/5.6 instead, to give you better flash range. Pay attention to the distance scale on the back of the flash after you zoom the lens. You'll see the difference.

0 FEC should usually work if the ambient is slightly underexposed.

There is not really a "rule of thumb" because it all depends on the lighting. Practice and experiment.

great! thanks.

I always try and see what is best, but I was wondering if there was a better way to start with..

Curtis N, thanks for you comment. but do you mean I have to start with 1/250 and then see what my aperture will be? or is it just a reference to my example and the sunny 16 rule?

You're overthinking it. Just meter for your background, fire a shot, chimp, then adjust FEC as needed for the subject.

prinspaul wrote in post #5835197
do you mean I have to start with 1/250 and then see what my aperture will be? or is it just a reference to my example and the sunny 16 rule?

I just took the example exposure settings you used and shifted it, for a faster shutter, wider aperture and the same net exposure.

You'll reduce the chance of motion blur with the faster shutter and increase the range of the flash with the wider aperture.

The flash is in fact a fill flash, so expose the backgroud correctly and just put the flash in TTL mode, it will take care of your subject. With this technique you only need to adjust in about 20% of the shots you take as cdifoto mentioned.

There shouldn't be motion blur with the subject the flash is faster than that and will freeze the subject. Just take care of the background.

Luigi

thanks for all the comments, "taking care of the background" was my 'menthod' indeed! but it's nice to read your answers and hints!

Curtis N wrote in post #5830475
0 FEC should usually work if the ambient is slightly underexposed.

And doing as Curtis suggests also creates some very nice effects by underexposing the background by 1/3 or 2/3 stop and letting the flash fill in the subject area.

You mentioned you were shooting a group, so I would also monitor your depth of field since 5.6 could be shallow enough to render someone in the front or rear a bit out of focus depending on the distance and lens used.

I usually go with TV mode. I can't get x-sync speed with AV mode coz it is that sunny.

Like some others suggested - for quick results you set exposure (best in Manual mode) for background and set flash to E-TTL. Try - background will be properly exposed (because you set it). The subject's exposure can be changed via FEC (+ or -). And here we go ...
I write some basic stuff about using flash on my blog (http://kacnje.blogspot​.com …sh-system-simple-way.html)

When we're metering for the background ... are you metering off the sky, trees, grass or what? (Sorry for such a basic question.)

Like some others suggested - for quick results you set exposure (best in Manual mode) for background and set flash to E-TTL. Try - background will be properly exposed (because you set it). The subject's exposure can be changed via FEC (+ or -). And here we go ...
I write some basic stuff about using flash on my blog (http://kacnje.blogspot​.com/2008/06/c...imple​-way.html)

gore,

Cheers for the link!

I've just got the 430EX for my 40D and am still getting my head around how it works. The info on your blog is clear and importantly, easy to understand!

cheers,
J&D

Scott B wrote in post #5862575
When we're metering for the background ... are you metering off the sky, trees, grass or what? (Sorry for such a basic question.)

Just meter from the object you want - and make that object exposure you want (I have some simple instructions on this also on my blog, but maybe you can find better explanation). In simplest example - power off falsh and meter from gray object in background and the exposure is now right (for our example). If you are not in M(anual), set metered value in manual (both shutter and apperture). Then power on flash and try with 0 (auto, without FEC). You will see - background is the same as before, foreground will be exposured from flash (depends on many thing - distance ...). If you want more bright foreground, set +1/3 ... or +1 ... or +2 on your flash! And opposite.
Clear? If not, just ask.