20D overexposed flash shots

New 20D user. Old 380ex flash. Even with ot door shots for fill effect faces are way overexposed. Will 580ex help or is it just that I don't know what I'm doing. I was using full auto mode, by the way. Thanks

Welcome to the forums!
You'd probably be better off having this moved to the EOS forum, as this one is for posting pictures.

However, in response to your question, most likely having it on full auto is your problem. When using a flash, make sure you use a low ISO, fast shutter speed, and you may even need to use exposure compensation to under expose the shot a bit.

Flash shots are difficult, there's no way around it. The 20D should be using ETTL-II to provide the correct flash strength, but I wonder if an old flash is compatible.

You might like to read this very long thread that i'm slowly working my way through too.

AE lock at the centre metering point has (so far) worked well for me. I'm only two weeks into 20d ownership, so still working some of this stuff out.

What point is the camera metering on for you? Have you tried choosing an exposure point, or Flash AE lock?

I use AE lock always with the 420EX flash and the center AF point. I've had nothing but good shots. I alwasy use the M, Av, And Tv modes as well.

I'm just a beginner, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I use the 20D in Program mode with my 580EX flash. I take a test shot and look at the histogram to determine the appropriate flash exposure. I look for a nice broad distribution on the histogram, with pixels in the far right (white, detail) region being close, but not all the way up to the right side. My pictures have come out very nicely using this method. I'm still fine tuning, but I am happy with the results so far. Using my 70-200mm f4 lens, I have to consistantly push the flash exposure compensation up +1/2 to +1 stops. I've been able to get good exposure all the way out to about 60 feet.

In your case, with overexposed shots, you will probably want to try adjusting the flash exposure compensation down -1/2 to -1 stops.

Best Wishes

Everybody take a deep breath and repeat after me, "ETTLII has nothing to do with the active autofocus points." There is alot of useful information on this issue in the EOS Flash Sticky.
Scott

The 380EX is an EX series flash so it should work with ETTL-II. I have the same flash on a 20D and tend to get under exposed results (2/3 stop). I wonder if it is a metering issue???

Scott, you can send them to school, you can give them books, you can explain it in the Sticky, but they still don't get it, do they?

---Bob Gross---