Using Flash Correctly? 580ex and 40D.

Ok, I'm having a hard time with this.

I attach the flash (580Ex) to the 40D, leave the settings to ETTL and shoot away on AP mode.

I try to do bounce flash to the ceiling but can't get the Shutter speed faster than 1/10 of a second if I'm lucky.

What am I supposed to expect with these settings? Is this correct?

In addition, I am using a 17-55, f/2.8 and even tried it with the 50mm f/1.8 and still I'm having a hard time with low light conditions.

Please help.

Thanks.

This thread should answer your questions and a couple more you might have. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=637633

Hint: Camera in manual mode

runninmann wrote in post #7214003
This thread should answer your questions and a couple more you might have. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=637633

Hint: Camera in manual mode

Hmmm.....I just went through that post. Interesting, I never new you had to go into Manual mode, I was under the impression that AP/AS is considered to be Manual mode for the most part.

From my understanding, not being in manual mode caused the entire issue. If I was on Manual mode, I should be dial'ng in my Shutter speed to at least 1/60th of a second and then bump up the ISO accordingly.

I will definitely give this a try! Thanks for this post. I knew I was missing something.

You probably won't have to increase the ISO. I do much of my casual flash shooting (parties and such) at around f/4.5-5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO 100 and let the flash take care of the rest.

Your camera has a Custom Function to control the shutter speed in Av mode when using flash - one solution to your problem. If you lock the shutter to 1/250th, you may get dark backgrounds with adequately-lit subject.

Remember that the ambient exposure is one thing, and the flash under ETTL control is an added-on separate exposure.

Yep, shoot in M mode with the flash is the way to go. Av mode is metering for ambient light.

I shoot in M mode all the time with my 580 EX II in ETTL-II, with great results. An example:

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try this setting: normal height ceiling

iso 400, F3.5 - 4 and shutter speed 1/60 - Flash Manual : 1/4

if your shooting manual - have your self some guides. and work around it.

device01 wrote in post #7217738
try this setting: normal height ceiling

iso 400, F3.5 - 4 and shutter speed 1/60 - Flash Manual : 1/4

Makes more sense to use ETTL with FEC+1 IMHO.

I second tim on that one. I normally leave the flash on ETTL with my 40D and dial in +1/3 flash exposure compensation. I find +1 FEC blows the highlights in the majority of shots.

For camera settings I normally use iso 100-400 (depending on how light/dark the environment is), f/5.6 and shutter speed of 1-125-1/250 second (depending on how light/dark the environment is).

For example:

In small rooms with white ceilings I normally just use iso 200, 1/125s or iso 400, 1/200s or 1/250s.

In really large halls with very high ceilings the 580EXII power is not sufficient when bouncing at those settings so I tend to go to iso 400 or even iso 800, f/2.8 or f/4 (depending on lens, i.e. I shoot wide open) and then push the shutter speed as low as I need it - usually 1/125s but sometimes even 1/60s but I start getting motion blur despite the flash (children just move too fast when running around / jumping on bouncy castles, etc).

When shooting portraits in a controlled studio environment I use iso 100-400, 1/125s and f/2.8-5.6 varying the iso and f-stop to achieve the desired DOF. Usually wide open or close to it (f/2.8-f/4) for single head shot or f/5.6 for a two person next to each other shot and I adjust the iso to match - so I might shoot iso 100, f/2.8 or iso 200, f/4 or iso 400, f/5.6 given a constant light set up that works with those settings. For bigger groups I expect f/8 or f/11 would probably be needed (have never done more than two people at once in the studio so far)...

Best regards,

Anton

I resist using ISO100 even in full sunlight... no reason... but i'm usually at 400 or faster unless I HAVE to be at 100 - eg shooting in full sunlight. I like ambient light, supplemented by flash, or flash supplemented by ambient, not just flash which is what you usually get at ISO100.

Hi Tim,

You don't shoot on a sunny beach very often then?

But I agree with you in general. My biggest exception is in studio environment where if anything you want to make sure the ambient light is not part of the lighting in the shots to avoid potential colour temperature problems between flash and ambient as well as to avoid your exposure being thrown off by a change in ambient.

Best regards,

Anton

aia21 wrote in post #7218804
You don't shoot on a sunny beach very often then?

But I agree with you in general. My biggest exception is in studio environment where if anything you want to make sure the ambient light is not part of the lighting in the shots to avoid potential colour temperature problems between flash and ambient as well as to avoid your exposure being thrown off by a change in ambient.

Only every week! Well not quite, but pretty close. 1-2 weddings a week in summer, some at the beach but wherever we are it gets pretty bright here. I do drop to ISO100 sometimes, if i'm working with radio slaves, but otherwise I stay at ISO200 so I can use highlight tone priority, which I find increases dynamic range and gives me more latitude to push or pull the shot in post.

Thanks guys (Tim and aia), your comments have been very useful

Ok, these are great things and lots to absorb. To simplify and play around with my settings, what i did was put it on ETTL and Manual mode. I then dialed my shutter speed to 1/60th or higher. I noticed that my meter was all the way far left. Do I still worry about the meter?