Using built in flash in manual modes
Discussion
Can't figure something out. On my Nikon D5000, if I pop the flash up in a manual mode (either M, A or S) , how do I know what my exposure should be to factor in that the flash is going to fire? If I follow the normal exposure meter the picture will be massively over exposed. I feel like I'm missing something obvious but I can't figure it out.
A flash photo is 2 exposures in one shot.
Dial the normal exposure, without flash in manual mode to expose for ambient light, disregarding the foreground subject of intrest.
What you set here depends entirely on how exposed you ant the ambient to be, remember 1/200th or so is the fastest you can use the shutter but you can use it a lot slower, the flahs will freeze the main subject and thats at 1/8000th or so. Use shutter and ISO primarily , set aperture to whatever you want the shot to use but you may need to open up some.
Then let the flash light that. Flahs will be controlled by the flash meetering system, flash exposure compensation and ISO/Aperure ( higher ISO/wider aperture will require less flash in essence).
Dial the normal exposure, without flash in manual mode to expose for ambient light, disregarding the foreground subject of intrest.
What you set here depends entirely on how exposed you ant the ambient to be, remember 1/200th or so is the fastest you can use the shutter but you can use it a lot slower, the flahs will freeze the main subject and thats at 1/8000th or so. Use shutter and ISO primarily , set aperture to whatever you want the shot to use but you may need to open up some.
Then let the flash light that. Flahs will be controlled by the flash meetering system, flash exposure compensation and ISO/Aperure ( higher ISO/wider aperture will require less flash in essence).
Edited by RobDickinson on Saturday 15th January 20:18
Normally the built-in flash acts in 'fill flash' mode so it tries to balance its own power with the ambient light. This applies whether you're in P, S or A. Once you switch to Manual Exposure the camera will just look at you stupidly and say 'What do you want me to do?' In this instance you control the flash power, either by Flash Compensation or possibly some other method according to your camera (eg 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 power).
As Rob says what you're doing is juggling two light sources, ambient and flash, so you need to be clear what you're trying to do before you start. Tha main difference between the two is that ambient light is generally constant throughout the scene, whereas the flash light is brightest nearest the camera and rapidly falls off due to our pesky chum the inverse square law.
As Rob says what you're doing is juggling two light sources, ambient and flash, so you need to be clear what you're trying to do before you start. Tha main difference between the two is that ambient light is generally constant throughout the scene, whereas the flash light is brightest nearest the camera and rapidly falls off due to our pesky chum the inverse square law.
Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 15th January 22:39
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff