standard flash? To use or not

[AllTorque]

Just bought myself a Nikon D60, and slowly getting to grips with it - it's a fantastic device, and I'm really enjoying experimenting.

One thing I've found though is how crap 'snaps' come out when using the flash indoors. Indeed, it looks like higher end cameras don't even come with a flash on the main body. I was wondering if I should therefore be using every trick available to NOT use the flash - is this what people do? i.e. wide aperture, long exposure etc. Do you use the standard flash at all?

I don't particularly want to fork out for a separate flash immediately - would a reflector help for indoor shots?

Advice needed!!

Marc

[Greg964]

I've never been impressed with the pop-up flash on my D50. In fact the missis' Canon Ixus has a far superior flash. I think they are a bit of a gimmick, and as you say thats likely why they're not added to the higher end equipment.

Using big aperture and slow shutter speed will increase the amount of light hitting the sensor, but if you are capturing any movement you will struggle to get sharp results. Upping the ISO can help, but that adds unwanted noise to your images.

Buying a separate flash unit will improve things - you can direct and diffuse the light how you want. Its quite a learning curve though, as i'm finding

HTH

[VxDuncan]

The D80 has flash compensation, don't know about the D60. I tend to set the shot up for a couple of stops underexposure, then pop up the flash for a burst of fill using the flash compensation to blend the mix of natural light and slow-sync flash. Bit of a pain though.

Really must invest in a deadicated flash gun (don't like the things, I'm a bit of a high iso warrior!).

[ofcorsa]

Ive found diffusing the onboard flash with greese proof paper to be a low tech way of making the flash less harsh on my 400D. Until i can afford a low tech alternative

[AllTorque]

ofcorsa said:

Ive found diffusing the onboard flash with greese proof paper to be a low tech way of making the flash less harsh on my 400D. Until i can afford a low tech alternative

Like the sound of that!!

[rustyspit]

The built-in flash can be really useful as a fill-light, e.g. in bright situations outdoors, but indoors in dim lighting you'll probably never get really good results from it.

You could experiment with making something like this:

http://www.lumiquest.com/softscreen.htm

But if you're taking lots of photos indoors you would get far better results from an external flash that you can bounce.

[chris.mapey]

Have a play with the flash set to the "slow" setting - cuts down on the power of the flash and lengthens the shutter speed - can give some nice effects.

I have been known to bounce the built in flash up using a table menu / bit of white card when needed as well if the flash looks too harsh first go

Key is to have a play with all the options on the camera & see what they do - take the same shot with different options and compare

Chris

[Simpo Two]

IMHO the built-in flash is a bit of a gimmick or a get-you-out-of-a-hole thing. A seperate unit like the SB600 or SB800 will be infinitely better, not just in power but flexibility.

When I first saw the D200 I thought 'Great, it's got a pop-up flash!' but in fact it's never used.

The shot below was not a lengthy studio set-up with big lights, but just me, a D200 and an SB800:

[AllTorque]

Lovely pic Simpo - very impressed!

Thanks for the advice everybody!

>>>runs to look up "bouncing up"<<<<

Edited by AllTorque on Thursday 3rd July 15:42

[EmmaP]

I use a Metz 45CT5 and whenever possible bounce it off a ceiling (white or neutral) or a wall if ceiling is too high. Otherwise I use a Lastolite Micro Apollo with direct flash. (I do use studio flash also.)

Edited by EmmaP on Friday 4th July 00:00