flash queries

[jeanie]

if i use aperture priority on my dslr, will it be better to set the flash to AA mode or TTL-BL?
this is assuming indoor photography.

if i set my function button on d200 for 'no flash fire' and depress it with the sb800 on and camera body on Aperture priority mode, will the camera meter the scene assuming flash will be fired or wont be fired?how will this 'no flash fire' button affect the shutter speed?

TIA for answers.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by jeanie if i use aperture priority on my dslr, will it be better to set the flash to AA mode or TTL-BL? this is assuming indoor photography. if i set my function button on d200 for 'no flash fire' and depress it with the sb800 on and camera body on Aperture priority mode, will the camera meter the scene assuming flash will be fired or wont be fired?how will this 'no flash fire' button affect the shutter speed? TIA for answers.

Personally, I prefer it on iTTL mode and often with a -0.7 to -1.0 flash ev.

It will meter it as if the flash is off. And will drop the shutter speed down to one which will give you the correct exposure for the scene. You may need to increase the ISO or open up the aperture accordingly in such a case to give you a workable shutter speed.

[Witness]

i use iTTL too

[jeanie]

any difference between ittl BL FP and ittl BL?

[zac08]

Originally Posted by jeanie any difference between ittl BL FP and ittl BL?

BL means balanced. The flash will attempt to balance the exposure for the subject as well as the background. And as such, the flash may be firing at a lower level to ensure that the subject is not washed out by the flash.

FP is meant for High speed sync mode. This will activate when the shutter speed needs to exceed the sync limit of 1/250.

So when will you activate both the BL and the FP together?? I still have not tried so yet. Anyone wanna add on?

[jeanie]

Originally Posted by zac08 BL means balanced. The flash will attempt to balance the exposure for the subject as well as the background. And as such, the flash may be firing at a lower level to ensure that the subject is not washed out by the flash. FP is meant for High speed sync mode. This will activate when the shutter speed needs to exceed the sync limit of 1/250. So when will you activate both the BL and the FP together?? I still have not tried so yet. Anyone wanna add on?

ok.got it.
funny.i can choose to switch FP off.i really wonder what diff it makes.

btw, iTTL BL can be use for ALL modes?
prog, manual, aper, shutt, priorities?

so can i safely say, i just need to keep my flash in iTTLBL mode and dont give 2 hoots about it?

also, you mentioned you usually EV down a little.but that's assuming you fire directly and not using bounce right?
for bounced, i notice i have to up the EV to get a correct exposure.

[ortega]

it depends if your flash is the main light or not

[zac08]

Originally Posted by jeanie ok.got it. funny.i can choose to switch FP off.i really wonder what diff it makes. btw, iTTL BL can be use for ALL modes? prog, manual, aper, shutt, priorities? so can i safely say, i just need to keep my flash in iTTLBL mode and dont give 2 hoots about it? also, you mentioned you usually EV down a little.but that's assuming you fire directly and not using bounce right? for bounced, i notice i have to up the EV to get a correct exposure.

FP is for situations when you already have a bright BG and you may want to fill in the flash on the subject which may be a lil dark (just like some of my macro subjects)

I guess so for the modes.

You can do so, but note that BL may not give the best exposure at all times, personal preference for me is on iTTL as I am more concerned with the subject and not the BG.

I shoot direct for most of my shots but I do bounce too and even with the bounced shots, I tend to keep it to either -0.7 to -1.0 or in the worse case, I'll leave it to neutral. I rarely up the EV. Mebbe it's also due to my aperture preference of f4 on Iso 200 in most situations.

[jeanie]

Originally Posted by ortega it depends if your flash is the main light or not

yes.mainlight.

scenario.a wedding indoors.

[jeanie]

Originally Posted by zac08 FP is for situations when you already have a bright BG and you may want to fill in the flash on the subject which may be a lil dark (just like some of my macro subjects) I guess so for the modes. You can do so, but note that BL may not give the best exposure at all times, personal preference for me is on iTTL as I am more concerned with the subject and not the BG. I shoot direct for most of my shots but I do bounce too and even with the bounced shots, I tend to keep it to either -0.7 to -1.0 or in the worse case, I'll leave it to neutral. I rarely up the EV. Mebbe it's also due to my aperture preference of f4 on Iso 200 in most situations.

so iTTL BL is for balancing flash output on subject as well as BG.

so if i dont care about my BG, i should use iTTL to correctly expose my subject.

so for a typical wedding banquet, will you use iTTL BL or no BL?

[zac08]

Originally Posted by jeanie so iTTL BL is for balancing flash output on subject as well as BG. so if i dont care about my BG, i should use iTTL to correctly expose my subject. so for a typical wedding banquet, will you use iTTL BL or no BL?

yup.

yup.

personally, I go for the no BL. You can experiment for other effects though.