flash photography

teruranse · 9th December 2008

does anyone experience any problems in flash photography especially in low light or at night conditions?

i have shot a couple of shots of the same setting in the camera with flash attached and the same distance in my room but the outcome are totally different. 1 shot was okay can still see everything but the other shot was completely dark till cannot see anything...

also recently at orchard road at night. it turns out that my subjects are dark against those christmas lightings... end up wasted those shots...

any help?

flowerpot · 9th December 2008

Originally Posted by teruranse

does anyone experience any problems in flash photography especially in low light or at night conditions?

i have shot a couple of shots of the same setting in the camera with flash attached and the same distance in my room but the outcome are totally different. 1 shot was okay can still see everything but the other shot was completely dark till cannot see anything...

also recently at orchard road at night. it turns out that my subjects are dark against those christmas lightings... end up wasted those shots...

any help?

flash did not fire...

catchlights · 9th December 2008

my guess is you didn't not wait for your flash to be ready for the second shot.

for the second one, if you are using flash, it can be your subject is too far away from you for your flash to deliver sufficient power.

teruranse · 9th December 2008

flowerpot Re: flash photography

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by teruranse
does anyone experience any problems in flash photography especially in low light or at night conditions?

i have shot a couple of shots of the same setting in the camera with flash attached and the same distance in my room but the outcome are totally different. 1 shot was okay can still see everything but the other shot was completely dark till cannot see anything...

also recently at orchard road at night. it turns out that my subjects are dark against those christmas lightings... end up wasted those shots...

any help?

flash did not fire...

hmmm but the "test" light was lid. that means that i should be able to fire away right?

catchlights Re: flash photography

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for the second one, if you are using flash, it can be your subject is too far away from you for your flash to deliver sufficient power.

but my distance was bout less then 3M away from my subjects...

flowerpot · 9th December 2008

did u sense the flash going off ? what is the shooting mode u use...

teruranse · 9th December 2008

i think i did do a preview shoot just to see if my flash fire and i think it did but still the image is dark. btw is there any software where i can see whether if the fire fire or not, like in the image properties?

mostly i am using aperture mode. all the while.

flowerpot · 9th December 2008

The EXIF should have a Flash compulsory startement i think...
check ur flash compensation settings, shoot with the same settings with flash and without flash, but dun look through the viewfinder, look at the flash see got any flash fire...

check the 2 images...

i still think the flash did not fire... else its the flash compensation setting...

teruranse · 9th December 2008

now that you mention it i think the flash x-sync have something to do with it right? for af540fgz i think the x-sync is 1/180 iirc. so what exactly does this 1/180 means?

i mostly set to 0 for flash comp. and using the p-ttl mode. ev comp also 0. gues i still need lots of practice.

flowerpot · 9th December 2008

Originally Posted by teruranse

now that you mention it i think the flash x-sync have something to do with it right? for af540fgz i think the x-sync is 1/180 iirc. so what exactly does this 1/180 means?

i mostly set to 0 for flash comp. and using the p-ttl mode. ev comp also 0. gues i still need lots of practice.

x-sync is not due to the flash, but the shutter design, pentax shutter can oni go up to 1/180 flash sync... a more technical explanation is the timing window between the front and rear curtain...in layman explanation just noe that ur shutter speed can oni go to 1/180 in the usual way when using flash. But AF540 has HSS which can go higher, but has to use it in Tv mode and some other mode cant remember. Av mode which u are using, the PTTL algorithm will tend to use 1/60(lowest setting) and adjust the flash output accordingly base on the aperture u set...

Octarine · 9th December 2008

Originally Posted by teruranse

now that you mention it i think the flash x-sync have something to do with it right? for af540fgz i think the x-sync is 1/180 iirc. so what exactly does this 1/180 means?

It's the shortest possible exposure time usable with the standard flash settings. Anything faster will need special settings (high speed sync).
Can you post some images with EXIF data? Would be much more helpful. Which camera mode did you use?

saintsaint722 · 9th December 2008

check the contact of your flash & camera. Move a little and see if it works. I used to have a habit not checking for the flash ready sign in the viewfinder before I shoot. So you might want to take an effort to check that.

Also, check shutter speed since you are using Aperture-priority. Try switching to Shutter priority and use range between 1/30 to the camera's x-sync. If you want to keep your subject bright enough while background still lighted up enough to be seen, go as low as your handling allows. 1/30 is a good speed as far as I've tried but make sure your subject ain't moving. If you can go lower, just 1/2 step down is more than you should go.

Anything lower than 1/13, you better have a monopod or tripod to hold, unless you have Image Stabilizer to support. So long your picture don't turn out too bright and showing burns (losing details)

Happy trying.

pinholecam · 9th December 2008

Originally Posted by teruranse

i think i did do a preview shoot just to see if my flash fire and i think it did but still the image is dark. btw is there any software where i can see whether if the fire fire or not, like in the image properties?

mostly i am using aperture mode. all the while.

My few cents (I'm also just starting to fiddle with my flash manually after prolong PTTL mode usage

)
1. shutter speed too high.
2. Aperture too small

In fact if your bkgnd is ok and subject is dark (low shutter speed, aperture too small) and you verified that the flash did shoot, then its very likely that aperture too small wrt power output from flash (made worse if you compensated for flash power to be darker).

hope it helps.

ishou80 · 9th December 2008

If it's outdoor do you fire direct? or you trying to do a bounce...Too many factors to consider..even if the battery not enough power will affect the outcome...hmmmm

teruranse · 9th December 2008

My few cents (I'm also just starting to fiddle with my flash manually after prolong PTTL mode usage )
1. shutter speed too high.
2. Aperture too small

In fact if your bkgnd is ok and subject is dark (low shutter speed, aperture too small) and you verified that the flash did shoot, then its very likely that aperture too small wrt power output from flash (made worse if you compensated for flash power to be darker).

hope it helps.

my deepest tks to everybody here... but for the 2 images both the aperture are the same yet only 1 image is bright and the other is dark...

Also, check shutter speed since you are using Aperture-priority. Try switching to Shutter priority and use range between 1/30 to the camera's x-sync. If you want to keep your subject bright enough while background still lighted up enough to be seen, go as low as your handling allows. 1/30 is a good speed as far as I've tried but make sure your subject ain't moving. If you can go lower, just 1/2 step down is more than you should go.

Anything lower than 1/13, you better have a monopod or tripod to hold, unless you have Image Stabilizer to support. So long your picture don't turn out too bright and showing burns (losing details)

yeah i think the shutter speed are much difference in av mode when i shoot at the same subect at the same distance at the same distance... could it be that maybe i am too trigger happy and shoot faster then the flash allowed that why the the images are dark?

flowerpot · 9th December 2008

flash has not recharge back and did not fire...

P3ntx · 9th December 2008

Join next Pentax outing, and check with fellow Pentaxian, if problems, even me, I still don't know how to post my Pic to be appeared in Share Pentax photogallery, after being explained by some of them here. Flash may be easy to be explained and hard to be understood by some people.

9th December 2008	#1
teruranse Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 248	flash photography does anyone experience any problems in flash photography especially in low light or at night conditions? i have shot a couple of shots of the same setting in the camera with flash attached and the same distance in my room but the outcome are totally different. 1 shot was okay can still see everything but the other shot was completely dark till cannot see anything... also recently at orchard road at night. it turns out that my subjects are dark against those christmas lightings... end up wasted those shots... any help?

9th December 2008	#3
catchlights Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Punggol Posts: 10,799	Re: flash photography my guess is you didn't not wait for your flash to be ready for the second shot. for the second one, if you are using flash, it can be your subject is too far away from you for your flash to deliver sufficient power. __________________ Shoot to Live, Live to Shoot www.foto-u.com \| www.benjaminloo.com \| email

9th December 2008	#4
teruranse Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 248	Re: flash photography flowerpot Re: flash photography -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by teruranse does anyone experience any problems in flash photography especially in low light or at night conditions? i have shot a couple of shots of the same setting in the camera with flash attached and the same distance in my room but the outcome are totally different. 1 shot was okay can still see everything but the other shot was completely dark till cannot see anything... also recently at orchard road at night. it turns out that my subjects are dark against those christmas lightings... end up wasted those shots... any help? flash did not fire... hmmm but the "test" light was lid. that means that i should be able to fire away right? catchlights Re: flash photography -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- for the second one, if you are using flash, it can be your subject is too far away from you for your flash to deliver sufficient power. but my distance was bout less then 3M away from my subjects...

9th December 2008	#5
flowerpot Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Both East n West Posts: 2,242	Re: flash photography did u sense the flash going off ? what is the shooting mode u use... __________________ ~Towards Sublime Gallery~

9th December 2008	#6
teruranse Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 248	Re: flash photography i think i did do a preview shoot just to see if my flash fire and i think it did but still the image is dark. btw is there any software where i can see whether if the fire fire or not, like in the image properties? mostly i am using aperture mode. all the while.

9th December 2008	#7
flowerpot Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Both East n West Posts: 2,242	Re: flash photography The EXIF should have a Flash compulsory startement i think... check ur flash compensation settings, shoot with the same settings with flash and without flash, but dun look through the viewfinder, look at the flash see got any flash fire... check the 2 images... i still think the flash did not fire... else its the flash compensation setting... __________________ ~Towards Sublime Gallery~

9th December 2008	#8
teruranse Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 248	Re: flash photography now that you mention it i think the flash x-sync have something to do with it right? for af540fgz i think the x-sync is 1/180 iirc. so what exactly does this 1/180 means? i mostly set to 0 for flash comp. and using the p-ttl mode. ev comp also 0. gues i still need lots of practice.

9th December 2008	#11
saintsaint722 New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 17	Re: flash photography check the contact of your flash & camera. Move a little and see if it works. I used to have a habit not checking for the flash ready sign in the viewfinder before I shoot. So you might want to take an effort to check that. Also, check shutter speed since you are using Aperture-priority. Try switching to Shutter priority and use range between 1/30 to the camera's x-sync. If you want to keep your subject bright enough while background still lighted up enough to be seen, go as low as your handling allows. 1/30 is a good speed as far as I've tried but make sure your subject ain't moving. If you can go lower, just 1/2 step down is more than you should go. Anything lower than 1/13, you better have a monopod or tripod to hold, unless you have Image Stabilizer to support. So long your picture don't turn out too bright and showing burns (losing details) Happy trying. Last edited by saintsaint722; 9th December 2008 at 02:38 PM.

9th December 2008	#13
ishou80 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Choa Chu Kang Posts: 746	Re: flash photography If it's outdoor do you fire direct? or you trying to do a bounce...Too many factors to consider..even if the battery not enough power will affect the outcome...hmmmm

9th December 2008	#14
teruranse Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 248	Re: flash photography My few cents (I'm also just starting to fiddle with my flash manually after prolong PTTL mode usage ) 1. shutter speed too high. 2. Aperture too small In fact if your bkgnd is ok and subject is dark (low shutter speed, aperture too small) and you verified that the flash did shoot, then its very likely that aperture too small wrt power output from flash (made worse if you compensated for flash power to be darker). hope it helps. my deepest tks to everybody here... but for the 2 images both the aperture are the same yet only 1 image is bright and the other is dark... Also, check shutter speed since you are using Aperture-priority. Try switching to Shutter priority and use range between 1/30 to the camera's x-sync. If you want to keep your subject bright enough while background still lighted up enough to be seen, go as low as your handling allows. 1/30 is a good speed as far as I've tried but make sure your subject ain't moving. If you can go lower, just 1/2 step down is more than you should go. Anything lower than 1/13, you better have a monopod or tripod to hold, unless you have Image Stabilizer to support. So long your picture don't turn out too bright and showing burns (losing details) yeah i think the shutter speed are much difference in av mode when i shoot at the same subect at the same distance at the same distance... could it be that maybe i am too trigger happy and shoot faster then the flash allowed that why the the images are dark?

9th December 2008	#15
flowerpot Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Both East n West Posts: 2,242	Re: flash photography flash has not recharge back and did not fire... __________________ ~Towards Sublime Gallery~

9th December 2008	#16
P3ntx Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West Coast Road Posts: 643	Re: flash photography Join next Pentax outing, and check with fellow Pentaxian, if problems, even me, I still don't know how to post my Pic to be appeared in Share Pentax photogallery, after being explained by some of them here. Flash may be easy to be explained and hard to be understood by some people.