How to get sharp focus in low light conditions using flash ?

[menonsudhir1234]

Hi ,
I often face problem with photography in low light condition (indoor) using my canon 30D. The focus most of the times is not correct. I focus on the person but person comes blurred, and something else is sharp. I tired with inbuilt flash as well as canon 220EX flash. Sharpness improves, but the subject becomes overexposed (Whitish), whereas the background still remains darker. So what exactly I need to do to get sharp and properly focused , and evenly balanced photos.

[engrmariano]

pls post some sample images with exif.

[longkangman]

could minus the flash output help?

[chalib]

If you are on A mode, your flash will be as fill in flash.... your cam meter ambience light. In low light where your shutter speed is too low and your subject move, you will get a blur pics

Play in M mode, adjust A and S to get the ambience light as you want and enough S to freeze subject movement then let the flash to adjust accordingly in ETTL

[spartacus.ret]

Originally Posted by chalib In low light where your shutter speed is too low and your subject move, you will get a blur pics.

i don't think he is talking about motion blur (from both subject movement and handshake), but rather the camera's inability to correctly lock focus in low light.

[calebk]

Looks like two problems are going on here. First, misfocus, and second, poor flash to ambient light compensation.

About misfocus. It seems as though you're leaving the camera to decide on its own focus point? You'll get poor results from this because what you think should be in focus may not be what the camera thinks should be in focus. To counteract this, you should instead select your own focus point.

[cks2k2]

2nd curtain flash? Might evenly brighten the scene.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by cks2k2 2nd curtain flash? Might evenly brighten the scene.

2nd Curtain Sync means the flash fires just before the shutter closes. Nothing to do with even brightness over the scene.

[Tantalize]

I used to have problems with over-exposure in people, the problem fixed when I get a diffuser for my camera. You can check the diffuser out at the CP. Hope this helps.

[blurry80]

Person... most likely is motion blur. Shutter speed too slow however background is bright
Flash.. with dark backgrounds this is due to fast shutter speed.Try searching "balancing ambient with flash"
Whitish.. probably flash is too close and undiffused. Try bouncing flash off the ceiling if its white or bouncing off any white walls.

Evenly balance photos comes with all these conditions well balanced.

[adrenalize]

Originally Posted by calebk 2nd Curtain Sync means the flash fires just before the shutter closes. Nothing to do with even brightness over the scene.

Which one is best to use,the 1st curtain or the 2nd curtain?and when can it be best to use?If you have an external flash, can this settings applicable. I'm using a third party flash which is a Sunpak RD2000..Sorry, i'm still a newbie.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by Tantalize I used to have problems with over-exposure in people, the problem fixed when I get a diffuser for my camera. You can check the diffuser out at the CP. Hope this helps.

A diffuser will cut down on harshness, but it will not bring balance to the image. In order to bring balance to the image, your exposure settings must let in enough light to the image.

[chalib]

Originally Posted by spartacus.ret i don't think he is talking about motion blur (from both subject movement and handshake), but rather the camera's inability to correctly lock focus in low light.

You should read what TS has written carefully and slowly then digest

[Dream Merchant]

Originally Posted by menonsudhir1234 Hi , I often face problem with photography in low light condition (indoor) using my canon 30D. The focus most of the times is not correct. I focus on the person but person comes blurred, and something else is sharp. I tired with inbuilt flash as well as canon 220EX flash. Sharpness improves, but the subject becomes overexposed (Whitish), whereas the background still remains darker. So what exactly I need to do to get sharp and properly focused , and evenly balanced photos.

Post up sample photos that you described and exif data.

Something like "I focus on the person but person comes blurred, and something else is sharp." has many possibilities.

"I tired with inbuilt flash as well as canon 220EX flash. Sharpness improves,". Which flash were you using when you got the 'blurred' photos?

[charlesleong]

maybe try to use M mode - Av doesn't meter with flash compensation. (assuming you're flashing in Av)

[sabrecruz]

Set to "M' mode:-

ISO 100
Shutter 1/200-1/250
Aperture f8
Use a diffuser and adjust flash angle from there

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by menonsudhir1234 Hi , I often face problem with photography in low light condition (indoor) using my canon 30D. The focus most of the times is not correct. I focus on the person but person comes blurred, and something else is sharp. I tired with inbuilt flash as well as canon 220EX flash. Sharpness improves, but the subject becomes overexposed (Whitish), whereas the background still remains darker. So what exactly I need to do to get sharp and properly focused , and evenly balanced photos.

My guess for #1 situration, you are shooting with AV mode without flash, low light means low shutter speed. so motion blur on your subject.

#2 situation, you are still using Av mode or P mode with built in flash, and your subject is very close to you and background is far far away, hence overexposed on your subject and underexposed on background.

can tell you what setting to use, or add this add that, or even buy what lens or flash ect.....but you still will not understand how things work.

why don't go and pick up a basic photography book from National Library and start reading?

anyway, read some of the replies and suggestions here, some are not workable, it wouldn't help you at all, and you will not know that if you don't understand the basic.