Exposure from 580EXII-->Aim then fire VS "FEL" then fire...

[FireZ]

Morning Peeps..
I was told that the flash is able to give relatively quite a gd exposure (in ETTL mode) but mine tend to underexpose... hence...i often use the "FEL" mode before i fire off which gives a much/nice better exposure...

By right, does "FEL" before shooting gives more accurate exposure?
Y i ask this becoz, the exposure of the 580EXII on the 7D and 5DM2 which i borrowed from my frenz seem so so much better...

also...i read that 580EXII does pre-flash (sort of pop up flash...which will pre-flash to get a accurate amount of flash to fire off which auto focusing/semi-press the shutter button)... but so far, i never see my 580EXII pre-flash before while i half press the shutter button...
Did i get the information wrongly?

Thanks a lot in advance

ps: i did a search but mainly mentioned that 580EXII has some issue which dun seem to be clear hence i started this thread...pardon me ya if i did miss out thread which already discussed about this..

Cheers and a Happy New Yr!!!

 

[Octarine]

EOS Flash Bible: http://www.photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
The flash does a fre-flash (unless there is a technical fault). But when looking through viewfinder it's really hard to notice because it's low intensity and fractions of a second just before the main flash. You can notice it once you are behind a photographer using flash or maybe when your cam is on tripod with remote shutter.
Regarding flash exposure results: Check the ISO, metering settings and any FEC settings of the cameras you compare.

 

[FireZ]

EOS Flash Bible: http://www.photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
The flash does a fre-flash (unless there is a technical fault). But when looking through viewfinder it's really hard to notice because it's low intensity and fractions of a second just before the main flash. You can notice it once you are behind a photographer using flash or maybe when your cam is on tripod with remote shutter.
Regarding flash exposure results: Check the ISO, metering settings and any FEC settings of the cameras you compare.

hi bro..thz for the reply..
as per regarding the sentence.."it's really hard to notice because it's low intensity and fractions of a second just before the main flash. You can notice it once you are behind a photographer using flash", i tried shooting shooting lookin into the view finder for the sake of testing whether is there pre-flash but seems like there isn't at all...

 

[yrh0413]

i believe your issue is due to the different metering algorithm on your camera and 7D/5D2. My ex 40D tends to underexpose but the exposure was spot-on on my 1D3.

 

[surrephoto]

Pre-flashing with FEL before shooting is a very good method in controlled situations, and sadly most people do not know how it works and may have never used it before.

When you press the * or AE lock button to preflash (dedicated FEL button beside shutter release on 1D series), the camera fires a 1/8 strength pre-flash and takes a reading based on the centre partial metering circle.

This is good because instead of using the entire scene to meter flash (just like evaluative metering), you make use of only the partial circle, giving you greater accuracy.

How to use: Aim at individual with a midtone-type skintone or an object that is close to midtone grey. If you aim at something to bright/dark, it will give you a flash output too weak/strong respectively. This is good for portraiture shooting and group-shots where you have the time to meter, it's really worth that additional effort. Just make sure your subject(s) don't think you already took the shot. I've went on to using manual flash because it still gives me the most consistent results.

 

[FireZ]

i believe your issue is due to the different metering algorithm on your camera and 7D/5D2. My ex 40D tends to underexpose but the exposure was spot-on on my 1D3.

OOooooo..... icic... argh..spent money on a gd flash but can't perform well?!...sad leh..hai..
thz a lot for e info though...
cheers!

Pre-flashing with FEL before shooting is a very good method in controlled situations, and sadly most people do not know how it works and may have never used it before.

When you press the * or AE lock button to preflash (dedicated FEL button beside shutter release on 1D series), the camera fires a 1/8 strength pre-flash and takes a reading based on the centre partial metering circle.

This is good because instead of using the entire scene to meter flash (just like evaluative metering), you make use of only the partial circle, giving you greater accuracy.

How to use: Aim at individual with a midtone-type skintone or an object that is close to midtone grey. If you aim at something to bright/dark, it will give you a flash output too weak/strong respectively. This is good for portraiture shooting and group-shots where you have the time to meter, it's really worth that additional effort. Just make sure your subject(s) don't think you already took the shot. I've went on to using manual flash because it still gives me the most consistent results.

yaya...i been using the FEL very very often..able to give me pretty gd exposure..but at times..i find it a hassle to press it since my face pretty close to the cam...how i wish can re-design the fel button to somewhere near the shutter's button... haha...

but wondering.. playing wif manual flash isn't it gonna take up more time? as in.. gonna increase here n there in order to get the rite exposure....or is there is trick to get a spot on exposure within 1 or 2 times of trying?....

cheers!

 

[Octarine]

hi bro..thz for the reply..
as per regarding the sentence.."it's really hard to notice because it's low intensity and fractions of a second just before the main flash. You can notice it once you are behind a photographer using flash", i tried shooting shooting lookin into the view finder for the sake of testing whether is there pre-flash but seems like there isn't at all...

Don't look into viewfinder! Due to mirror flipping up you will not see anything. Put the camera on tripod, take remote shutter or timer and watch the flash on top. Best to see when the flash is pointed upwards (bounce flash) and you don't look direct into the light. Look at something about 45 degree left or right so that the flash is in the angle of your eye. It's really short.

 

[FireZ]

Don't look into viewfinder! Due to mirror flipping up you will not see anything. Put the camera on tripod, take remote shutter or timer and watch the flash on top. Best to see when the flash is pointed upwards (bounce flash) and you don't look direct into the light. Look at something about 45 degree left or right so that the flash is in the angle of your eye. It's really short.

morning bro....
sorry...a typo error..wat i meant was..i did try shooting without lookin into the viewfinder...
instead...i look at the flash...but did not c any short burst of pre-flash at all...

cheers!