some newbie questions about flash and FEC

[Nitrile]

does the FEC setting in the camera afrfect only the inbuilt flash or also a speedlite attached to the hotshoe?

since i have a 300D and it doesnt allow me to set FEC on the fly, will i be able to set the flash level if i get a speedlite? as in, on the speedlite itself.

:sweat:

 

[CaeSiuM]

Yes FEC on camera body AFFECT both the built-in flash and flashes that are mounted onto the camera's hotshoe. 300D doesn't come with FEC controls but there a russian guy wrote a firmware hack to enable it. (Actually locked by manufacturer to stop it from competing with the 10D in terms of functionalities)

This thread discusses the firmware hack for 300D: http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=77342&highlight=300D+firmware

You may want to consult some of the 300D owners who have installed the firmware hack on how to go about installing it if you have doubts.

 

[Nitrile]

Yes FEC on camera body AFFECT both the built-in flash and flashes that are mounted onto the camera's hotshoe. 300D doesn't come with FEC controls but there a russian guy wrote a firmware hack to enable it. (Actually locked by manufacturer to stop it from competing with the 10D in terms of functionalities)

This thread discusses the firmware hack for 300D: http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=77342&highlight=300D+firmware

You may want to consult some of the 300D owners who have installed the firmware hack on how to go about installing it if you have doubts.

yes, i am aware of the hack but i just got my 300D and i really wouldnt want to use hacked firmware now..at least while its still under warranty.

 

[CaeSiuM]

The choice is yours but that is your only alternative now if you want body built-in FEC unless Canon decides to release a firmware that unlocks FEC which i doubt they will.

Alternatively you can get the 550EX which has FEC on the flash itself or the Sigma 500DG which also have FEC as well as E-TTL compatibility.

 

[Nitrile]

the 550EX is way out of my budget. how much is the sigma?

 

[sequitur]

yup.

as caesium has recommended.


either hack or get a flash. if you can't afford a 550ex, get a 550dg. if you can't afford a 550dg, can get a really cheapo manual flash and train yourself to use it - it'll help a lot. not recommended to use manual flash for quick flowing events though - you're gonna miss out a lot on the moments.


otherwise even more cheapo methods include using varying degrees of thickness of tissue paper to cover your built-in flash head. it's true - you can get soft diffused effects from a built-in flash using tissue paper. just be careful not to catch your fingers' shadows.


hope these help.

 

[Ivan11]

I got the Sigma flash for $360.

 

[imaginary_number]

I got it for $330.

There're 2 models of the Sigma 500 - one we're talking about is Sigma 500 Super, the other is Sigma 500 ST, IIRC. Don't get the wrong one.

 

[sumball]

yes, dg super can fec but st cannot. st costs only abt $220+