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10/28/2003 03:21:45 PM · #1 |
I have a flash that sits atop the flash shoe on my Canon EOS 10D. It is the Quantaray 6600 (similar to the one pictured here). It has tilt and zoom but so far I seem to be extraordinarily slow in learning how to use it (based on all the comments I've gotten about using fill flash). I've read online articles and gone to an outdoor portrait class. I've shot thousands of outdoor portraits with and without the flash and still I seem to be missing some integral part of how to use the flash unit to fill in the details. Normally I either tilt the head too much and you get no real benefit from the flash or I have it delivering too much light on the subject and I blow out the highlights rather than simply filling in the darker areas. I'm considering dropping a few hundred on a handle mounted flash unit but unless I can master the basic concepts of fill flash I fear that will be a financial failure on my part. Can anyone help? I have literally tried using the flash on at least 8 or 10 photoshoots where the least number of frames I've shot is 500. I've tried reflectors (although not with an assistant to help hold them). It's a bit frustrating to have such good subjects and time-after-time to hear comments that I should have used fill flash or reflectors. Heck, most of the time I do and it seems that I use them poorly.
Thanks for your comments,
Kev
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10/28/2003 04:51:11 PM · #2 |
Heya Kev
I don't know anything about that flash unit at all, but my first question is ..... is it e-ttl and fully compatible with the 10D?
When I got my 10D I got a 420EX flash and could not be happier with it, it is a sensational unit. I've done no courses, have very little experience, and yet seem to be getting decent results straight out of the box.
I would have got the 550EX, which I believe is even better, but it was a) Too expensive at the time and b) too bulky for the little use I would give it (although I have since realised it gets a lot more use than I thought).
I bought the flash extender lead, which is sensational, I love it (though it is expensive for what it is).
For when I am on the move I bought a cheap ($20 odd) flash extension holder thingy whatsit. Screws on to the bottom of the camera and then hold the flash off to one side. That is a great little gadget.
I am not familiar with the handled mounted flashes, but I would consider a 420EX or 550EX and the extension lead, as then you can use it on or off the camera.
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10/28/2003 05:25:33 PM · #3 |
| I ordered a 420EX and a Stofen Omnibounce, about $20 extra for the Omnibounce. It's sitting at home in the package right now actually. If you'd like I can post examples with the Omnibounce on and off. They probably make one for the Quantary too. That might solve the bounce problem. |
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10/28/2003 05:31:50 PM · #4 |
Good point Jimmy. I got the omnibounce with mine to, as it is fairly cheap extra, and it does make the world of difference.
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10/28/2003 05:33:38 PM · #5 |
1. Flash units (on or off camera) have a use range. Know what yours is.
2. Fill flash is a setting within your cameras programming. It is used typically to fill in a shadow, like during a portrait snapshot of someone wearing a baseball cap in bright sunlight. The bill of the cap typically will leave a shadow over the face of the subject, so fill flash is used to remove the shadow cast by the bill of the hat.
3. Just because people make a comment, does not mean that they know what they are talking about. |
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10/28/2003 05:35:49 PM · #6 |
I use a Nikon D100 with a SB80-DX flash. Nikon made specific digital flashes to work with their DSLR cameras. I would check to make sure that your flash can work with your camera.
Re. bounce and fill. If I am reading your post correctly, you have tried to bounce outside. It has always been my understanding that bounce is used inside in places where you have a low ceiling to take advantage of white reflection of the ceiling. This shot I bounced the flash. You will see that there is no shawdow being cast on the wall behind her. The down side is you get a little shawdowing underneath her chin.
This shot I used a fill flash technique for outside. I used a slow or rear curtain flash setting to take advantage of the normal daylight, but to hit the subject with just a little light at the end of the exposure to take out shawdows.
This might be too basic and you probably already know these techniques, but just thought I would share. Check your book to make sure your flash works with your camera, and try a slow or rear curtain outside, and bounce only inside. |
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10/28/2003 05:37:05 PM · #7 |
| BTW - I scaled down the quality of the above examples, so please don't comment on the grain....! |
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10/28/2003 05:49:50 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by natator:
Heya Kev
I don't know anything about that flash unit at all, but my first question is ..... is it e-ttl and fully compatible with the 10D?
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According to CameraDigger.com, the Quantary QAF 6600 is TTL only, not E-TTL. As to whether this is the cause of your problems, not sure.
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10/28/2003 05:50:41 PM · #9 |
I got the 550EX (Canon) and totally love it. I knew I would take a million shots of my new son (now 7 weeks old), so I figured it would be less upsetting to him if the light was bounced off ceilings or walls. It's a great flash unit. I also bought the Omni Bounce. No need to frig around with any settings, the exposure comes out well. It does a great job too on Macros.
snapshots with 550EX
Snapshots two with 550EX
a few cat pics
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10/29/2003 08:56:49 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by sleekr:
Originally posted by natator:
Heya Kev
I don't know anything about that flash unit at all, but my first question is ..... is it e-ttl and fully compatible with the 10D?
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According to CameraDigger.com, the Quantary QAF 6600 is TTL only, not E-TTL. As to whether this is the cause of your problems, not sure. |
OK. Anyone know the difference in TTL and E-TTL? Frankly, I was even ignorant that I needed to change anything in the camera settings. I normally have been using AV mode on the 10D and either using a thin piece of cloth over the flash to diffuse it or a foam-core board (fcb) to bounce flashes off of. I'll look back through the EOS 10D book to find the setting for fill flash but would anyone care to provide more direction about how you set your camera before using the flash unit for either fill or bounce flash usage?
I do appreciate your comments and directions as I feel like I've been through the 10D manual several times and I've looked through the several sites without gaining much useful knowledge about this skill.
Thanks again for your help,
Kev
P.S. - Congrats again, Jacko, on Samuel. I especially liked the "Rock On" outfit.
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10/29/2003 09:19:06 AM · #11 |
Kevin,
I cannot tell you specifically about the 10D as I am not a user of that particular camera. However, even older film bodies like the Nikon 6006 had a selection for "fill flash" and my little 4300 has a setting as well. I must believe that a camera as advanced as the 10D must have a program mode for "fill flash".
I always understood TTL to mean "through the lense" metering. I do not know the designation "E-TTL".
Message edited by author 2003-10-29 09:24:01. |
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10/29/2003 09:20:35 AM · #12 |
Everything you ever wanted to know about Canon EOS flash and then some.
Definitely worth reading. If you have a Canon EOS camera and flash and haven't at least skimmed this (very long, multi-part) article, you'll probably learn something.
Message edited by author 2003-10-29 09:22:13. |
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10/29/2003 10:18:04 AM · #13 |
Thank you all and especially EddyG and natator as natator gave me the knowledge that there is a difference between TTL and E-TTL flash metering in Canon cameras and the link EddyG provided contained the information that no Canon digital camera can use TTL or A-TTL; they all use E-TTL (Canon's newer technology). It appears that if you own any Canon digital camera with a hot shoe then you must buy a "E" series flash for the camera to meter properly. Thus, the 420EX or 550EX should all work appropriately with the Canon EOS digital cameras. I'm still researching whether the setting for "fill flash" is something that the photographer has to choose or if the E-TTL automatically compensates to produce appropriate mid-tones even in shadowed conditions.
UPDATE:
The article referred to above does note that on newer Canons (the digitals included) that fill flash is automatically selected in the Creative Zones(P, TV, AV, M) and that no user interaction is required to put the camera into fill flash mode. The very nature of Canon equipment and the newer E-TTL flash metering is what makes this unnecessary.
Originally posted by Article:
All current Canon digital cameras with hotshoes - both the D30, D60, 1D, 1Ds and 10D digital EOS cameras and the non-EOS PowerShot Pro 70 IS, Pro 90 IS, G1 and G2 point and shoot digital cameras - support E-TTL only. Even Canon digital cameras with internal popup flashes are E-TTL only. (though if you want to use flash with a non-EOS camera you should probably check out Kevin BjorkeĆ¢s page for its limitations. Canon have also written a letter to D30 users concerning proper use of EX flash units) |
Thanks,
Kev
Message edited by author 2003-10-29 13:45:55.
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