Can't set my 430EX as I want !!!

9designs2 · 9 Nov 2008 at 15:44

I need a Canon flash expert......
Was trying to do some portraits of my girlfriend, and wanted to set the camera at least 1 stop away from wide open.
But the flash or Program setting always sets 1/60 - f4 on my 5D/24-105.
If I use AV, it goes to fill in mode, and sets the shutter speed to match the aperture to give a correct natural light exposure. Ie I was ending up with around 1/8th second !!!!....
It I use TV, and set 30th, it still sets f4 !!! ....aahhhhhhh
I can't find away of having a 1/60th at f5.6, and then let the flash vary it's power to achieve correct exposure. (I was easily with in range for this to work).

Gungnir · 9 Nov 2008 at 15:47

Set camera to manual.

9designs2 · 9 Nov 2008 at 15:51

Then you need a flash meter.....

rpstewart · 9 Nov 2008 at 15:57

9designs2 said:
Then you need a flash meter.....

No you don't. In manual mode the flash will give you the correct amount of light to correctly expose the subject using the flash as the main light source. If you don't like what it's producing just dial in the appropriate amount of Flash Exposure Compensation on the body.

A.N.Other · 9 Nov 2008 at 15:57

No you don't. Manually setting 1/60 and f/5.6 and having the flash in ETTL should allow it to automatically expose for your settings.

With an ETTL flash, it should automatically expose the same object shot at 1/100 @ f/2.8 or at f/8 (or f/whatever) to give you the same result.

MrScott · 9 Nov 2008 at 15:58

Gungnir said:
Set camera to manual.

Agreed.

9designs2 said:
Then you need a flash meter.....

Actually you shouldn't, Canon's flash metering works so that with the camera in manual, set to whatever shutter / aperture you want, the flash output will then be adjusted automatically for correct exposure, like you want.

Edit: Wow I'm too slow.

aztechnology · 9 Nov 2008 at 16:42

9designs2 said:
Then you need a flash meter.....

Only if you also set the flash to manual. As everyone else has said, the flash will still calculate the correct exposure.

Setting the camera to Manual will bias the flash exposure calc to expose the subject correctly (IIRC), if you want to expose the background, you'll need to work out the exposure and set that up in Manual exposure.

blastman · 9 Nov 2008 at 17:40

I've been playing around with settings just like yours. I've was shooting in maunal anyways and found that bouncing the light off the celing was best. However I did have to dail down the flah a bit on the cameras menu to stop my subject looking like they had been caught in a pair of headlights!. (450D with 580Ex)

9designs2 · 9 Nov 2008 at 19:55

Cheers guys, it works..... just tried a couple of quick test shot, chose manual, 1/45 f6.7, bounce with a diffuser, and by the look of the screen on the camera it gave a correctly exposed picture....
Reason was I don't like using a lens wide open, they are normally soft, and wanted a bit more depth of field to keep nose, eyes and neck in focus.....
Now I just need to convince the girlfriend to get back in from of the camera !!! lol