A photographic flash is a device which provides additional light to a scene. It can be used to help fill in a dark area of a photo, to provide light if there isn't sufficient light to begin with, or it can help to improve the composition of a particular photo, by creating your own source of light.
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51 views
Is it possible to manually controll the flash while using the BULB manual exposure setting on a Canon XSi?
To explain a little more, I want to be able manually set off the flash more than once for the purpose of having a double exposure while shooting in manual exposure mode. Is there a way to do this ...
3
votes
3answers
120 views
What kind of batteries will provide the fastest recharge/recycle time for a flash unit like the 430EX II?
I have gotten deep into bird photography this year, and have put a lot of time and effort into learning the tricks of the trade. My latest endeavors are into bird/bif flash photography. I own a Canon ...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
What cheap flashes can be wirelessly triggered by a Nikon SB-900?
I have a Nikon SB-900 and I love it. I am looking to expand my off camera capabilities and would love to buy another flash.
The one important factor I'm looking for is the compatibility between my ...
3
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2answers
224 views
Why are there white dots on my night time photo?
Could you please explain why I am getting white semi-transparent dots for night photography with flash on?
Original image here.
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3answers
127 views
Why is my ISO so high when shooting indoor photos with flash
I have a Nikon D5100. When shooting indoor photos using the built in flash, the auto ISO changes to 1600 or so.
Doesn't the flash produce enough light so that the ISO would stay at 100 or so?
...
4
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2answers
95 views
Outdoor flash lights on a budget?
What are the best options for having outdoor flash lighting? I have seen a few kits for sale on ebay that cost around $1000 which include 2 lights, a battery pack, umbrellas and soft box covers.
I ...
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vote
2answers
70 views
Does the back of the case for the Nikon SB-400 (SS-400) have a loop?
This is kind of a lame question, but I'm wondering if the back of the case for the Nikon SB-400 have a loop to carry it on a belt or strap. The model number for the case is SS-400 and looks like this:
...
3
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2answers
185 views
Why is the D7000 limited to shutter speed of 1/250th when the flash is up?
Sometimes in bright backlight and with large aperture (f2.8) I want flash at high shutter speeds. But when I pop the flash up on D7000 it caps the shutter speed to 1/250th, which overexposes the ...
2
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1answer
62 views
Is trailing curtain sync with manual power settings possible with Metz flashes on Pentax?
I want to use manual flash power settings in combination with trailing sync with older manual non-smc (m42) lenses on a Pentax K-7.
This is for extreme macro and focus stacking. I'm using microscope ...
15
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4answers
663 views
Without modification, is the built-in pop-up flash EVER appropriate?
You can't use a diffuser, you can't redirect it, you can't adjust intensity, you can only pop that little sucker up and blast away.
Is there ever a situation where having this built-in pop-up flash ...
2
votes
5answers
122 views
Why is the shutter speed so long when using Flash in Aperture Priority on a Nikon D40X?
I'm trying to get the background out of focus (bokeh) and using Aperature(A) mode and setting aperture to lowest value.
Update:
I'm shooting in dim light and the flash goes off but the shutter speed ...
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vote
4answers
124 views
How to meter for manual bounce flash?
I use an eBay flash in manual mode. Mostly indoors, so I bounce the flash off the ceiling. What is a good approach to read the camera metering and make adjustments to flash intensity?
My flash cannot ...
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votes
2answers
40 views
Is the HF-DC1 flash light a good choice for my Canon EOS 400D?
I want to buy an external flash light for my Canon EOS 400D.
Is HF-DC1 good enough or is it designed for more compact cameras?
Any suggestion on alternatives?
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Where does the assertion that food photography must not use flash come from?
I often hear/read in webcasts and blogs that when doing food photography, it's better to use only the indirect sun light from a window, and without flash.
Why?
I tested multiple times two setups:
...
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votes
3answers
161 views
Are super cheap flashes worth it?
Is YN-460 Yongnuo worth it? Found it for 34 EUR http://bit.ly/GE1Tdp
Fist of all: is it so cheap I will regret I bought it and just withdraw using it?
In my understanding and for I would use ...
4
votes
1answer
148 views
I cannot open the internal flash on my Canon 60D camera; how do I fix it?
I tried opening the internal flash on my Canon 60D camera the other day and it didn't open at all. I couldn't understand why. After messing around in the menus, I found out that the camera thinks that ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
How do I know if it's safe to use a Nikon SB-20 on an Olympus E-520?
I have an Olympus E-520 and I borrowed a Nikon SB-20 flash which I intend to use as an optical trigger for an off-camera flash (TTL connectors on the flash connector are removed to avoid mixing ttl ...
5
votes
4answers
203 views
How to use a flash on the red carpet without interference?
When I have used flash at semi popular events, from time to time my flash overlaps with others and the image either turns out extremely overexposed, or an odd color(gels?). How do photographers at ...
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votes
1answer
102 views
Why does ETTL occasionally fail with my Canon Speedlite 580 EXII?
I have the Canon Speedlite 580EXII for 3-4 years now, and I have used it with a 450D and more recently with a 60D.
With both bodies, there was a very weird behavior where ETTL or even TTL will ...
3
votes
4answers
274 views
Is Flash a Must-Have For Macro Photography?
I want to start into macro photography this year so I've chose the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens to start with (I still haven't bought it since I'll do it next week, which I'll be in the ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
Why is the on-camera flash trying to pop up when using a D7000 with a MK930 Speedlite?
So I decided to buy a cheap flash to experiment bouncing flash on walls or ceilings. I can't stand flash in pictures so I thought this would be a great way to try, and seeing these things are barely ...
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votes
4answers
258 views
Why does my lens focus better/faster with a speedlight attached to the camera?
I have a Nikon d90 and have often found that the camera reaches focus faster, with less re-adjusting and missing the focus, when I have a speedlight (the Nikon sb-600 in my case) attached.
Why is ...
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vote
4answers
72 views
Is it ever correct to describe a flash diffuser as opaque?
I've seen product listings online for flash diffusers where they are described as opaque. Is this an incorrect description? Should it be semi-opaque or is that assumed? How does opaque make sense in ...
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votes
2answers
202 views
What batteries are best suited to Battery grips?
I have a Battery grip that will add an extra 1fps when used with AA batteries instead of the standard Nikon camera battery. This takes 8 bateries at once
I currently use AA Energizer rechargable ...
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vote
1answer
288 views
How well will a Canon 580EX II flash work on my Nikon D5000?
I would like more specifics on how a 580EX II would work on a Nikon D5000 and if it is even worth it.
This is the scenario, I have available a Canon XTi with a 580EX II for buying; I own a D5000 ...
3
votes
2answers
99 views
How do I adjust the amount of fill-in flash from the built-in flash of my Canon Rebel?
I have a Canon 450D/Rebel XSi. How do I adjust the amount of flash from the pop-up for fill-in flash?
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votes
3answers
618 views
When and how to use a push-on flash diffuser?
I've bought a cheap flash on eBay and got this fancy flash diffuser as a free gift:
So, what are the effects of a light diffuser like this one? What difference does it make to the resulting photo? ...
6
votes
1answer
264 views
Can using an old flash damage a new DSLR?
I have been using my dad's old Metz mecablitz 18 B1 flash for a while with my Canon 7D and had no trouble with it, but just received some advice from a friend that using old flashes can fry the ...
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vote
1answer
249 views
When to use different combinations of TTL/TTL-BL and Spot/Matrix metering?
I am trying to teach myself flash photography, and I am currently confused about metering modes. In what shooting conditions would each the following metering modes be best-suited? (And why do they ...
15
votes
1answer
230 views
Are flashes really subject to a “use it or lose it” problem?
I was just reading the manual that came with my new flash and stumbled over this warning:
14.3 Flash capacitor forming
The flash capacitor built into the flash unit undergoes physical change if ...
4
votes
1answer
202 views
How do I compare the output of an LED panel with that of a flash?
How do I compare the output of an LED panel with that of a conventional hotshoe flash?
I haven't been paying attention to the LED panels, but they've been on the market long enough so that I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
148 views
What is the relationship between Guide Number and flash power level?
From this post, I understand that the flash guide number (GN) is given by the following formula:
Guide Number = Shooting Distance × f-number ÷ ISO factor
I'm assuming that the GN calculated via the ...
0
votes
1answer
197 views
What does “pop & drag” mean in low light photography?
I came cross this term "Pop & Drag" being used in low light setting. What does that mean?
Is it the same as term as "dragging the shutter"?
Can anyone please show some examples of "Pop & ...
2
votes
2answers
175 views
How important is it that the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens does not return distance data?
I read at the photonotes website that the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM lens does not return distance information to the camera, to be used for E-TTL II.
How important is this, and should this be a ...
2
votes
3answers
189 views
Can any radio flash triggers be used without a sync cable?
I am looking for an inexpensive wireless flash trigger system to use with my Pentax k-x and an old flash I wouldn't trust on the camera hot shoe (Vivitar 550FD) because of its high trigger voltage. I ...
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votes
7answers
736 views
What does it mean to “kill the ambient”?
I have heard of a technique called "killing the ambient" in flash photography. What does it mean and how do I do it? This similar existing post I believe is separate enough to warrant this question - ...
2
votes
1answer
260 views
Why doesn't my Sigma EF-500 flash work properly with my new Canon 60D?
I've recently upgraded to a 60D (from a 300D) and have just tried my Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash. This used to work fine on the 300D but on the 60D when using it in TTL mode the flash defaults to the ...
4
votes
3answers
169 views
Why isn't the on-camera flash of SLR or compact cameras tiltable?
All external flash tilt, and isn't it simple and apparent to add this to the design?
I mean, take a look at this horror...
4
votes
2answers
160 views
Are there any tricks to make a pop-up flash suck less in low light?
I'm taking a lot of low-light indoor shots of moving subjects. I hate a the default flip-up flashes of most moderns DSLRs (in my case, a Canon 60D), but this is typically a point and shoot situation ...
3
votes
8answers
297 views
Ways to soften an onboard flash?
What can be done to soften the direct light from an onboard flash? I know there are diffusers available for external flash units, but I'm not aware of such a solution for an onboard flash, such as on ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views
Why is manual flash at the lowest-power stronger than the ETTL result with my 430EX II?
I have a 500D with the 430EX II flashgun. I've taken two pictures with the camera in manual mode, one with the flash in ETTL mode and then in manual mode with the power to 1/64 and the flash exposure ...
5
votes
3answers
549 views
How does TTL flash work in manual exposure mode?
I got the Metz 44 AF-1 flash recently that is TTL capable for my Canon 550D, and have been reading around to get a better understanding of using flash on-camera (Neil Van Niekerk's article on flash ...
1
vote
2answers
95 views
Will these two accesories work together for a “Macro” photography experience?
I am trying to to get a Christmas gift for my wife. She has a Cannon Rebel T1i and two lenses that came with it (nothing else).
She has shown some interest in Macro photography with the lenses she ...
6
votes
1answer
283 views
Why does the camera default to ISO 400 in auto ISO mode with flash?
I've observed this behaviour on my Canon 550D, and I was wondering why it didn't use a lower or even variable ISO. I'm not sure if this is a camera/brand specific setting.
Is there any particular ...
6
votes
3answers
303 views
Can one radio trigger be used to trigger two speedlights?
I have a pair of Yongnuo RF-603 radio flash transceivers, two SB-600s & D200. I'm planning to build a large rectangular softbox that'll use both speedlights for extra power. Is there a synch cord ...
7
votes
2answers
250 views
Why do I get horizontal grey bar with flash at shutter speeds slower than max sync speed?
I'm a total newbie to flash photography, and I am just trying to do some test shooting with Canon Speedlite 580 EXII using my 7D.
I saw on the user manual that the maximum sync speed is 1/250 sec.
...
3
votes
2answers
199 views
What features should one look for when selecting a flash?
I have been thinking of getting a flash to improve my low light photography (particularly indoors). However, there seem to be a number of different models available at similar price points (budget of ...
4
votes
2answers
156 views
How does the power of a flash relate to the duration of the flash pulse?
Specifically for my Nikon SB-700, but also for flashes in general — how does the power setting relate to the duration of the pulse? Basically, is the power normally controlled by cutting down on the ...
2
votes
2answers
138 views
What is the highest shutter speed in which the shutter is at some point completely open?
Specifically, for my Nikon D7000, but also in general. Is this shutter speed basically going to be the same shutter speed as the fastest flash sync speed, or the flash sync speed more affected by ...
3
votes
3answers
261 views
How can I get nice, vivid colors in food photography without blown-out brightness from the flash?
Whenever I click pictures of people and food using flash, the whole picture becomes bright. When I click without flash, the camera takes in the light from the surroundings and gives me a monotonous ...
