common wisdom – Canon’s TTL flash vs Nikon’s TTL flash
Canon's TTL flash vs Nikon's TTL flash
One of the frequent topics on the various forums is the Canon vs Nikon debate ... and one of the usual replies is that Nikon is better in certain ways, and Canon is better in other ways. And the common wisdom that Nikon's flash system is superior to Canon. And this seems to be accepted as one of those general truths. Now, having shot primarily Nikon for a few years (D100 / D2H / D2x), and then Canon (mk2 / mk2N / 5D / mk3), and now Nikon again (D3) ... I have this observation about Canon's flash system vs Nikon's flash system ... they are Read more inside...Ambient exposure with TTL flash
Ambient exposure with TTL flash
A question I was asked about exposure metering in relation to flash: Let's say I use Manual mode on my camera, and have adjust my aperture and shutter speed so that my meter indicator have returned to zero. At this point I know at least i have "correct exposure". I would either choose to over expose and under expose depend on circumstances. My question is, will my picture get over exposed if fire my strobe even thought my indicator already point to zero ? I have no idea how should I integrate flash setting into my routine I always use when in M Read more inside...tutorial: Maximum flash sync speed
tutorial: Maximum flash sync speed
In previous postings I have mentioned that the specific settings for a photo aren't often of direct value to us in figuring out the method of exposure. But the one setting that is of huge importance when using flash, is your camera's maximum flash sync speed. When the ambient light levels are low, then your shutter speed can vary appropriately, depending on what you want to achieve. But once you work in bright conditions, or have your subject against a bright background, then most often it just makes the best sense to work at maximum flash sync Read more inside...off-camera flash photography: what are your camera settings?
off-camera flash photography: what are your camera settings?
What are your settings? - a question that I am often asked about various images. Sometimes, the answer is surprising - it doesn't really matter. Sometimes the specific settings are of importance, but usually much less so than the method of getting to correct exposure of the ambient light and the flash. This is the photographic equivalent of teaching someone to fish, versus just slapping a fish down on a dinner plate. Just telling my settings will reveal very little about the how. And yet, the how is far Read more inside..."Dragging the Shutter" revisited
1/100 @ f1.6 @ 1000 ISO "Dragging the Shutter" is a term used to describe the technique of using a slow enough shutter speed to allow a measure of ambient light to register when using flash. This term originates from an era when photographers would determine correct flash exposure for on-location photography by : - setting the ISO speed according to the film used, - setting the aperture according to subject distance (depends on flashgun's guide number), - then using the shutter speed as the ONLY way of independently allowing more ambient light in, slowing the shutter speed far lower Read more inside...
