Fill flash

[lowster]

Hi,

I've got an SB-600 speedlight and while its clear I don't know how to use it properly, can anyone offer some helpful tips while i try to decipher the SB-600 user manual?

I've been using M mode on the camera and i haven't been able to get the settings right to correctly fill flash a subject's face on bright sunny days (or when subject is in shade against a sunny background).

Thanks.

[Luke Smith]

As I'm aware the settings in the camera are for the built-in flash. To set the SB-600 to M you should use the settings on its control panel.

Cheers,

Luke

[MattC]

Lowster,

The technique that I use for your situation is as follows:

Camera in manual mode and spot meter, flash to TTL, AE-L button to FV lock.
Set aperture and shutterspeed to suit background. Spot meter from a neutral tone and set value of EV0 (centre the meter) or any other tone that you know the compensation value for. This sets your background exposure.

Next, bring the metering point to your subject. Assuming you are photographing a person with normal fair skin, a Flash Exposure Value (FEV) of 0 to -1/3 would normally be required (but can vary - eg if in very bright sunlight the value can be higher). Focus on the subject. Lock the FV in by pressing AE-L. Focus, recompose and shoot.
The reason for using FV Lock is that it is otherwise impossible to recompose the shot and get the correct FEV. The camera would meter from whatever is under the metering point.

This technique also works with centre-weighted metering. If you do not understand Tone vs EV, I posted "Metering" in the Tips and Tricks" forum which may be useful.

Cheers

Matt

[MattC]

Just to add to my previous post.

What you are doing is setting the background exposure using shutter speed and aperture and then setting the foreground exposure using flash and flash compensation. Both exposures work in the same way. ie dialling in compensation (EV) for tone.

The trick is to balance the two exposures. If there is going to be an inbalance it is arguably better to underexpose the background by a little than to underexpose the subject.

Matrix metering and TTL-BL as outlined in the manual is fine if your subject is dead centre (the camera basically assumes that the subject is centred and all else is background), useless if not and exposure comp is basically unavailable (the camera will fight you). Also, TTL-BL does not work in manual mode. If you go this way slip it into aperture priority.

Matt PS. I found that the user manual is of little use.

[meicw]

Thanks Matt. That helped me also. Now another question if I may. When I have the flash attached, the only way I can alter the shutter speed is to change to shutter priority or use the manual mode. In aperture priority the shutter speed remains at 1/60 sec, no matter what aperture I select. This occurs whether the flash is switched on or off. It just has to be attached to the camera. How can this be changed?
Regards
Meicw

[genji]

Thanks Matt. That helped me also. Now another question if I may. When I have the flash attached, the only way I can alter the shutter speed is to change to shutter priority or use the manual mode. In aperture priority the shutter speed remains at 1/60 sec, no matter what aperture I select. This occurs whether the flash is switched on or off. It just has to be attached to the camera. How can this be changed?
Regards
Meicw

you can change the shutter speed by setting 'slow' or 'rear' flash modes. do this by pressing the flash button and rotating back command dail to desired flash mode.

[MattC]

The 1/60s shutterspeed that you are seeing is the minimum shutter speed set in CSM 21. With the flash switched off, but attached, you should not be seeing a constant 1/60s. Recheck that.

Cheers

[lowster]

Thanks for that.

particularly Matt, you've helped me out once again...thank you!...and you also guessed well as I was using Matrix metering and TTL-BL. I hope to try the technique this weekend.



Lowster