--- Gary Kaplan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I recently asked about flashes for my Elan/EOS 100.
> I have not found one I like yet. So in the meantime
> I am trying to figure out how to get better images
> with my manual Sunpak 383 Super. I always seem to
> end up with blown out foregrounds or dark
> backgrounds. Does anyone know of any good books or
> online resources on how to use manual flash.
>
Hi Gary,
The symptoms you're describing are symptomatic of an
imbalance of the flash output compared to ambient
light. Manual fill flash (what *I* mean by fill flash
is where you balance the flash and ambient lighting to
obtain a natural look) is a pain in the butt. It's
easy to get either no impact or way overexposed
foregrounds.
TTL flash metering does it easily on EOS cameras. If
you choose either Av or Tv modes then you're
automatically using balanced fill flash with an EZ or
EX series speedlite, or in fact any third party ttl
capable flash. You'd be surprised at just how good
the results are. Program mode (with a-ttl at least)
does not give the same sort of results.
Where it gets better with the Canon speedlites and
SOME 3rd party units is the ability to use Flash
Exposure Compensation (FEC). This allows you to tone
down (or turn up) the effect the flash has, allowing
you to control the "flash" effect. This is done
automatically by the EOS system electronics, and to do
it manually by comparison is a very time consuming and
thankless task (the subjects are often the thankless
ones!).
As has been mentioned the Canon speedlites with FEC
capability are the 430EZ, 540EZ and 550EX. The 430EZ
is widely available used at a reasonable price.
I know this preamble doesn't answer your question
(above), but the there's a Canon web page that
discusses flash techniques including ambient flash
balancing. Being a Canon page it's obviously biased
towards Canon speedlites, but is none the less a very
useful source of information.
http://www.camera.canon.com.my/photography/art/13lighting/index.htm
BTW what is it you don't like about the Canon
speedlites (apart from cost maybe - but a used 430EZ
is not TOO expensive)? A good source of information
for EOS compatible flashes of all brands and price
ranges can be found at:
http://www.photozone.de/canonflash.htm
although it has a few errors here and there (e.g. the
300EZ doesn't have FEC nor does the Sigma EF 430).
I'm sorry but I can't help with manual flash
resources, but I thought this may help with regard to
your original question regarding flashes for your EOS
100.
Regards
Gary
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