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Low light advice please

  • 06-08-2011 2:14am
    #1
    IrishHomer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,002 ✭✭✭


    Tonight I was at a party with low lights disco and I was for most of then time in AV mode.

    Sometimes the flash would take ages to fire and other times it would not fire at all and would take ages for the camera to take the pic.

    Please advise me what am I doing wrong? :confused:


Comments

  • #2
    CabanSail
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 9,047 CMod ✭✭✭✭CabanSail


    Were you using a Speedlight or the internal flash?

    What mode and power did you have set on the flash?

    I would hazard a guess that the flash may have been on rear curtain sync and the camera was selecting long exposure times due to the low light.

    Often when using flash it's easier to go fully manual or full auto. If you are thinking about your shots and controlling the light the all manual is the ticket. At a party when taking candid snaps go for the auto settings (Program & TTL Flash) as it will get it right for snaps more often than not. Remember the Auto Modes are largely developed so that noobs can get reasonable results in those sort of situations.


  • #3
    Promac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭Promac


    At a guess I'd say it's a combination of the lens trying to autofocus and the wrong batteries in the flash and the way you're using the flash itself.

    Try the same scenario on manual focus - it's a bit harder but it'll be good practice. When you're shooting in low light the autofocus mechanism can't make out enough detail to focus on. Research Gig Photography and copy the techniques you'll learn about.

    To get the flash going nice and snappy get some good quality batteries that are suited to flash photography. Some batteries are better for long storage while others are better for moving a charge really quickly (to recharge the flash for example). Try asking in a camera shop - they should be able to sort you out.

    The use of the flash is a bit more complicated - in AV mode there are two exposures you need to work out - one for the subject in the foreground that will be illuminated by the flash and another for the background that will be illuminated by a longer exposure. Next time just leave it in P mode and see how you get on. And in the meantime, take your camera outside at night and try out the different modes with the flash - see if you can figure out the difference.

    TL;DR? Use manual focus. Get better batteries. RTFM :)


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