how do I do flash photography with EOS REBEL XT?

Question

I am using an external flash 580 EX II with Canon Rebel XT. Someone told that instead of using auto mode it is best to have the camera on Manual with flash. Like I choose the speed and aperture setting and the flash will take care of the rest. But when i put the camera on Manual mode, it acts as if there is no flash on it. It shows me that the picture will either be underexposed or over exposed based on the lighting in a room or outside. But when i click the shutter anyways, the flash shoots and the picture turns alright.

But how do I know if a photo will be under exposed or overexposed with manual mode and flash.

Answer 1

When you are in manual mode, it you are in manual CAMERA mode. In another words, your flash is still in auto mode. So as long as your camera says that you will be UNDER EXPOSED, the flash can fill in the missing light (assuming the flash is powerful enough). If the camera indicates that you are OVER EXPOSED, no matter how little light the flash adds, it will always be over exposed.

That's what they mean when you were told "the flash will take care of the rest". The flash is still in automatic mode and it will adjust according to the light level received on the film / ccd.

In practice, I've found that most of the time it is better to use the flash in automatic mode and just adjust using +/- feature. The reason is that it is very difficult to know (with ISO, aperture, distance variables) how much is enough flash without a flash meter. I even own a flash meter but I found that it is much easier to just use the +/- adjustment settings on the flash.

I use Nikons and that how it work on Nikons external flash. The flash has to be put in to manual mode AT THE FLASH UNIT. On few occasions, I borrows my friend's Canon camera and flash and I could not figure out how to set it to manual mode. So it must not be obvious and you should check your manual.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

It sounds like you might not have the flash talking correctly to your camera and lens. If your lens isn't TTL your camera wont be able to meter through it properly. If you have the kit lens that isnt a problem (or any canon lens made in about the last ten years).

Back to your flash, cycle through the modes on it (I only have a 430ex so I dont know your particular flash). You should get it interacting with the camera.

Try putting the cameras metering mode in partial metering.

Its probably just a setting on the flash itself though.

Oh yeah and make sure that your flash isnt set to slave.

Answer 3

Your camera and flash are E-TTL compatible. Read your Owner's Manuals for both units, especially the section in the camera manual about flash.

The purpose of TTL* is to allow the camera to control the flash duration by metering off the sensor. This gives you more creative control since you can choose almost any aperture and expect correctly exposed flash photos. Used in Manual Mode you will have a limited number of f-stops to choose, based on ISO and the f-stop/distance dial on the flash.

The flash should have a TTL setting. Use it. Your camera will probably need to be in Auto Mode. (Check the Flash Photography section in the camera manual.) The idea is for the flash and camera to communicate, which they have to do for correct exposures. Set up correctly, the flash will select the correct shutter speed for flash synch.

To get the best performance from your flash and camera, read and study your Owner's Manuals. Then read and study them again.

Buy the off-camera flash bracket offered by Canon for your flash. Its always best to get the flash off to the side and above the lens axis. I've always been hesitant to mount a heavy flash on the camera hot shoe.

* Minolta introduced TTL to the world with the introduction of the X-700 and the "PX" line of flash units in 1981. With the X-700 in A (aperture preferred) Mode and one of the PX series of flash units attached, flash synch was set by the flash and flash duration was controlled by the camera. Using ISO 200 film I have successfully used bounce flash from a 10' white ceiling at f11 using the Minolta 360PX flash unit. For macro photography I use the Minolta 80PX ring flash. Before I had the X-700 and its dedicated PX flash units I used a Vivitar 283 flash with my venerable Minolta SRT-202. Although Minolta has quit the camera business their legacy lives on with TTL now used by Canon, Nikon, etc.

Answer 4

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