Fill Flash / Sync Speed Question!

[Will James]

Hi all,

When I was on holiday a few weeks ago, I tried to use my pop-up flash (don't have an OCF), to give some fill flash on my partner's face. However, I kept getting overexposed shots because it was suc a bright, sunny day, that the shutter speed needed was about 1/1000th sec. Obviously my camera can't go faster than 1/200 with the pop-up flash. The only option was to use 'P' mode in order to increase the aperture to compensate for having 'too much light'. However, this ruined the photo as I didn't have the shallow depth of field I wished for.

I've done a bit of research into this issue online, but there doesn't seem to be a way to solve it unless you have a pro camera that can support high sync speeds. Do I just have to put up with the large DoF, or am I being naiive and there is actually a way around this?

Will.

 

[VirtualAdept]

I think possibly the best option for doing this again would be a reflecter to utilise the available light.
If you're wanting shallow DoF on a bright day but need some fill light, to keep the shutter speed up and not over expose everything else, a reflecter really is the only thing I can think of.
Someone more experienced will be able to better advise you though.

 

[HoppyUK]

Easiest solution is to use a flash with high speed sync feature, eg any of the Canon EX guns, couple of others. That's mainly what it's designed for - works great at close range (flash runs out of power quickly in HSS mode). Or use an ND filter to pull the shutter speed down.

 

[tiler65]

there is a pop up flash diffuser on the market, I have no idea if they work but it may solve your problem till you can buy an external flash gun.

 

[Will James]

I think possibly the best option for doing this again would be a reflecter to utilise the available light.
If you're wanting shallow DoF on a bright day but need some fill light, to keep the shutter speed up and not over expose everything else, a reflecter really is the only thing I can think of.
Someone more experienced will be able to better advise you though.

Hi Mads, I can't believe I didn't think of that, I've read up a little it on reflectors in magazines etc - thank you for the comment!

Easiest solution is to use a flash with high speed sync feature, eg any of the Canon EX guns, couple of others. That's mainly what it's designed for - works great at close range (flash runs out of power quickly in HSS mode). Or use an ND filter to pull the shutter speed down.

Hi Richard, thanks for the reply and tips. Would I be able to use the high sync speed on my 500D? I thought the camera has to be compatible with high sync speed flashes and I was under the impression mine is not? In my custom function menu, the fastest sync speed I can set is 1/200 sec.

there is a pop up flash diffuser on the market, I have no idea if they work but it may solve your problem till you can buy an external flash gun.

Hi Tom, thanks for the tip I'll have a look into that.

Many Thanks
Will.

 

[HoppyUK]

<snip>

Hi Richard, thanks for the reply and tips. Would I be able to use the high sync speed on my 500D? I thought the camera has to be compatible with high sync speed flashes and I was under the impression mine is not? In my custom function menu, the fastest sync speed I can set is 1/200 sec.

<snip>

Many Thanks
Will.

Yes. High speed sync is a flash gun function - you just need one that has it. Very useful feature. No pop-ups have it because they're just not powerful enough (HSS is inherently wasteful of power).

Full E-TTL operation too, and you can control it from the camera menu or directly from the back of the gun, to get just the fill-in ratio you want.

Reflector is a good idea, but a flash diffuser won't help with sync.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

Or a simple application of tissue paper to cover the pop up flash- acts as a diffuser - trial an error , but it works

Les

ps# failing that buy a decent flashgun :shrug:

 

[Will James]

Yes. High speed sync is a flash gun function - you just need one that has it. Very useful feature. No pop-ups have it because they're just not powerful enough (HSS is inherently wasteful of power).

Full E-TTL operation too, and you can control it from the camera menu or directly from the back of the gun, to get just the fill-in ratio you want.

Reflector is a good idea, but a flash diffuser won't help with sync.

Ah OK, for some reason I thought my camera couldn't support HSS - that's good news! I will be investing in a decent flashgun as soon as I can Thanks for the help.

Or a simple application of tissue paper to cover the pop up flash- acts as a diffuser - trial an error , but it works

Les

ps# failing that buy a decent flashgun :shrug:

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a go!

 

[specialman]

there is a pop up flash diffuser on the market, I have no idea if they work but it may solve your problem till you can buy an external flash gun.

Yep, Rizla do them in a variety of styles, although I don't recommend the liquorice ones - not the most transparant of materials....

 

[frenchman]

A variable ND filter would solve your problem but they aren't the cheapest of things. Alternatively you could just get something like a screw on 8stop filter although AF may be a problem at these levels. That's the only way I can think of you could get the shutter speed that low with a low Fstop. A reflector would also work as has been mentioned before.