Flash Assistance

[donkeymusic]

Hello,

finally purchased a flash for camera, only a jessops onebut seems okay to play with.

connected it to the camera and fired it all up but not sure on some settings. which i what i wondered if i could get some assistance with.

I have a TTL mode and a M mode, i presume M is manual but what is TTL for?

anyway i chose manual i entered settings to match cameras, so i could get a similar iso, f stop but what im not sure about is i get the option of a zoom, which is 28mm, 35, 50,70 and 85mm just noticed that it seems to revert ato auto at 50mm. How do i know which zoom to use?

Second questions is, when choosing Manual i get the option of what i thought was shutter speeds, 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16, again how do i know which to use, on a trial i ended up using 1/8 but that was trial and error.

Any assistance would be great, thanks

 

[awp]

TTL - is an automatic flash mode - the camera does all the work! 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 refers to flash output power when used in manual mode.

 

[slimboy fat]

Did it come with a manual/instructions sheet?

Probably best to read that first, eh.

 

[arad85]

TTL = Through The Lens - the metering is done by the camera and the camera will tell the flash when to stop outputting.

1/1 etc.. are the power ratios. 1/1 is full output, 1/2 is half max output etc.

Zoom is the length of your lens (remember to multiply by 1.6 if you're on a crop sensor) and you use it to point the light better (no point lighting up an area the lens can't see).

Didn't the flash come with a manual????

 

[donkeymusic]

it did but seem to have misplaced, will see if i can download one.

thanks for your responses though, clears a few things up.

think i know this is a stupid question but i presume you only use a flash on a certain lens length, what is the range of lens length that would justify the use of a flash?

thanks

 

[arad85]

think i know this is a stupid question but i presume you only use a flash on a certain lens length, what is the range of lens length that would justify the use of a flash?

A flash will work with any lens, but the power it has (and hence how far away it can light things) vs the subject distance are the key things to consider. I've used a flash successfully on a 200mm lens - but I was indoors and taking pics of something small and relatively close.