Beginner Question about flash / ambient exposre compensation

[rick448]

Hi,

After trying to learn about using my flash Better I am going to try under exposing the ambient light whilst using the flash to light the main subject. I understand I can do this by taking an initial meter reading and then using the manual setting to under expose by a couple stops or so and then use the flash either TTL or manual.

My question is, can I use my exposure compensation from the camera set to minus 2 rather than going manual, and then use the flash TTL and get the same result, or will the flash aim to light at the minus 2 stop setting. If this is the case it I set + 2 stops on the flash will I get the desired result?

I know i will probably need to go manual to get the shots I really want at some point but I am just wondering if I have a grasp of this.

I have a 70D and 5D3 along with an ST E3 RT and a Canon 600EX RT and 2 YN600EX RT's.

Thanks.

 

[Phil V]

Set the ambient to your desired (under) exposure, and the ETTL will aim for a correct exposure of the flash. It's so easy I do it all the time. Though I tend to use Manual mode when flash is my primary light source.

I'm led to believe it works differently with Noink.

 

[rick448]

Set the ambient to your desired (under) exposure, and the ETTL will aim for a correct exposure of the flash. It's so easy I do it all the time. Though I tend to use Manual mode when flash is my primary light source.

I'm led to believe it works differently with Noink.

Thanks Phil. I was hoping that would be the case. Though I wanted to check as the tutorial I saw messed about doing it all manually.

I will probably try it manually and using a flash meter at some point but if I can do it like I said above thst is great.

 

[Phil V]

Thanks Phil. I was hoping that would be the case. Though I wanted to check as the tutorial I saw messed about doing it all manually.

I will probably try it manually and using a flash meter at some point but if I can do it like I said above thst is great.

Manual and ETTL is easy in a changing setting, Manual and Manual in a static setting.

Try not to look to make things hard for yourself because you think you should do things in certain ways, do whatever works for you.

 

[rick448]

Manual and ETTL is easy in a changing setting, Manual and Manual in a static setting.

Try not to look to make things hard for yourself because you think you should do things in certain ways, do whatever works for you.

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[Scooter]

For the Noinks :-/

Exposure compensation will affect flash as well - if you want the ambient 2 stops under, and the flash at "normal" exposure, dial -2 into the exposure compensation, and +2 into the flash compensation to bring it back to 0. Do this either in the commander menu, or, if for some reason the flash is actually on your camera using the on-camera flash compensation button on the side of the prism. Just to confuse things, on later Nikon's, you can choose either this, or the Canon behaviour. My D810 behaves like a Canon - ie exposure comp only affects ambient.