*ist DS built in flash over exposure

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GS - 03 Mar 2005 16:32 GMT

Just purchased this unit, and am *very* pleased with it thus far, but I
notice that on subjects that are 15' or closer the auto flash really
overexposes the picture (subjects), even when setting the flash exposure
compensation as low as it goes. I've tried the various modes, but short
of turning the flash off (and increasing the iso) I can't seem to get
around this. Am I missing something and is there a way around this?

I've also noticed that even with the iso turned up to 800/1600 the flash
unit still engages quite often, when I use my film camera with 800 film
this almost never happens.

TIA

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Paul Mitchum - 03 Mar 2005 20:46 GMT

> Just purchased this unit, and am *very* pleased with it thus far, but I
> notice that on subjects that are 15' or closer the auto flash really
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> unit still engages quite often, when I use my film camera with 800 film
> this almost never happens.

I ended up putting the flash in manual mode. I do a lot of natural light
photography, and only really use the flash as fill.

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GS - 03 Mar 2005 22:46 GMT

>>Just purchased this unit, and am *very* pleased with it thus far, but I
>>notice that on subjects that are 15' or closer the auto flash really
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> I ended up putting the flash in manual mode. I do a lot of natural light
> photography, and only really use the flash as fill.

Did you find the flash washing/whiteing the subjects out as well?

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Paul Mitchum - 04 Mar 2005 01:09 GMT

> >>Just purchased this unit, and am *very* pleased with it thus far, but I
> >>notice that on subjects that are 15' or closer the auto flash really
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Did you find the flash washing/whiteing the subjects out as well?

Somewhat, but that's kind of the nature of flash photography. You might
experiment with the white balance.. Put it on auto or flash.

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Gaderian - 03 Mar 2005 23:57 GMT

> Just purchased this unit, and am *very* pleased with it thus far, but
> I notice that on subjects that are 15' or closer the auto flash really
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> TIA

External or built in flash? DSLR's are not as forgiving as the 35mm film
cameras when using a flash. I use the *istD but I believe the metering
systems are very close so here's my 2 cents worth. I was having similar
problems when I first bought my D and I found you have to play around and
experiment a bit.

The built in flash is adequate but it has it's limitations, especially with
a lens hood. I like to use an external flash for better results especially
if you want to bounce or reflect the flash for different results.

In the "green program" everything is pretty well automatic and the metering
uses the 16 segment light metering. Not bad but it may give you different
results in certain circumstances when using a flash. If your subject has
very dark surroundings, the subjects skin tone will be very bright because
the camera is calculating the exposure on all 16 segments which is pretty
well the whole frame. In that case you need to use the "center weighted
balance" or the "spot metering" setting.

In the green mode the camera defaults to 16 segment metering so you need to
select the P, Tv, Av or M mode to achieve these results (the manual has the
full instructions). It sounds complicated but it really isn't once you
experiment with it.

I found the best results worked with the camera in the "P" or "Hyper
Program" mode with an "external flash" (I ended up buying the AF360FGZ flash
that Pentax touts as the perfect match for the D and the DS. Excellent
results but expensive). From here you can set the metering to center
weighted or spot metering. With spot metering put the centre focus on the
subjects face then snap the flick. The meter will base the exposure on the
persons face and hopefully your flash has a TTL setting (the external flash
has this setting and a P-TTL setting as well). Centre metering will use a
slightly larger area from the centre and the multi segmented uses the widest
area to calculate the exposure. I like to use 400 to 800 ISO for inside
darker areas where there's a lot of movement, to reduce blurring. I also
set the "white balance" to "flash." Elsewhere I flick the knob to the green
mode and use the defaults. A lot of times I switch the dial back and forth
between the two modes and keep the image with the best results. If you're
really brave, use the manual mode.

Like I said, experiment a lot because you're not wasting film and you can
erase the bad results. After a while it will become easier.
Hope this helps.

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Gaderian - 04 Mar 2005 00:04 GMT

> has a TTL setting (the external flash has this setting and a P-TTL
> setting as well).

Whoops! I meant INTERNAL flash. Sorry.

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Dr. Joel M. Hoffman - 04 Mar 2005 20:07 GMT

>External or built in flash? DSLR's are not as forgiving as the 35mm film
>cameras when using a flash. I use the *istD but I believe the metering

Really? Why?

Thanks.

-Joel

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Gaderian - 04 Mar 2005 22:46 GMT

>> External or built in flash? DSLR's are not as forgiving as the 35mm
>> film cameras when using a flash. I use the *istD but I believe the
>> metering
>
> Really? Why?

Hello Joel.
Good question :)
In retrospect I should have qualified that statement with "In my experience.
. ."
I find that the digital settings have to be exact. Perhaps it's because I
now have more options on my D and the fact that I have shot more 35mm film
in manual modes when using flashes with my older cameras.

For some reason it has taken me quite a while to adjust to my new Pentax
DLSR when using a flash. However I am now pleased with the results.

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Michael Meissner - 05 Mar 2005 05:26 GMT

> >External or built in flash? DSLR's are not as forgiving as the 35mm film
> >cameras when using a flash. I use the *istD but I believe the metering
>
> Really? Why?

Print film has more latitude (dynamic range) than does either slide film or
digital JPG's. If you shoot RAW on DSLRs, you get some more dynamic range, but
at a cost of having to post process it to recover it. Also, film processors
will typically do the equivalent of adjusting levels and curves so that the
prints will come out even if the film was somewhat under/over exposed.

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Glenn - 04 Mar 2005 11:09 GMT

>Just purchased this unit, and am *very* pleased with it thus far, but I
>notice that on subjects that are 15' or closer the auto flash really
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>TIA

I usually use the P mode when using the flash and I have only had mine
for a month, but I don't have any problems with the flash at all. It
sounds to me that you have a camera problem. Did you buy it from a
place where you could take it back and compare it with another from
their stock?

Glenn

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