fill in flash, how to do it?

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divoch - 02 Aug 2008 17:45 GMT

I have bought new Canon powershot A720 IS camera. It is not just a point and
shoot but it does not have a specific setting for fill-in flash. Apart from
fully automatic everything there is a specific Flash setting, which I assume
means that the camera will turn on and fire flash every time even in
daylight. Then there is flash compensation selection. Camera has also
exposure compensation etc.

So, if I want to take picture of an object with backlighting do I turn on
Flash and set it to say -2 stops and hope for the best?

Best regards
divoch

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Woody - 02 Aug 2008 19:41 GMT

>I have bought new Canon powershot A720 IS camera. It is not just a
>point and shoot but it does not have a specific setting for fill-in
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Best regards
> divoch

Most of them are clever enough to fill-in for backlighting
automatically, especially if you put it in auto mode.

If it has various selections, put the metering to spot (rather than
centre-weighted or matrix) and it will meter the dark subject and expose
accordingly for the flash.

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Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

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Alan Clifford - 03 Aug 2008 00:26 GMT

d> So, if I want to take picture of an object with backlighting do I turn on
d> Flash and set it to say -2 stops and hope for the best?
d>

You need to make the camera expose for the background but also fire the
flash. It will probably do this if you use forced-flash-on mode as long
as you can be sure that the camera is not compensating for the flash. If
there is a slow sync mode for the flash, use that instead. Like you have
already said, if the flash is too bright turn, it down.

You should discover what your forced flash mode does. Whilst sitting in
your living room, point your camera with the flash switched off, at some
object in the room. Note the aperture, speed and, if the iso is adusted
automatically, that as well. Then turn on forced flash. If the aperture
etc change, then that mode is no good for you. Now do it using slow
sync mode. That should be OK.

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Alan

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divoch - 03 Aug 2008 15:25 GMT

> d> So, if I want to take picture of an object with backlighting do I turn
> on
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> etc change, then that mode is no good for you. Now do it using slow
> sync mode. That should be OK.

Thanks for the advice. There is what is called Slow Synchro Function.
Manual goes into how to turn it ON but all it says about it is this:
"You can shoot with the flash at slow shutter speeds. This is handy
for shooting at night or under artificial lighting conditions"

regards
divoch

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Geoff Berrow - 03 Aug 2008 10:37 GMT

Message-ID: <ya0lk.11550$%21.7642@newsfe22.ams2> from divoch contained
the following:

>I have bought new Canon powershot A720 IS camera.

I've been considering one of these, as a pocketable camera. From the
review there doesn't seem much against it apart from the plasticky feel
and the cheapish viewfinder. What do you think?

Ideally I'm looking for something that will produce good pics, fit in
the pocket, have a viewfinder (my eyes aren't good enough to use an LCD.
Either that or my arms are too short...). The Ixuses looked good but
the viewfinder was really slated.

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Geoff Berrow
http://slipperyhill.co.uk

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divoch - 03 Aug 2008 15:19 GMT

> Message-ID: <ya0lk.11550$%21.7642@newsfe22.ams2> from divoch contained
> the following:
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Either that or my arms are too short...). The Ixuses looked good but
> the viewfinder was really slated.

I have had it only for a few days and only just finished going through the
manual
and made few photos*
As you did I narrowed my choice down
after some fairly extensive research. I think it looks better that I
expected.
Viewfinder is basic (it is not SLR) but one has to be thankful for one as
this is
becoming quite rare on compacts, particularly when
you want also some manual controls. There are all the creative/ manual
controls
you can reasonably wish for in a compact camera.
I have now got to the stage in my life that I do not want to always lug
with me
a camera bag with SLR and lenses but do not want to have just point and
shoot
compact. This looks as good choice in that respect and yes, I also wanted to
have an optical viewfinder as reading the LCD screen in full sun can be
pain.
* with the supplied memory card you ca get just about 6 of them

divoch

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Geoff Berrow - 10 Aug 2008 14:01 GMT

Message-ID: <pdjlk.14218$8w4.13756@newsfe30.ams2> from divoch contained
the following:

>> Either that or my arms are too short...). The Ixuses looked good but
>> the viewfinder was really slated.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>after some fairly extensive research. I think it looks better that I
>expected.

I tried it out and compared it with the Ixus. Neither viewfinder was
anything to write home about but I did like the compact size and quality
feel of the Ixus. So though I was very tempted by the A720 IS I have
finally gone for the Ixus 80IS

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Regards,

Geoff Berrow
http://slipperyhill.co.uk

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divoch - 14 Aug 2008 20:37 GMT

> Message-ID: <pdjlk.14218$8w4.13756@newsfe30.ams2> from divoch contained
> the following:
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> feel of the Ixus. So though I was very tempted by the A720 IS I have
> finally gone for the Ixus 80IS

Enjoy your new camera.
divoch

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Woody - 03 Aug 2008 19:12 GMT

> Message-ID: <ya0lk.11550$%21.7642@newsfe22.ams2> from divoch contained
> the following:
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Either that or my arms are too short...). The Ixuses looked good but
> the viewfinder was really slated.

I wanted a proper optical viewfinder like my Olympus 5050 has, but they
are not to be found - in which case go for a camera that has one!

That limits you to Canon and Sony and not much else. If you go for Sony
then the W55 or W200 which are slightly older models but first class,
but if you can find one (and there are still some around) go for the
Canon Ixus 70. I say one yesterday (at Curry's I think) for 1p under a
ton. I have the Ixus 60 and a Fuji F47fd, the latter not having a
viewfinder but does have face detection (which was why I bought it.) The
Ixus 65 superseded the 60 with face detection, then the 70 superseded
both with fd and a bigger screen and maybe 7Mp. It also has quite a
number of manual facilities, but above all it has a lens that is capable
of handling the resolution - of which many are not.

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Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

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