Flash vs. camera exposure compensation

jms698 · 08-22-2009, 03:59 PM

I have a new Pentax AF-360 flash and the manual is useless. So, I thought I'd ask a question here:

What is the difference between setting exposure compensation on the camera in the usual way when taking a flash picture and turning the dial on the flash to set exposure compensation on that. Does the camera's exposure compensation also increase or decrease the flash by the same amount? Does the flash's exposure compensation affect the camera? When would you use either (or both)?

Thanks.

*Ash* · 08-22-2009, 04:10 PM

Apparently so.
Camera EV affects flash output as does FEC.
So conceivably, one can achieve up to +4.0 stops of extra flash output (limited to flash's capabilities of course), but dialing +1.0 in Camera's FEC, +2.0 in Camera's EV, and another +1.0 in the flash unit's output compensation...

flyer · 08-22-2009, 05:27 PM

With only one flash, the end result will be the same. When you are using multiple flashes, you can vary each flash output individually with the flash on board compensation. If you use flash compensation on camera with a multiple flash set up, you can only change the depth of field, not the flash to flash ratio.