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Markbrumbaugh · 12-12-2011, 09:15 PM

Im having trouble getting depth of field with flash. Do you all shoot indoor on P, Av, Tv, or what? What iso ? I don't seem to be able to close the aperture in p mode, or if I do, I may close it so much the picture is under exposed. I don't know if this makes any sense...but I wasn't this confused with a manual camera and film...set the shutter speed, dial up the aperture on the back of the flash...poof great picture exposure.

demp10 · 12-12-2011, 10:15 PM

Which flash are you using?

sterretje · 12-13-2011, 12:34 AM

On camera:
Use Av (or M), adjust aperture on camera to get desired DOF
Fixed ISO, adjusted ISO so 'reach' is sufficient. If underexposed, increase ISO.

On flash:
That depends on the flash so an answer on demp10's question would be useful

And if you're using pTTL, auto or manual on the flash

**Ash** · 12-13-2011, 03:38 AM

If you're used to manual exposure and flash settings, you can do the very same thing with your camera and P-TTL flash (assuming that's what you have).
Just flip to M mode on your camera, and M mode on your flash - setting your intensity as calculated right for your exposure settings, and you've got consistent results every time.

amoringello · 12-13-2011, 04:27 AM

I have no idea why an SLR would have P mode. If someone wants a point&shoot, tay should get one.
You know how to use manual, choose a setting where you have sue control. Pretend P mode doesn't exist.
If you're used to Manual, no reason to not stick with it.

I normally use Av mode, unless shutter speed is critical.
I use the lowest ISO is required to get the shot, I don't really worry about ISO so much any more. If you're using flash, you're not likely to use ISO 128,000. Although last night I used ISO 5000 with the flash to get better ambient and catch action without blur form the higher ambient light.

[edit] FYI, I rarely use P-TTL on the flash unless I need high speed sync. PTTL is just too flaky to be reliable in an uncontrolled environment.

Markbrumbaugh · 12-13-2011, 07:51 AM

Thanks for the info. I have a 360 as well as trying to use the built in.

audiobomber · 12-13-2011, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by amoringello

I have no idea why an SLR would have P mode. If someone wants a point&shoot, tay should get one.

That's a little over the top, don't you think? Program mode is fantastic, and here's why:

Hyper-Program

The unique Pentax 'Hyper-Program' really is as useful as the name suggests. It is clearly a normal program exposure mode but turning the front or rear dial quickly switches the camera into shutter priority (front dial) or aperture priority (rear dial) modes. To return back to full Program mode just press the green button beside the shutter release. This shockingly simple but effective method of going between the three exposure modes is genius. Note that you can change the program-line from a 'standard' one to hi-speed (favors higher shutter speeds), depth-of-field (favors smaller apertures) or MTF (selects the optimum aperture for the lens used).

audiobomber · 12-13-2011, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

On camera:
Use Av (or M), adjust aperture on camera to get desired DOF
Fixed ISO, adjusted ISO so 'reach' is sufficient. If underexposed, increase ISO.

That's exactly what I do.

Markbrumbaugh · 12-13-2011, 10:03 AM

I think the hyper program mode is great for the reasons Audiobomber mentioned. But I can't seem to get the aperture to increase F stop when I'm using the internal flash.. And if I increase shutter time, it is irreversible.

sterretje · 12-13-2011, 11:30 AM

P mode is indeed funny with internal flash; I haven't tested it with external flash and I usually don't use P mode.

You can increase the shutter speed but you can not go the other way. Totally confused with this as well. But turning the aperture dial 'resets' the shutter speed to the original value (which depends on the selected focal length). I can select any aperture (forward and backward) on my DFA100WR but adjusting shutter speed after that resets aperture to widest aperture.

Never knew all of this till I started testing it now. There might be a sensible explanation for this (at this moment however I can not think of one) or a setting that influences this behaviour or it's simply a bug.

No biggie for me; I normally use Av or M. P mode has its place, but 'obviously' not so much with internal flash.

audiobomber · 12-13-2011, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

P mode is indeed funny with internal flash; I haven't tested it with external flash and I usually don't use P mode.

I tested my K20D with internal and external flash. I was able to change aperture at will, but trying to change the shutter speed gave whacky results.

As others have said, use Av mode. If you want to keep the shutter speed up, try X-mode, it locks the shutter at 1/180s.

12-12-2011, 09:15 PM	#1
Markbrumbaugh Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 77	Flash Im having trouble getting depth of field with flash. Do you all shoot indoor on P, Av, Tv, or what? What iso ? I don't seem to be able to close the aperture in p mode, or if I do, I may close it so much the picture is under exposed. I don't know if this makes any sense...but I wasn't this confused with a manual camera and film...set the shutter speed, dial up the aperture on the back of the flash...poof great picture exposure.

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12-12-2011, 10:15 PM	#2
demp10 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta Photos: Albums Posts: 602	Which flash are you using?

12-13-2011, 12:34 AM	#3
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	On camera: Use Av (or M), adjust aperture on camera to get desired DOF Fixed ISO, adjusted ISO so 'reach' is sufficient. If underexposed, increase ISO. On flash: That depends on the flash so an answer on demp10's question would be useful And if you're using pTTL, auto or manual on the flash

12-13-2011, 03:38 AM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	If you're used to manual exposure and flash settings, you can do the very same thing with your camera and P-TTL flash (assuming that's what you have). Just flip to M mode on your camera, and M mode on your flash - setting your intensity as calculated right for your exposure settings, and you've got consistent results every time.

12-13-2011, 04:27 AM	#5
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	I have no idea why an SLR would have P mode. If someone wants a point&shoot, tay should get one. You know how to use manual, choose a setting where you have sue control. Pretend P mode doesn't exist. If you're used to Manual, no reason to not stick with it. I normally use Av mode, unless shutter speed is critical. I use the lowest ISO is required to get the shot, I don't really worry about ISO so much any more. If you're using flash, you're not likely to use ISO 128,000. Although last night I used ISO 5000 with the flash to get better ambient and catch action without blur form the higher ambient light. [edit] FYI, I rarely use P-TTL on the flash unless I need high speed sync. PTTL is just too flaky to be reliable in an uncontrolled environment.

12-13-2011, 07:51 AM	#6
Markbrumbaugh Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 77 Original Poster	Thanks for the info. I have a 360 as well as trying to use the built in.

12-13-2011, 07:57 AM	#7
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by amoringello I have no idea why an SLR would have P mode. If someone wants a point&shoot, tay should get one. That's a little over the top, don't you think? Program mode is fantastic, and here's why: Hyper-Program The unique Pentax 'Hyper-Program' really is as useful as the name suggests. It is clearly a normal program exposure mode but turning the front or rear dial quickly switches the camera into shutter priority (front dial) or aperture priority (rear dial) modes. To return back to full Program mode just press the green button beside the shutter release. This shockingly simple but effective method of going between the three exposure modes is genius. Note that you can change the program-line from a 'standard' one to hi-speed (favors higher shutter speeds), depth-of-field (favors smaller apertures) or MTF (selects the optimum aperture for the lens used).

12-13-2011, 08:00 AM	#8
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by sterretje On camera: Use Av (or M), adjust aperture on camera to get desired DOF Fixed ISO, adjusted ISO so 'reach' is sufficient. If underexposed, increase ISO. That's exactly what I do.

12-13-2011, 10:03 AM	#9
Markbrumbaugh Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 77 Original Poster	I think the hyper program mode is great for the reasons Audiobomber mentioned. But I can't seem to get the aperture to increase F stop when I'm using the internal flash.. And if I increase shutter time, it is irreversible.

12-13-2011, 11:30 AM	#10
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	P mode is indeed funny with internal flash; I haven't tested it with external flash and I usually don't use P mode. You can increase the shutter speed but you can not go the other way. Totally confused with this as well. But turning the aperture dial 'resets' the shutter speed to the original value (which depends on the selected focal length). I can select any aperture (forward and backward) on my DFA100WR but adjusting shutter speed after that resets aperture to widest aperture. Never knew all of this till I started testing it now. There might be a sensible explanation for this (at this moment however I can not think of one) or a setting that influences this behaviour or it's simply a bug. No biggie for me; I normally use Av or M. P mode has its place, but 'obviously' not so much with internal flash.

12-13-2011, 11:39 AM	#11
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by sterretje P mode is indeed funny with internal flash; I haven't tested it with external flash and I usually don't use P mode. I tested my K20D with internal and external flash. I was able to change aperture at will, but trying to change the shutter speed gave whacky results. As others have said, use Av mode. If you want to keep the shutter speed up, try X-mode, it locks the shutter at 1/180s.

Flash

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