What happened? it hit the fan somehow today....

Dearis · Post by **Dearis** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:15 am

Hi there,

today I thought I would try shooting insects for the first time using the MT24-EX and with the second different diffusers I made today using the same plastic and Velcro, I am still getting used to the MT24-EX and flash in general. Things were going well the subject's seemed to be lighting well as the first shot shows, then I needed to change battery's in the flash from 2100 mah to 1800 mah and thats when something happened. I don't know what any help would be appreciated.

The third shot is the diffusers I made today.

Regards Darren

Comments and criticism and help appreciated.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:59 am

The first one came out very well.

Unfortunatelly I do not use external flash so I'm not of any help in this case.

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:20 am

Can one of you Canon users check that Darren has set up the best flash system for his camera? I am a Nikon user so am unfamiliar with Canon's E-TTL system, or if it would be the best to use in this case. I presume it is similar to Nikon's iTTL system in use with it's R1C1 similar macro flash, but do not know? I have had some conversations with Darren on another site and this is some of his EXIF data there for other images:-

* Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
* Flash used: Yes (manual)
* Canon 100.0mm macro F/2.8
* Exposure time: 0.050 s (1/20)
* Aperture: f/7.1
* ISO equiv.: 200
* Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

The thing that puzzles me is the flash stating it is on manual rather than E-TTL and also the "Exposure Time" varying from what I would expect to be flash sync speed. I would have expected with the MT24-EX set-up Darren has that the flash would be fully TTL controlled by the camera with regard to exposure?

What would be the optimum TTL controlled settings to use with the MT24-EX and a modern Canon, also how should he set them?

DaveW

Dearis · Post by **Dearis** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:50 am

Hi Dave,

have done some experimenting over the weekend. I tried experimenting both with camera sync speed set at 1/200sec-1/250sec(it's 3am) and also some experiments with the camera sync set to auto, both set with AV now with auto some of the shutter speeds at f/11 dropped to 1/5 sec and darkish backgrounds resulted now I know that working with flash is like working with 2 exposures ambient light to expose the background and the flash exposing the subject but with the photos set on auto were better.

Conclusion is that obviously the camera is smarter than me, is there something I am missing here? with regards to flash?

Regards Darren

Michigan Michael · Post by **Michigan Michael** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:29 am

Darren,
I've had success shooting in manual exposure. Try setting the exposure manually for the ambient light and leave the flash set to
auto (perhaps with a minus-1 exposure compensation).
Also, it seems to me that the shots you took at 1/5 of a second should not have a darker background than those shot at 1/200. Were you using rear curtain flash? Doesn't your camera default to 1/60 when you attach your flash?
Michael

Dearis · Post by **Dearis** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:12 am

I have been avoiding shooting manual because I am not sure how to judge what shutter speed and apperture. Would hate to mess up a great shot because I chose to shoot manual instead of Av or Tv

Regards Darren