Flash locked vs AE-L

[cash_chew]

<p>If I have to take an off-centered foreground subject with flash using Flash locked, do I have to engage AE-L as well? I tried on my D80 using built-in flash, and it seems to me that flash lock only will do the same as compared to flash lock + AE-L? Is that right?</p>

[kiatchun_sin]

<p>Do you intend to focus on your off centered subject?</p>

[kevin_delson]

<p>(FV Lock) only does what it's supposed to do; lock the flash output based on subject reading until reset.<br>

If you recompose in any of the (Auto) modes, the foreground/background may change, but the (Flash Value) on your subject will remain correct.</p>

<p>So yes; if you want the background at a certain exposure, you will have to AE-L first and then FV Lock the subject.</p>

<p>Shooting full manual is preferable when using FV lock IMO.</p>

[cash_chew]

<p>I intended to focus on off centered subject with correct exposure with flash while ignoring the ambient background exposure, not trying to balance the lighting on both ambient and subject together as described by Kevin.</p>

[kevin_delson]

<p>If that is the case, then you do not need to AE-L</p>