brad_richardson1

Thank you for your responses - appreciated

In my lunchtime, I walk around the business district CBD and often wish I had a lightweight camera for street photog that slipped into my shirt pocket - but that was not a phone. Perhaps one of those slim Sonys or Canons. Should not be conspicuous. Doesn't have to be a current model either as there many used cameras for sale. RAW would be nice but not a must have. I've never followed these camera models so I am starting from scratch and would appreciate any suggestions.

<p>Thank you very much to everyone. You have helped me and I have re read all your responses a couple of times.<br> I now understand the way the metering is being displayed. To summarise, in P mode when flash attached, camera automatically sets to 1/60th (minimum) and displays the light deficiency expected to be filled by the flash. From experience, I agree with the criticism of P mode for flash. I note that if the D300 metering is set to centre weighted or matrix the SB600 flash sets itself to iTTL-BL whereas if the metering is set to spot the SB600 sets itself to iTTL. In situation where there is too much difference between dark and light the balanced option fails to light the subject sufficiently. This is why I was getting subject under exposure.<br> Better practice is to spot meter on subject using S, A or M mode where flash is necessary to capture an acceptable image of the subject. Balanced fill flash (in P mode) acceptable where rendering of low lights (under the eyes for example) could be improved with use of a little extra artificial light, the difference between available light and the extra lighting required not being that great.<br> Please feel free to correct me or let me know off your approach as would really appreciate it. The context is social family photography. Thank you all again. <br> </p>

<p>I am not referring to the + / -. I am referring to the arrow that appears above the 5.6. In the two photos, this bar is a different size - what is this bar - why is it there - what is its purpose and why is it only there when flash is used? I'm concerned that i have a setting wrong because I'm getting under exposed flash photos. </p>

<p>Attachment 2</p><div></div>

<p>Attachmen</p><div></div>

<p>Please help me with an explanation of the metering I'm seeing. I have attached two photos to assist with my query (they are phone photos). Using a D300 and SB600 flash in iTTL BL (balanced flash) in P mode I see the exposure meter shows an arrow which is never usually there and I have not been able to find an explanation for it. The shots are way under exposed. Then I change to M mode and and increase the exposure and the bar backs off a little and the shots are improved. I think I have something wrong here. ISO set at 400 with matrix metering. What is this arrow/bar? Why does it appear when flash attached? what is it telling me? Thank you.</p>

<p>Thank you everybody - what a wonderful community!</p>

<p>I recently purchased the "less expensive" 50mm 1:1.8D lens to use on my D300 (even though its FX not DX) and I am so pleased that its physically smaller than other zooms and primes I own and the quality is fine. Can you tell me of any other not so bulky lenses for D300? Thanks.</p>