paul_heagen

<p>I finally found a 550EX flash but no manual. <br>

I want to do some fill flash work where I will meter the background and then have the flash fill the subject in the foreground.</p>

<p>I know that manual settings gives me the most control, but i want to run the ETTL system through its paces on some of the "creative" modes of the 7n.<br>

What are some settings to start with?<br>

I am planning to do a lot of Av shooting but not sure where I should set the flash itself since I don't have the manual. Also, depending on the setting, how would I adjust the flash exposure down (less flash) if that is what I wanted to do -- do it on the camera or on the flash -- and how?</p>

<p>Thanks for any help. (If someone knows where I can find a 55-EX manual, that would help. Most of the links referenced in earlier posts on this site are no longer working.)</p>

<p>Jeff & Nadine,</p>

<p>Thank you. Both of your responses were clear and helpful. (BTW, it is a 7n)<br>

I will spent more time on it this weekend, but I think I'm getting the hang of it (or over thinking it, perhaps). A test roll or two will tell. <br>

Thanks again.</p>

<p>I have read the manual on this and I feel like it is missing a step that is causing me some confusion. Assume for this thread that I am shooting a foreground object with fill flash and need to balance the exposure with a relatively lower-lighted background in the near distance. <br>

Here is basically what it says to do AE Lock:<br>

1. Point camera to where you want to meter (my background) and press shutter halfway down. <br>

2. Press the * AE Lock button to lock in that exposure<br>

3. Recompose the frame (pointing one of the AF areas at my foreground) and take the picture. <br>

My questions:<br>

1. It does not say whether I should continue to hold the shutter halfway down while I press the * AE Lock button or whether I should release it after pressing the * AE Lock button.<br>

2. How would the camera know to reset focus on my foreground object when I re-compose the frame when it normally locks focus the first time on the background?<br>

3. If I do all of this, how would I reduce the output of my 430 Speedlite using the FEC on the camera? I'm running out of hands. </p>

<p>Thanks for any help. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Kenneth,</p>

<p>You were right -- it was getting defective on me. I ditched it and got a nice EOS 7n to carry me for another couple of years before I cave in for a used 10M+ digital. </p>

<p>I went back to my first set of questions and those are the one I am still hoping someone can help answer for me. </p>

<p>Thanks for any help. </p>

<p>The only way I can describe my this is to say that I am getting too much information. </p>

<p>The youtube videos are describing the concept of fill flash, which I understand. My question is how to apply this specifically to my set-up, which is an EOS 7n with a 430 Speedlite. </p>

<p>When these tutorials says to adjust the FEC, it does not say which way. It almost appears that turning it -2 is turning the flash up? or Down? Is that adjustment on the camera or on the flash? Does not say...<br>

Other posts here say that I should use Av but I'm not clear if I should use FEC in that situation. Other posts have said NOT to use P mode (is that the same as "program mode" in these tutorials?)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Jeffrey & Nadine,<br>

I have read al the articles but it is not soaking in -- yet. <br>

My question is how to make sure the flash simply balances (or modestly highlights) the foreground but keeps the background visible and in balance. I want to avoid the deer-in-the-headlights foreground but also the muddy background. In most cases, i will be trying to control depth-of-field so the foreground subject (the worker) is in focus and the background is somewhat soft. <br>

I guess I do not understand the inter-relationship of ETTL, focusing points, and the vafrious controls on the camera and the flash (for example: when you said "compensate the flash" or "increase/decrease power by stops" or "use compensation exposure" I do not yet understand where or how that is done and what adjustments would likely be needed to fit some conditions. <br>

It does sound like putting the camera in Av mode might be best and "trust" the flash to fill. I just do not yet understand how how meter the scene and how the flash will know what is foreground and background. </p>

<p>Okay...clearly a lot of knowledge shared in the responses, and I have some homework to do do understand all of that -- over time. </p>

<p>Frankly, I do feel overwhelmed though with all of this. There are a lot of "ifs" in the responses -- "if" you want to use this setting, "if" you use...etc. As well, several of you offered great resources and a lot of in-depth considerations, but I am lost in terms of how that relates specifically to my set-up.<br>

I will learn in time, but I have a photo opportunity on Monday, shooting works in a relatively low-light environment inside a building under construction. What would really help me greatly is not so much a "why" but a "how" tutorial -- and very literal, since several of you mentioned setting features on the camera, but I may not know how to do that yet. <br>

In other words, what would really be great is if someone could say:<br>

"Okay, for the most part, simply put your camera in XX mode (Tv/Av/P, etc.)<br>

"Point the camera at the background first and meter my holding the shutter down half-way"<br>

"Recompose the frame with the foreground subject (worker) and fire away (or turn the XX button the flash to XX to reduce the amount of flash..."<br>

Something along those lines. I know getting fill flash right is harder than that, but I need to start somewhere without diving into all the depth and nuances of it. <br>

Can anyone help with that?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>and </p>

<p>I just bought a used EOS 7n with a 430 flash. <br>

It has been a while since I did fill flash and I am a little unclear reading the literature whether I control that from the camera or the flash. <br>

Basically, i need to better understand:<br>

1. What setting should I use on the camera (Tv, Ap, P, etc.)<br>

2. Is there some setting I need to have on the flash?<br>

3. Do I control the degree of fill or does the camera/flash do that -- if so, how?<br>

4. how do I make sure that the camera does not overcompensate for my flash and end up under-exposing the background?</p>

<p>I know this is probably pretty basic, but i appreciate any help. </p>

<p>My old Canon EOS elan II film camera has now lost its mind and needs to be put down. I am shopping for a digital to replace it (and hopefully be able to use my AF lenses?) but am not clear on what resolution of digital is equivalent to 200 or 400 ASA film in 35mm.</p>

<p>I heard that my film camera had a resolution that was equal to a 15Megapixel camera, which i know I cannot afford. <br>

Is there any way to equate the effective resolutions of film and digital? There are plenty of used 8Mpx cameras out there that would work for me if it is not a step back in picture quality. </p>

<p>Thanks for any help. </p>

<p>First, where is B bulb setting on the camera? Several of you have mentioned it but I do not see it.<br>

I concluded it is a glitch in the chip at this point. It is very intermittent but happens on several different settings, although mostly aperture-biased settings. Getting worse by the day. Shame to put much money into an old film camera that I can buy on eBay for $75 but I am stocked with more lenses that money with which to buy new ones to fit a decent digital.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help. </p>

<p>Alan,<br>

No way to know yet if they were dramatically overexposed since I am shooting film and I have not developed the roll. </p>

<p>Interesting....camera is now allowing me to operate shutter w/o flm being loaded and I am not getting the "B" or mirror lock-up syndrome (whichever it was...). <br>

Still curious about what may have happened. Grateful if anyone can tell me where the mirror lock-up control is on my model. Unless the chip is getting old and losing its mind. </p>

<p>Is there any way to get the shutter to operate without film in the camera? I little hard to troubleshoot this without being able to activate the shutter. </p>

<p>Where is the control for mirror lock-up? That sounds like it might have been the issue.</p>

<p>I found am EOS Elan II manual on-line but it does not reference mirror lock-up.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I was taking pictures today when all of a sudden, the camera changed modes. I pressed the shutter button and the shutter stayed open until I pressed it again -- essentially going to a mode as if I wanted to do a manual timing of the shutter. <br>

I have not used the camera for many years, so I have forgotten the settings. I don't recall changing anything for this to happen. <br>

I do not have the manual anymore. Does anyone know if/where the camera has a setting for this I can turn of -- or any other explanation?</p>

<p>Thanks. </p>