----- Original Message -----
From: Wise S. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 4:46 PM
Subject: EOS3's ambient metering when using flash problem
> I've used eos3 and 550ex and found this minor problem a few years ago.
Here
> it is;
>
> Camera In AV or M mode sitting on top of a tripod. A flash is on the
hotshoe
> and turn off. The ambient light is below EV7.(FYI, EV14 2/3 is equivalent
to
> sunny f16 rule) Then the camera say f/4 at 1/8 as a correct exposure in
the
> viewfinder. But when I turn the flash on, the camera say f/4 at 1/15 as a
> correct one. It seems to me that it try to underexpose the
> ambient/background by 1 stop when using flash. This underexposure problem
> exist only at EV7 and below. This surprises me very much.
>
> So when I want to use flash to balance the light between background and my
> subject, I must use M mode and turn the flash off before metering the
> background. Then I turn the flash on and never care of what the metering
> say.
>
> I once read from photo.net thread that a guy had the same problem with his
> eos1v too. But it never happen with my eos50e. Is your EOS3 the same as
> mine?
>
> Wise S.
I believe one stop underexposed would be correct for background if
you're using flash. Otherwise, why use the flash? Remember the flash will
add some light to the scene even at it's minimum output. If you used the
same metering, it would overexpose. What you're asking the flash to do - is
nothing. Think about it - you meter a scene, then add light - do you expect
the metering to remain the same?
I must add that I've used flash in many situations where I had enough
background fill to meter for and got excellent results. You really can't
tell the flash was used, except to fill in under eyes and add highlights to
eyes. If you've got enough flash output to produce noticeable shadows (like
when background is quite dark) then you're more than one stop from flash to
background.
Jim Davis
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