> -----Original Message-----
> From: M D Giess [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> I am confused
> as to how to set the camera to automatically use flash to
> supplement low light levels, where I can shoot off aperture
> priority but underexpose by two stops and use the flash to
> bump the light back up these two stops. I can't figure out
> how to do it, as on the MZ-3 the exposure and flash
> compensation are done by the same dial.
I don't believe you can set ambient and flash compensation independently if
you're not in manual mode with this camera.
> If I set the flash
> compensation dial to take 2 stops off, I assume that the
> camera will (under aperture priority) simply set the shutter
> speed for 'correct' exposure and use the flash for fill only,
> which hard-won experience shows is too slow ('soft' hands and
> drumsticks etc.).
Your exposure will be 2 stops underexposed. The ratio of ambient to flash
will depend on the ambient light level, and whether or not that particular
camera decides to go with the lowest safe handheld speed or sets a really
long shutter speed.
> I understand that I can manually set the
> camera 2 stops underexposed and set the flash exposure to 2
> stops over,
Well, you could do that, but your shots would have 2 stops too much flash.
> but there's so much going on I always miss shots
> if I have to manually balance exposure - poor AF doesn't
> help, and the shutter speed dial is a pig to turn with the
> flash mounted (little camera and big
> fingers!) I would hence like to automate the process, does
> anyone know if this is possible?
First, are you sure you're allowed to use flash? Are you sure you want to
use flash in this situation? A flash is going to kill all the ambience of
that sort of situation...Studdert does this sort of thing all the time,
maybe he'll chime in here...
Anyway, if you want to proceed, your best option is to drag the shutter. In
manual mode set a fairly long shutter speed, maybe 2 or 3 stops slower than
your safe handholding speed. Set your aperture as wide as you're comfortable
with. Leave your compensation dial at zero.
OTOH, this might not work very well in this situation because it mostly
works to bring up backgrounds. If your subjects are spotlit the backgrounds
will be almost black.
A common error is to think that you can make up for underexposure with a
little blip of flash. It doesn't really work that way...if you're
underexposing with your ambient settings, you must set your flash comp to
zero. Either your ambient or your flash must be the correct exposure. If
both are under, then you're under.
Flash/ambient compensation math -
-1 + -1 = -1
-2 + 0 = 0
-2 + +2 = +2
Your exposure is whichever of the 2 is higher.
In order to mix ambient and flash, both have to be pretty close to the
correct exposure. If it's really dark, there just isn't enough ambient to
mix in....
tv
