Basic Flash Shooting -- Camera Mode

[chaotix382]

First time poster (eek!) here.. so this is a bit of a noob question. I've got a Canon T1i and have made my way through an intro book, so I've got a good sense on how to shoot without flash

But when shooting with flash is unavoidable (indoor, low-light -- say at a party), what camera mode (aperture vs. time/shutter speed) is recommended? I tend to live in aperture mode for most of my shots unless I'm shooting motion. But when in aperture mode, even with the widest aperture and on-camera flash enabled (no external flash yet), the shutter speed maxes out at 1/5 sec or 1/10 sec, depending on the lighting of course.

I see that Program Mode automatically accounts for flash by locking the shutter speed at 1/60.. but there's no flexibility there as it doesn't let you change either the shutter speed OR the aperture (double whammy? ) Is the recommended approach in this case to shoot in either manual or time/shutter speed mode?

Thanks!
Jon

[RichardTaylor]

Lots of good reading here.
Especially section 7 & 10

Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras - Part I.

I don't use a flash very often however when I do I tend to shoot in P mode with the ISO bumped up. Usually with an on camera external bounced flash (if possible) and/or very occasionally with a diffuser attached.

The only time I use manual mode with flash is when shooting macros or extreeme close ups.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by chaotix382

But when shooting with flash is unavoidable (indoor, low-light -- say at a party), what camera mode (aperture vs. time/shutter speed) is recommended? I tend to live in aperture mode for most of my shots unless I'm shooting motion.

Full blown manual. As soon as you start adding in your own light, it should be default for you.

[sk66]

Depends on what I want..usually aperture mode with auto FP enabled.
Manual when I need to, which is seldom, but even when not in manual I will override the camera's chosen setting with exp comp adjustments.

I shoot Nikon/CLS so I can't speak the canon sync issue.

[inkista]

Honestly? I don't often shoot with flash. I mostly just crank up the ISO and use a fast prime in Av mode. Flash is a different beast, and while you will eventually want to learn how to use it--you'll probably want to learn with an external flash unit (speedlight), rather than the built-in pop-up flash.

I'd actually float the suggestion of getting a 50mm f/1.8 II. It's only $100, so if you don't like it, you won't have wasted too much money. A speedlight is more expensive.

The magic is in the max. aperture. While your 18-55, @55mm, can only open up to f/5.6, if you had the 50/1.8, you could close the aperture down to f/2. That would still be three stops faster (f/5.6 -> f/4 -> f/2.8 -> f/2), which is three doublings, or eight times the light. In that situation, your 1/5s or 1/10s shutter speed would be 1/40s or 1/80s. If you were shooting at iso 400 before, and you doubled your iso to 800, then it would be 1/80s or 1/160s.

Just a thought. While you can use flash, there are other alternatives.

[chaotix382]

@ Everyone, seriously this was all incredibly helpful. Reviewing PhotoNotes was awesome, and I have indeed decided to invest (cheaply) in a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Thanks again for helping. I was a bit stumped there.

- Jon