why are my setting needing flash?

[babygiggles04]

I am trying to use the shutter priority setting but when I set the shutter my image are way to dark needing me to use Flash.. is that normal? why is this happening!!?? I usually take photographs of my kids so I need a high shutter speed! thanks!!!

[outamyway]

Set the camera to Aperture Priority, set the Ap to wide open (probably f4 if you're not zoomed in) and see what shutter speed the camera applies. This will probably be about the fastest you can shoot and get a good exposure. Or...

Get more light.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by babygiggles04

I am trying to use the shutter priority setting but when I set the shutter my image are way to dark needing me to use Flash.. is that normal? why is this happening!!?? I usually take photographs of my kids so I need a high shutter speed! thanks!!!

A few questions...are you opposed to using flash? In shutter priority the flash will not fire automatically unless you physically raise it. Remember, flash will also stop most action, even at 1/60 of a second...so why not use it? Also be aware that if you set your shutter speed too fast, in order to get the correct exposure the camera will try to compensate by opening up the lens more. However, if you are at the limit of what your lens will open, your image will be under exposed. Have you tried bumping up your ISO?...that could help. Try to remember the connection between the shutter, the aperture, and ISO. If you change one thing it will always try to compensate by adjusting the other setting (unless you're in full manual mode)
Maybe a hypothetical example will clear it up a little:
Let's say your lens will only open up to it's largest F/Stop of F/5.6 at a particular zoom setting. And for a particular lighting condition your camera would require a shutter speed of say 1/125th second at that F/Stop for a proper exposure. If you decide to set it at 1/500th of a second, you will be under exposing the image as the meter is calling for 1/125 second to get an image properly exposed.

[anfanglove]

I assume that youre trying to shoot in a relatively low light situation because if its bright outside, i can use about 1/250 to even 1/1000 sec. and the images arent underexposed.

what I would do:

-make sure it is bright enough to shoot with hi speed shutter
-set my camera to Manual mode
-set the aperture the widest it can be
-set the shutter speed at about 1/200 to 1/1000 depending on the light available and-or how fast the subject moves
-up my ISO to about 400 to 800 (im not really fond of noise at higher iso )
- if the steps above still does not work due to low light condition, i would use my flash, off camera (im not really fond of on camera flash either )

i hope that could help a little

[babygiggles04]

Ok lets say I am outside on a sunny day.... I set it up for shutter priority because aperture priority always gives me a shutter speed to low for handheld... not sure why! i am still new at all of this... so i have it at 1/1000 and ISO 200.. aperture sets to 8... still getting dark images! arrrr so i pop up the flash and is fine but only lets me bump the shutter speed up to a 1/500! i hate the flash glare on my kids face!! sorry I am starting a photography course this summer but until then I want to get a few shots right! Thanks!!