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May 30, 2015 08:26:49   #
baygolf Loc: DMV
 
Hi, I have a canon SL1 and a 70d and when I use my Canon speedlite 420EX my photo come out with a haze around the subject. This happen regardless of the shooting mode I use. Also it happens regardless of the lens am using, or if I use a diffuser. Beyond the fact that it could be me - could the issue be with 420EX? Help!!!

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May 30, 2015 08:32:58   #
LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field
 
baygolf wrote:
Hi, I have a canon SL1 and a 70d and when I use my Canon speedlite 420EX my photo come out with a haze around the subject. This happen regardless of the shooting mode I use. Also it happens regardless of the lens am using, or if I use a diffuser. Beyond the fact that it could be me - could the issue be with 420EX? Help!!!


It might help to see an example...

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May 30, 2015 08:40:48   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
baygolf wrote:
Hi, I have a canon SL1 and a 70d and when I use my Canon speedlite 420EX my photo come out with a haze around the subject. This happen regardless of the shooting mode I use. Also it happens regardless of the lens am using, or if I use a diffuser. Beyond the fact that it could be me - could the issue be with 420EX? Help!!!


It would be of great assistance if you posted some particulars as to shutter speed, ISO, shooting environment - that is, was it bright, dark, etc. No need to post examples.

It's possible that your shutter speed was slow enough, the ambient light bright enough, to catch some slight movement of the subject with the flash then illuminating them for the proper time.

You best bet is to take a photo without the flash, note what a good exposure is, then cut the exposure by about two f-stops. Then use the flash, but on partial power. This will get a good balance between the ambient light and flash.
--Bob

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May 30, 2015 09:17:04   #
baygolf Loc: DMV
 
Examples:

40mm, f4.0, 0.3, ISO 200
40mm, f4.0, 0.3, ISO 200...

40mm, f2.8, 1/15, ISO 200
40mm, f2.8, 1/15, ISO 200...

40mm, f2.8, 1/8, ISO 200
40mm, f2.8, 1/8, ISO 200...

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May 30, 2015 09:26:17   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
baygolf wrote:
Examples:


Your shutter speed is much too slow. !/125 or 1/250 should do it.

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May 30, 2015 09:46:20   #
canon Lee
 
baygolf wrote:
Hi, I have a canon SL1 and a 70d and when I use my Canon speedlite 420EX my photo come out with a haze around the subject. This happen regardless of the shooting mode I use. Also it happens regardless of the lens am using, or if I use a diffuser. Beyond the fact that it could be me - could the issue be with 420EX? Help!!!


Your samples indicates that your shutter speed is too slow.It is apparent that you are not able to hand hold at less then 1/60th, and when shooting indoors ( low light situations) kick up your ISO to at least 400% and try higher, like 800%, this will increase the shutter speeds. It is not the camera but your hand shake that is evident. Try shooting in Aperture priority wide open ( f2.8) I would suggest that you look into purchasing a Fast lens, one that has a fixed aperture. I suggest a Canon 24mm~105mm F2.8/L. I also suggest that you boost your flash output and bounce the flash off the ceiling. Low light situations need lots of light.

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May 30, 2015 09:47:49   #
baygolf Loc: DMV
 
So when shooting with a flash one should not use Av mode - correct? What is the best mode to use when shooting wit a flash ,i.e., M, Tv , P, or A+?

thanks for your help.

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May 30, 2015 10:37:03   #
Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.
 
baygolf wrote:
So when shooting with a flash one should not use Av mode - correct? What is the best mode to use when shooting wit a flash ,i.e., M, Tv , P, or A+?

thanks for your help.



Tv = time value = shutter speed

Set it somewhere between 1/125 and 1/200 and let the flash provide the lighting. Maybe set ISO at 200 or 400 and then experiment from there.


The Speedliter's Handbook is an excellent learning tool. Not cheap but very good. There's one on ebay currently for $25 which is a good price, and I feel sure it won't stay there long.

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May 30, 2015 10:44:56   #
baygolf Loc: DMV
 
Thanks

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May 30, 2015 10:51:51   #
DavidT Loc: Maryland
 
baygolf wrote:
So when shooting with a flash one should not use Av mode - correct? What is the best mode to use when shooting wit a flash ,i.e., M, Tv , P, or A+?

thanks for your help.

Canon has a flash control set-up that is not intuitively obvious, and different from Nikon and other manufacturers. If set to "auto," the camera exposes not only the subject with the flash, but also the background ambient light for a balanced picture. You can change this with the 70D (not sure about the SL1) by going into the camera menu under "flash control." Then, find "Flash sync speed in Av mode." The default is "auto." But, the other options will put a limit on the minimum shutter speed and minimize your subject movement caused by ambient light, however, those options will tend to darken the background.

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May 30, 2015 11:13:48   #
baygolf Loc: DMV
 
DavidT wrote:
Canon has a flash control set-up that is not intuitively obvious, and different from Nikon and other manufacturers. If set to "auto," the camera exposes not only the subject with the flash, but also the background ambient light for a balanced picture. You can change this with the 70D (not sure about the SL1) by going into the camera menu under "flash control." Then, find "Flash sync speed in Av mode." The default is "auto." But, the other options will put a limit on the minimum shutter speed and minimize your subject movement caused by ambient light, however, those options will tend to darken the background.
Canon has a flash control set-up that is not intui... (show quote)


Thanks

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May 30, 2015 11:20:16   #
hcmcdole
 
You may want some motion but set your flash to sync with the second curtain (if I remember right).

http://digital-photography-school.com/an-explanation-of-2nd-curtain-sync-flash-or-slow-sync-flash/

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May 30, 2015 11:20:41   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
baygolf wrote:
Examples:


Guessed without even seeing them. Shutter speed was the issue.
--Bob

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May 30, 2015 11:25:41   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
baygolf wrote:
So when shooting with a flash one should not use Av mode - correct? What is the best mode to use when shooting wit a flash ,i.e., M, Tv , P, or A+?

thanks for your help.


The exposure mode can vary depending on the circumstances and how creative one wishes to be. For event photos, which people are not really interested in viewing so much as sharing in social media, I've use program mode and let the camera and flash chat with each other about the best way to accomplish a decent photograph. It's worked every time.

For creative work, I'll usually use manual, as it let's me select a variety of settings, especially when using two strobes that communicate with the camera. I'm working on this mode a lot more as of late.

Depending on surroundings, I may use aperture priority in order to maintain a particular depth of field.
--Bob

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May 31, 2015 08:22:22   #
marty wild Loc: England
 
First thing first! Put your camera on a tripod and do a timed shot this will eliminate any hardware problem. Shutter speed too slow when using flash should not give you a smudge blur like your are getting. Look at the the three images examples I have made all at 1/20sec @ F10 manual setting. First without flash on tripod. Second shot with flash on tripod. Third shot is shaking the camera with flash. The speed of the flash will nearly freeze the image but will give an over exposed shot by using the gathered information you should come to a conclusion to rectify your problem The hand is moving in all frames
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
It might help to see an example...

locked down camera moving hand
locked down camera  moving hand...
(Download)

locked down camera with flash moving hand
locked down camera with flash moving hand...
(Download)

hand held shaking camera flash moving hand
hand held shaking camera flash moving hand...
(Download)

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