sensor1

Given the excellent high iso features of the Z6, have others found that adding a flash (SB500 or SB700) improves image quality in low light situations?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Any flash will only add light - it will not of itself improve image quality.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

It depends on what you’re trying to achieve and if a flash is allowed and appropriate, but in general, more light equals lower ISO equals better dynamic range and lower noise.

CO

As far as improving image quality, the brief duration of the flash can help to freeze motion. Bounce flash and fill flash can improve image quality.

I was just recently doing some test shots with my new Tamron 10-24mm HLD lens on my D7000. I had my SB-5000 flash on the hot shoe. The upper photo is without flash. The lower photo is bounce flash with my SB-5000. The SB-5000 is Nikon's most powerful flash.

When you look at the windows in the room, you can see how the exposure is really about the same. Bounce flash lifted the darker areas.

No flash

(Download)

Bounce flash with my SB-5000

(Download)

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Whether or not the use of flash will enhance the quality of any given image is dependent on the photographer's knowledge and savvy as to flash technique.

A Speedlight mounted on the hot shoe of your camera can be applied in many ways. It can be the main light source- when used directly aimed forward it can provide adequate illumination for proper exposure in low light conditions without boosting the ISO setting and because if it's very fast flash duration, as the primary light source, it can freeze action even a moderate shutter speeds. The disadvantages can be comparatively flat lighting and because of the inverse square law, you can end up with overexposed foregrounds and underexposed backgrounds. Sometimes this method also creates distracting shadows on nearby walls in the background.

In the same mounting position on the camera, however, bounce techniques can be employed whereby you aim the flash at nearby walls and/or ceilings- this expands the coverage of the lighting, tends, if used properly, to create a more natural lighting effect. The angle of incidence theory applies in this method. Of course, this technique is only applicable for indoor shooting conditions with neutral, preferably white, surfaces to bounce off of that are in fairly close proximity to the subject or area you are shooting.

Again, in the same mounting configuration, there is a wide variety of light modifiers that attach to the Speedlight to diffuse, disperse, bounce and spread light. There are many commercially available modifiers and many homemade devices that can be improvised.

With all of the above methods, the Speedlight can be used to provide fill lighting, that is, to augment natural light, in and out of doors, to delicately illuminate in the shadow areas. If done correctly, the lighting looks perfectly natural but the contrast is lowered to better accommodate the dynamic range of your camera system. The concept is not to overpower the natural light but to creat various ratios of flash to existing light to achieve the effect you want. In certain conditions, such as is direct sunlight at high noon, fill flash can most definitely improve the quality of people's pictures.

I am not as yet familiar with all the features of your camera but many current models have great TTL flash functions that can automatically handle many of the necessary exposure calculations for all of the above flash methods.

If you advance in flash technique, there are many multiple and off-camera methods for portraiture, action shooting, and many other applications. You can add more Speedlight or monolights and create a system for the kinds of work you do.

There is a Nikon Speedlight that is perfectly dedicated to your camera's TTL system as well as a few other popular brands with the proper circuitry for your camera. Make sure the model you choose has the bounce (swivel) capabilities and a zoom feature to accommodate various lens focal lengths.

Adding a Speedlight to your gear is a good investment. It can help you capture images that may be beyond the available light capabilities of your camera and if you set out to learn the more sophisticated methods, you can surely add quality to your images.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

So will the SB800, SB900, and SB910, provided, they are used properly. I like to shoot with my camera in manual, my flash in TTL, I like to swing the head of the flash up and behind me for interior shots. I also, after my first test shot, make necessary adjustments in the flash exposure compensation. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Adding flash always improves on image quality when shooting in low light (regardless of camera)!

Nicholas DeSciose

Too much flash completely ruined the detail in the windows. About half that much flash will probably be about right. Maybe less.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

There is ample detail in the windows and draperies. The effect is perfectly natural. CO did it right!

Photo by CO

BebuLamar

Sometimes flash makes it better as the example above. CO could give long exposure and use a tripod (without raising the ISO) because the subjects don't move but the light won't be evenly lit like the above picture.
Sometimes a flash does no good at all as in the case i was photographing the large interior of the church and there is no way I can light it up with a flash.
So both high ISO performance and flash are useful depending the situation.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Yes. I use SB 700.

But I have to admit the high ISO performance of the Z6 is awesome so I often take indoor pics depending on that. Need the flash in caves.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Flash improves image quality several ways. The most important is enabling lower ISO, reducing noise and enhancing sharpening opportunity. It also freezes camera and subject motion. Finally it enables creativity; e.g. people in front of a dark lighted background or when fill flash is needed for a bright background.

That said, I pretty much only use it in caves. In those cases there is no image without it.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I use flash with my Z6 exactly the same ways I use it with my other bodies. Many previous posters have given good advice. Although I own multiple SB26, SB800, SB900 and SB5000 flash units, I purchased a SB500 specifically for my Z6. The weight and size of the SB500 works well with the Z6 although it lacks the power and features of the others. Best of luck.