Flash and Auto ISO: Here is a lesson I learned with Christmas pictures. I rarely use flash but have a nice one: Nikon SB700. I decided to use it on my (new to me) Nikon Z72 for...

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Here is a lesson I learned with Christmas pictures. I rarely use flash but have a nice one: Nikon SB700. I decided to use it on my (new to me) Nikon Z72 for Christmas pictures.

I often use auto ISO which works fine for most of my images outdoors: wildlife and landscapes. I mistakenly left it on and didn't check. When using auto ISO, even with flash, the camera evidently sets the ISO using metering before the flash. So many of my images used quite high ISO: some over 10,000. As you can imagine those show quite a bit of noise even though I used flash.

So next time with flash I will deliberately turn off auto ISO. When I do that in dim settings I can set the viewfinder to show a bright view even though the light is low. I know that setting exists and just need to find it.

Lesson learned.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

IDguy wrote:

Here is a lesson I learned with Christmas pictures... (show quote)

Learn to set a limit to the auto ISO.

keywest305 Loc: Baltimore Md.

Good reminder. I also use manual with storage iso

BebuLamar

With my Nikon Df and SB-800 when I have auto ISO on and use flash the camera simply pick ISO400. It doesn't care how dark the ambient light is it doesn't increase the ISO. If the ambient light is very bright then it would pick lower ISO than 400.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Most of my newer cameras have 2 or 3 user presets where I set the parameters. So I set one for flash (all manual including ISO) and one for ambient (all manual except auto ISO). Since much of my photography is of live music performances, both are set for the stage lighting at the venue I frequent most.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

BebuLamar wrote:

With my Nikon Df and SB-800 when I have auto ISO on and use flash the camera simply pick ISO400. It doesn't care how dark the ambient light is it doesn't increase the ISO. If the ambient light is very bright then it would pick lower ISO than 400.

My Canon 5D4 picks ISO 400 as well, so I always shot full manual with flash instead.

uhaas2009

What I learned every time I pick up my camera is to look my settings before I even take a pics. Since I do this I have less screws up and this was a hard lesson for me

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Thanks for the ideas. I will reset my max ISO on auto. I’m not sure the Nikon Z72 includes ISO in the user settings but will check. My U1 is for Landscape, U2 for wildlife, and U3 for “whatever”. I’ll check into making U3 for flash.

As I noted in initial post Nikon doesn’t fix ISO when using flash.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

That’s good to know. I always shoot in Manual mode with my TTL Speedlight. I wouldn’t want my ISO to change automatically.

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

IDguy wrote:

Here is a lesson I learned with Christmas pictures... (show quote)

Fine, stay with auto iso, just shoot in shutter priority at less than you max. speed for flash, for most newer camera's, it's probably 1/250 sec. to 1/400 sec.
Always check your manual for your maximum speed.
Actually, I like to drag my shutter when using flash, I like to have the background as bright as my subjects.
I usually shoot at 1/30 sec.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

billnikon wrote:

Fine, stay with auto iso, just shoot in shutter priority at less than you max. speed for flash, for most newer camera's, it's probably 1/250 sec. to 1/400 sec.
Always check your manual for your maximum speed.
Actually, I like to drag my shutter when using flash, I like to have the background as bright as my subjects.
I usually shoot at 1/30 sec.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

I didn’t pay attention to shutter speed thinking it doesn’t matter with flash. It certainly does matter for the background exposure. I think I used aperture setting to get the DOF I wanted. That part worked fine.

So it might be better when using flash to use M and set the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO trusting the flash for exposure of the subject. My concern is that the numbers I’d choose first will be too dark for background: 1/200 s, f7, ISO 400. I’ll try that.

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

IDguy wrote:

I didn’t pay attention to shutter speed thinking it doesn’t matter with flash. It certainly does matter for the background exposure. I think I used aperture setting to get the DOF I wanted. That part worked fine.

If your shutter speed is above the recommended speed, you will not get a usable image.
Some camera's, when the flash is attached, will not allow you to go above a working shutter speed.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

IDguy wrote:

I didn’t pay attention to shutter speed thinking it doesn’t matter with flash. It certainly does matter for the background exposure. I think I used aperture setting to get the DOF I wanted. That part worked fine.

So it might be better when using flash to use M and set the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO trusting the flash for exposure of the subject. My concern is that the numbers I’d choose first will be too dark for background: 1/200 s, f7, ISO 400. I’ll try that.

That worked fine. TTL flash compensated. ISO 200 also fine.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

When I went into menu to adjust the max for auto ISO I found there is an additional setting for “Max ISO with flash” on my Z72. Don’t recall that on my Nikon DSLRs. I checked my Z50. I found it also has “max ISO with flash”.

Anyway that allows using auto ISO with flash. Done deal!

Thanks again for the ideas.

PS: using M to set both shutter speed and aperture.

Bubbee Loc: Aventura, Florida

Read your manuals. My SB800 won't do TTL at iso over 1000 and the shutter sync is 250..unless set to Hi speed.