While photographers often prefer to use natural lighting when taking photographs, that isn't always possible. There will always be times when lighting is poor. Whenever that is the case, a fill flash will almost always be necessary. Unfortunately, if the flash isn't properly prepared and set up, it may not be able to do its job with precision. Below are tips for using fill flash with Pentax cameras.
Instructions
1. Determine whether to use the camera's internal flash or a separate flash attachment. Fill flash photography often requires a separate flash. It may be necessary to move the flash slightly to one side or the other or up and down in order to "fill" in the areas of the photograph that are going to be the darkest.
2. Make certain that the flash chosen has a sensor capable of reading the amount of light within the photo area. Most flashes do have such a sensor. However, some extremely outdated models may not be as effective as the newer ones, making a case for a separate flash attachment.
3. Choose a flash with multiple settings, whenever possible. Panoramic, scenery, and night photos as well as others where the subject is located a distance away may require a slightly strengthened flash burst. However, most snapshots and close up photography require a bit less flash lighting.
4. Use manual flash units whenever you want full control over how the fill flash works. Choose automatic flashes when you want the flash to make all of the determinations for you. Dedicated flashes uses the camera's own information to decide the right shutter speed, amount of light exposure required, and the brightness and duration of the flash. Use built-in flashes for most standard photographs with minimal fill flash requirements.
5. Set manual flashes to match the camera's setting. Using the flash's setting mechanism, set the flash to match the speed of the film being used. Also establish the distance between you and the subject. Most flashes have what is known as an exposure calculator which will then help you establish the right aperture setting as well.
6. Set the aperture of automatic flashes. The unit will then take over to determine how much light to use in order to fill in the area around the subject. Based on that information, it will determine when the flash is required and when it is not. Most will automatically turn themselves off once a determination has been made that the flash is not required.
7. Turn on a dedicated flash and take one or two practice shots with a digital camera to make certain the flash unit is reading correctly. If so, you are set to continue. If not, you may need to override the unit to establish the settings that you want.
8. Synchronize the flash with the Pentax camera being used. Follow the instructions given with the flash attachment (if separate from the camera) or camera unit.
9. Take several digital test shots to determine if the fill flash is working as desired. If so, you are set to continue. If not, refer to the troubleshooting section of the unit's flash or camera instructions.
Tags: flash attachment, flash with, separate flash, amount light, automatic flashes, being used