SB900 setting

[arash_hazeghi]

Hey guys, What is the best setting for fill flash with SB900 on D700 with 200-400VR with and without 1.4TC with beamer?

[Sid Garige]

It depends on available ambient light. Harshness of shadows depends on level of ambient light. I generally start with -1 (ETTL & high speed sync) and increase of decrease it based on ambient light.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks Sid, that's what I did too, Manual high-speed sync 1:1 at -2/3EV good results!

[Sid Garige]

Hmmm.. Not sure with "Manual" mode. I am still working on flash and here is my understanding.

With flash in ETTL, camera compensates for fill flash in aperture and shutter priority mode. If you add "-1" fill flash, camera automatically under exposes for "-1" to maintain ambient light level.

With flash in manual mode, camera will not compensate for fill flash(in both Av and Tv). flash adds additional light to exiting ambient light and may over expose the subject.

I will use flash in manual mode for static subjects only. I will guess the distance to the subject and program flash to hit at that distance (considering light does not change).

[arash_hazeghi]

Yes, that's what I wanted, just to add a small amount of fill light over my manual exposure to fill the shadows, this was very far so there was no danger of overexposure by fill light.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Arash - I often use the same method as you are. I also sometime use ITTL FP mode on the SB900. Just depends on the light and what you are trying to achieve.
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