Friday, February 22, 2008

G9: Balancing Outdoor Exposure with Indoor Flash Automatically

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With the G9 and Canon ETTL flash you can get a good balance between outdoor and indoor lighting on the first attempt! Well, the camera exposure and flash exposure will be set automatically and produce a good shot the first time but you’ll have to follow this procedure and have good manual dexterity.

1. Set the G9 to either P, Tv or Av mode. (I’d use Tv at 1/250 second.)
2. Get the main subject in focus and switch to manual focus mode to lock focus.
3. Point the G9 towards the outdoor scene and press the shutter button halfway to lock in the outdoor exposure. HOLD the shutter button halfway down.
4. Point the G9 at the main indoor subject and trigger the preflash by pressing the * button while still holding the shutter button halfway down (like I said, good manual dexterity required!). No need to hold the * button down.
5. Still holding the shutter button halfway down, make the final composition and complete the shutter button press.

By following the above procedure, the G9 is set for outdoor exposure, the flash uses ETTL to determine the indoor exposure based on the main subject and the main subject is in focus.

Simple, right?

Oh, if you need a second shot just repeat Steps 3, 4 and 5.

With the G9, it’s really easier to use complete manual control to balance outdoor and indoor light – even with Canon flash. Set the G9 to Manual exposure and dial in both shutter speed and aperture for the outdoor exposure -- (experience, the Sunny G9 rule, or use the G9 as a light meter). With the Canon flash on ETTL, press the G9 function button and scroll down to the flash settings. Take a guess and fire a test shot. Adjust if necessary. After you are dialed in, fire away!
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1 comment:

huilhuil said...

I'd like to say that the link to this blog on the G3 to G9 page here is one of the most annoying links I've yet encountered. What is this, 1998? A javascript link that forces a new window, resized and minus any url and tool bars? Think about it for a moment. If you can't see the abomination that is that link then you'll just have to take my word for it. As far as web design goes, it's like a parking lot abortion on a hot summer's day.

Good info on the blog itself though. It has really helped in my camera purchase. Thanks.