Canon camera has various types of amazing features, and one of them is flash. Working with flash while shooting pictures or videos is like working with the sunlight. It improves the saturation quality, and we can take photos in low light easily. However, you can either mount the flash on the camera or can use a built-in flash.
It also has off and on-camera flash, second flash, three or more speed lights, E-TTL autoflash, etc., the using option of those flash are almost the same; you have to learn some basic concepts of each function to use those flash.
How to Setup the Flash System
First of all, turn on the camera and click the menu button. Go to the flash control setting and scroll down, then select the external flash function setting. You will see three types of modes in the display. TTL mode, manual mode, and multi-mode. The flash should have wireless capability to set automatically, so switch on the wireless system.
If you want, you can change the flash output. Various flash settings turn them on.
Using Built-In Flash
Canon camera has a built-in flash option that also increases image saturation. However, they may not be compelling, but it does a pretty good job and improves the image’s lighting. To use this built-in flash, turn on the camera and press the pop-up flash button located on the front side. When you press the button, the flash will be ready.
How to Mount the Flash On the Camera
The camera has a hot shoe on the top. Insert the external flash into it, press the foot lock lever, and then lock it to the camera. You will hear a click sound when you slide the mounting foot lock. Turn on the camera and then turn on the flash. Use new batteries with the same brand. Do not use different types of batteries as it will reduce the lifespan of batteries.
After mounting the flash, go to the flash control menu and set the shooting mode. You can reset the previous flash option by going to the precise setting, and then you will see three options. “clearly built in the flash set,” “clear external flash set,” and clear ext. flash C.Fn set”. Press the clear external flash set option, and you will see a confirming prompt option. Select “ok.”
Setting the flash mode can be done with both the camera or the flash unit. If you want to use ETTL mode, go to the flash control unit and choose ETTL mode, the flash will start automatically. If you’re going to use manual flash mode, just press the manual option.
Adjust the Flash Output Level
When you are using the manual flash mode, you have to adjust the flash output level. Go to the manual flash mode, and you will see the “flash output level option.” Remember, this option will only appear in manual mode. Then the display will show you guide number ¼….1/2…1/1 etc. if you need total output, select 1/1, for half output, select ½.
Other Flash Options Before Putting Flash on Canon Camera
The flash will be disabled in the landscape, sports, and flash-off modes. Also, when the extra light is needed, the built-in flash will automatically activate.
Shutter Speed
So there are three types of flash modes, auto flash, on flash, and off the flash. The display will show some shortcut icons such as P mode, Tv, Av, and M mode. In P mode, the range of shutter speed will 1/60 to 1/200. Unless it is a slow-motion camera by default, it will have a proper shutter speed as described.
The shutter speed of Tv mode is 1/200 in 30 seconds. Av mode and M mode shutter speed is also the same as Tv mode. Remember, those are slow shutter mode, so you may need to use a tripod.
Using Flash Exposure Compensation
To override the exposer setting, you need to use the flash exposure compensation to use the camera light better. To have darker or lighter images, these features come in handy. To use this feature, you need to turn off the auto mode and go to the exposure setting for photography.
You can then use this setting and then the shutter priority option and select shutter speed before pressing the shutter button. Using exposed compensation features before night portrait, autoportrait, or any other creative auto shots will give better shooting experiences from cameras.
On camera, flash is suitable for lighter dark areas, but it may result in red-eye. Off-camera flash can separate the object and background. But it will take few minutes to set up.
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