Flash or high ISO.

I have a Pentax K1 which does not have a built in flash. My main interest is landscapes and occasional family get togethers or historical buildings. I wondered if many of you use flash for fill in light or do you go with high ISO.

I have a Pentax K1 which does not have a built in flash. My main interest is landscapes and occasional family get togethers or historical buildings. I wondered if many of you use flash for fill in light or do you go with high ISO.

Landscapes ,use a tripod and slow shutter speed. People, use higher Iso for more natural images, or often a bounced flash to catch quick movement.

Landscapes ,use a tripod and slow shutter speed.
People, use higher Iso for more natural images, or often a bounced flash to catch quick movement.

Bear in mind that not even the most powerful flash, available to an enthusiast, will be able to illuminate distant scenes.

Bear in mind that not even the most powerful flash, available to an enthusiast, will be able to illuminate distant scenes.

[quote]Bear in mind that not even the most powerful flash, available to an enthusiast, will be able to illuminate distant scenes.[/quote] However, for landscapes with depth the light falling on the foreground will be much more than in the distance. FYI, once I went off exploring in the day and though neither my family could see me, or me my family. They could see the flashgun firing.

Quote:Bear in mind that not even the most powerful flash, available to an enthusiast, will be able to illuminate distant scenes.

However, for landscapes with depth the light falling on the foreground will be much more than in the distance.

FYI, once I went off exploring in the day and though neither my family could see me, or me my family. They could see the flashgun firing.

While I have always owned a flashgun, I rarely used to use it. I take formal portraits in a studio so use the studio lighting. For almost everything else, I use natural lighting so do not need flash. I am quite happy to use higher ISO with my most recent camera but would prefer to use a low shutter speed and tripod if feasible (e.g. Cathedral inside). I try to move people into the shade for outdoor people shots or pick a day with diffused sunlight to avoid deep shadows. In the last few years, I have found myself having to take some shots in full sunlight and the deep shadows are unacceptable. Last Xmas, I bought a good flashgun for my camera and used it last week for the first time. I need to review carefully but it does seem to have worked well. Flashgun and camera talk to each other and I set the flashgun to auto for this purpose. The camera will never set the speed faster than the synch speed and I can use it on Av, Tv or P. If the light value is above EV13, it assumes you just want fill in flash and set the main flash to give 1.5 stops less that the main subject light. For below EV13, it assume that you intend the flash to be the main light. I do not normally use a flash gun in direct mode or on top of the camera. In fact my last two DSLR's did not have built in flash but I would have never used them if they did. Dave

While I have always owned a flashgun, I rarely used to use it. I take formal portraits in a studio so use the studio lighting. For almost everything else, I use natural lighting so do not need flash. I am quite happy to use higher ISO with my most recent camera but would prefer to use a low shutter speed and tripod if feasible (e.g. Cathedral inside). I try to move people into the shade for outdoor people shots or pick a day with diffused sunlight to avoid deep shadows. In the last few years, I have found myself having to take some shots in full sunlight and the deep shadows are unacceptable. Last Xmas, I bought a good flashgun for my camera and used it last week for the first time. I need to review carefully but it does seem to have worked well. Flashgun and camera talk to each other and I set the flashgun to auto for this purpose. The camera will never set the speed faster than the synch speed and I can use it on Av, Tv or P. If the light value is above EV13, it assumes you just want fill in flash and set the main flash to give 1.5 stops less that the main subject light. For below EV13, it assume that you intend the flash to be the main light. I do not normally use a flash gun in direct mode or on top of the camera. In fact my last two DSLR's did not have built in flash but I would have never used them if they did.


Dave

My flashgun has produced some very pleasing results, for the family get-together type of situation you mention. Bounced off the ceiling is my usual method. As Dave said, the flash and camera talk to one another for metering: this is where I would highly reccommend going with the same brand as your camera rather than a third party, which usually involves a saving but invariably involves some degree of sacrifice, and it is some of that fine control/ finesse that you may not get with a third party flash. HTH.

My flashgun has produced some very pleasing results, for the family get-together type of situation you mention. Bounced off the ceiling is my usual method. As Dave said, the flash and camera talk to one another for metering: this is where I would highly reccommend going with the same brand as your camera rather than a third party, which usually involves a saving but invariably involves some degree of sacrifice, and it is some of that fine control/ finesse that you may not get with a third party flash. HTH.

An inexpensive flash with a moveable head will always be there when you need it! :)

An inexpensive flash with a moveable head will always be there when you need it!

Flash can work very well depending what your needs are. I use for over powering the sun and fill in flash on sunny midday shoots. Problem with flash there is a whole new world of tech and learning to get to grips with, light fall off, sync speeds, ambient light, power setting etc, etc

Flash can work very well depending what your needs are. I use for over powering the sun and fill in flash on sunny midday shoots.

Problem with flash there is a whole new world of tech and learning to get to grips with, light fall off, sync speeds, ambient light, power setting etc, etc

Flash and high ISO are certainly going to give you different results, high ISO will give you a result that is acceptable but in poor light there will be no directional light to add the 3D effect to images. Of camera flash however will give you the opportunity to give your foreground some modelling light and can work very well. I now tend to use a LED panel on a small tripod, the output can be adjusted and you can see exactly what you will get before pressing the shutter. I have 2 Canon flashguns sat in a drawer, not used them in years. Ian

Flash and high ISO are certainly going to give you different results, high ISO will give you a result that is acceptable but in poor light there will be no directional light to add the 3D effect to images.
Of camera flash however will give you the opportunity to give your foreground some modelling light and can work very well.
I now tend to use a LED panel on a small tripod, the output can be adjusted and you can see exactly what you will get before pressing the shutter.
I have 2 Canon flashguns sat in a drawer, not used them in years.
Ian

Flash is not just about adding light, its about a different look. You can control flash and use it how you need to. Compare the results yourself. Take a shot without flash and high ISO, then take a shot, same exposure but with lower ISO and flash, they'll most likely look very different. If you are using everything in automodes then the flash option may well look crap. Adjust and control the flash and camera manually and you'll probably end up with a much better image. But it all depends on what you are shooting, its not a one answer question. Shooting landscape or architecture and the answer is generally neither option - its low ISO, long exposure.

Flash is not just about adding light, its about a different look. You can control flash and use it how you need to.

Compare the results yourself. Take a shot without flash and high ISO, then take a shot, same exposure but with lower ISO and flash, they'll most likely look very different. If you are using everything in automodes then the flash option may well look crap. Adjust and control the flash and camera manually and you'll probably end up with a much better image.

But it all depends on what you are shooting, its not a one answer question. Shooting landscape or architecture and the answer is generally neither option - its low ISO, long exposure.