Video tutorial: Manual flash settings with speedlights

Video tutorial: Manual flash settings with speedlights
One advantage that the larger speedlights have over the smaller speedlights - aside from more power - is that they show the distance the flash can reach for the specific settings. This video is a continuation of the off-camera flash tutorial series. What is described in this video is also written out in more detail in this article:
neilvn.com/tan...
The gist of this video, and this tutorial: Controls for manual flash exposure, is that the controls for flash exposure are all inter-linked. Manual flash is controlled by 4 things: Power, Aperture, ISO, Distance. (We can use the acronym ‘PAID’ to remember them.)
Now, if you have correct flash exposure, as you change one of those settings - Power, Aperture, ISO, Distance - you have to control one of the other settings to keep to correct exposure.
neilvn.com/tan...
This video tutorial is one in a series that originally appeared on the Clickin’ Moms website in 2012, but licensing has now reverted back to me, and here we are - a tutorial that might be dated in terms of some of the gear used, but the principles remain the same. In conjunction with all the other articles about off-camera flash photography, these videos should make a good primer on the topic of off-camera flash.

[@sjcproductionsandmedia]

I'm glad I own the Godox V1C after watching this video!

[@Emulives]

why?

[@MrYankee853]

Another great simple video Neil..I own 2 of your flash books..invaluable stuff..thanks !

[@jameswburke]

At a wedding recently, I locked my Flash in Manual mode and used the ISO to lighten / darken shots indoors. Worked great in a hurry and the flash menu was too complicated to bother with.

[@neilvn]

Which camera and flash are you using? (I rarely go into the flash menu DURING a shoot.)

[@jameswburke]

Sony A7iii and Godox TT685. I changed the ISO on the back of the camera. Different lighting situations called for more or less (manual) flash.@@neilvn

[@Andratos95]

I do not understand a few things. I use a Nikon F3 analog camera with an SB-800 speedlite. I use a simple A-41 adapter so I do not have TTL. I only get “aperture priority non-ttl”, “distance priority” and “manual”. I do not understand in these settings how to determine my exposure time.

[@neilvn]

Your best approach would be to use a light meter to measure your flash, since you are missing out on immediately seeing your results with film photography (instead of digital.)

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

Neil hi. Always love your videos, over n over! My question: I hv Canon equipment but always have loved the sb900 for its fstop/distance calculator!!! So, many times, I will use the 900 on my can in manual mode. To your knowledge, are there any new Canon or third party, Canon compatible, flashes available, which will be able to to do exactly what the 900 does?? Best and a Happy Thanksgiving to you. William

[@neilvn]

Hi there - the top end Canon flashes like the 600EX will do the same.

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

@@neilvn Thanks for the fast reply. Yes they do, to an extent. The 900 gives an exact distance, thus my Canon, just a range. Also, being able to plug n play fstops, iso, etc; is not the same. I was hoping for a third party flash to match these features, but I guess not. Thanks again. William

[@philiptamburello5437]

Wow!! Thanks Neil.

[@saintmovies7735]

This is all great info. But isn’t this calculation done automatically by TTL?

[@neilvn]

TTL works great, and I do use it when I have to shoot fast and get immediate results that look good. But because TTL is an automatic exposure mode, it is inherently not consistent because it is affected by the tonality of your subject and scene. The amount of light and dark tones in the scene will affect your TTL exposure. Similarly, back lighting will affect your TTL exposure. For this. manual flash exposure is more consistent.

[@richschmitt100]

How does this all work when you’re using a flash card?

[@neilvn]

Then you will have to do a series of test shots to get to correct exposure, or do the cumbersome thing and use a flash meter to calculate your exposure. In the end, the easiest would be to use TTL in the scenario you describe.

[@MisAnkic]

How to add celing reflection into equation?

[@neilvn]

You would have to do a few test shots. Or go to the trouble of metering for your bounce flash. In the end, bounce flash is easier with TTL.

[@jackyyao8231]

why don't use ttl?

[@neilvn]

This tutorial is about manual flash.

[@neilvn]

Manual flash has one clear advantage over TTL flash - consistency in exposure. While I love using TTL when I am shooting on the go, manual flash is the way to go when you work in a fixed position.