Hiyah, just needed some advise on the P mode on my EOS 630. I normally use my EOS 630, Sigma 28-70 f2.8 EX and the 430ez flash for night photography on the P mode. Somehow at pretty dim conditions, the camera select the max aperture (f 2.8) resulting a shallow depth of field. I have problem when taking photos people crowding at round tables (people at the edge could not be focused).

I tried using the AV mode and it somehow assumes it the flash isn't present or switches into nightshot mode (slow shutter speed) which is not possible for handheld. Kinda irritating.....

How can I get a greater depth of field (around f5.6) without the use of a tripod.

Can I just use the manual mode, select f5.6 and 1/60 (slows under exposure in the viewfinder) and let the flash do the rest by compensating it automatically. Will that work??

Thanks.

-- Andrew (alai@mecomb.com), November 01, 2001

Answers

"Can I just use the manual mode, select f5.6 and 1/60 (slows under exposure in the viewfinder) and let the flash do the rest by compensating it automatically. Will that work??"

Yup. The background will be dark, but the subject(s) will be properly exposed. If you feel you need more DOF, use an aperture of F8, the shutter speed can stay the same. At some point you'll exceed the range of the flash, but that shouldn't be a problem in the wide angle, relatively close-up application you describe.

-- Geoff Doane (geoff_doane@cbc.ca), November 01, 2001.

I use M with flash (I have the 550EX) frequently to get the speed and DOF I want. The flash does all the work and I have had great results, but I drain batteries quickly. So, of course I agree with the above coment. Your only issue would be losing flash power if you increase distance to the subject.

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), November 01, 2001.

"Somehow at pretty dim conditions, the camera select the max aperture (f 2.8)"

I don't know about the EOS 630, but the EOS 3 has a custom function called 'program shift' that automatically shifts your exposure (even the aperture in Av mode) to accomplish correct exposure. Could you be using this function? Just a thought.

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), November 01, 2001.

"Somehow at pretty dim conditions, the camera select the max aperture (f 2.8)"

I don't know about the EOS 630, but the EOS 3 has a custom function called 'program shift' that automatically shifts your exposure (even the aperture in Av mode) to accomplish correct exposure. Could you be using this function? Just a thought.

This would put the shutter speed out of the "hand-held" range....

-- Dave Herzstein (dherzstein@juno.com), November 01, 2001.

Thanks a million guys. I'll try out these new settings. Hopefully it works.

Cheers

Andrew

-- Andrew (alai@mecomb.com), November 01, 2001.

I am very curiuos what will happen if your eos camera allows you to bracket exposure compensation 1/2 to 2 stop, and also do you need to bracket flash exposure compensation -1/2 to stop in the manual mode.

Thanks

thanks

-- peter li (pli@hatch.ca), November 02, 2001.

i think the e-ttl automatically sets the flash exposure every time... actually, i have no idea what i'm talking about...

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), November 12, 2001.