Camera Elan 7.

After doing a mid roll rewind, is click-click with the lens cover on the only way of advancing the film when I reload? Also, how will the camera adjust the film advance correctly (frame to frame) ... or should I leave one blank exposure and then start taking pictures when I reload the roll?

Any advice on this is welcome. I need to swap between a 400 and a 200 film in my camera. I had put the 400 for moving photography of external subjects and need to use the 200 for internal (in house) photography with flash.

Thanks in Advance Kurien

-- Kurien Philip (kurien_philip@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002

Answers

Kurien:

Someone will post which command function keeps the film leader out of the roll, and someone else will explain how a sophisticated infra-red system in the camera tracks frame numbers and can return you to the exact point where you left off . . .

I would suggest just swapping out the rolls when you need to and not trying to put them back into the camera--what a huge hassle. The solution, of course, is a second camera body.

Anyway, there's not much differnce between 400 and 200 speeds. Why the need to swap out? The 400 should be great with the flash inside, which is really one of the best uses of 400 speed.

I know we're all trying to save money and film, but sometimes the hassle can get in the way of taking good photos.

Good luck!

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 15, 2002.

Thanks Preston. I had prblems of some very bright exposures when I used the 400 speed with a flash inside. Which is why I wanted to try a 200 with a flash in the same settings and see the difference. If you could throw some light on what could hv caused the sort of overexposed shots with a flash. Yes, putting in and taking out reels is a big hassle ... but as I am just learning, wanted to see the difference between a 200 and a 400 in the same environment.

-- Kurien Philip (kurien_philip@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Are you using the built-in flash? If you just use the P-mode I think it's called (and not TV, AV, or Manual), the flash should fire without considering the ambient light--which means your subject will be brightly lit, which is what you usually want. Check also that you haven't accidentally dialed in some exposure compensation using the wheel on the back of the camera.

It's usually hard to overexpose, unless you are too close to your subject. Most flash errors are underexposure, which is sometimes the result of weak batteries.

What metering mode are you using? Just the "normal" zone metering, with the setting that looks like this: (*)? Your camera could be reading the dark behind your subject and then firing too much flash to illuminate it. Whenever I use flash, I use partial metering on the subject's face. The setting looks like this, without the spot in the middle: ( )

If you set to partial metering, take reading from the subject's face, and use the P mode, you shouldn't have a trouble. Changing the film type won't make any difference.

If you still have problems, it could be the lab you're using for the film.

Good luck with it. Are you in Kerala, by the way? I've known Kuriens and Philips from there. I'm an American in New York.

Cheers!

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 15, 2002.

Hi Preston

This is George Mathew here. I got answer for a problem that I have been facing with my Rebel 2000. Nothing but the dark pictures produced from flash photography. Recently I posted a query in this forum about the same. Now I got the answer for it from your response to Kurian's question. Thanks! So far I have been using M, Tv or Av mode and was getting very bad result in flash photos. I never tried it with P mode. I do use partial metering and take reading from subjects face. But never tried partial metering with P mode. Let me try this now. BTB good to know that you have some Kerala friends. Kurian must be from there.

-- George Mathew (george_mathew2k@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

Partial metering makes all the difference in the world.

George, are you from Kerala, too? You guys should post some Kovalam and backwater photos! Or maybe stills from Shalini's next movie!

Regards,

Preston

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 15, 2002.

You brought up two topics familiar to the Elan 7E group.

1) You can reload partially used rolls of film by using mid-roll rewind with CF 2=1 when the camera is in one of the creative modes (P, Tv, Av, M, DEP). You have to remember the frame number by yourself (e.g. by writing on the film canister) then advance the film (lens set to manual focus, lens cap ON, Tv=1/4000) until the film is back at the same place.

2) If you are getting inconsistent flash results (e.g. over or under exposure), it might be because you are making incorrect use of the "AIM" metering system. When using the built-in flash or when using TTL or A-TTL flash, you must use a focus sensor on the same side of the frame as your subject. If using E-TTL, the subject needs to be placed over the AF sensor in use. Alternatively, if subject will not be over an AF sensor, you should use FEL (Flash Exposure Lock) before you shoot. The flash metering rules apply whether you use evaluative, partial or centre-weighted metering.

Clear as mud?

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), January 15, 2002.

Julian's explanation is very good. The quickest solution is to use the command function to link partial metering to the active focusing point (not the center, which is default), then you won't have to worry.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), January 15, 2002.

That function (CF8=1) only applies to ambient partial metering, whereas AIM metering for flash apparently applies whether CF8=0 or CF8=1.

The simplest way to use flash is to put the subject in the centre of the picture, and make sure that the subject fills a significant part of the frame. E.g. Head and shoulders portrait.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), January 15, 2002.

Guys ... I am simply overwhelmed by the response on the forum.

Thanks Preston, will try out with partial metering and post the reults back on the forum. Never tried that out.

Julian, thanks for the input. Gonna try out with the internal and the external flash - I have a 420 EX.

BTW, Preston, next time I am in Kerala, will send you some good photographs. Right now I am in UTAH and believe me guys ... even this place with all the canyons and mountains is also beautiful - in a different way.

George, it is not without reason people call Kerala 'God's own Country' !

-- Kurien Philip (kurien_philip@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.