Nikon D40 flash help
Discussion
I've been playing with my sisters D40, and found the flash is somewhat violent, pictures of people, especially kids come out with blotchy skin and serious red eye.
Doesn't seem to make much difference what programme setting it is on, and reducing the flash intensity or manually adjusting the exposure has the result of producing grey underexposed shots.
Side by side comparisons with my D50 before I trashed it and now new D90 really highlight the problem. Anyone else had experience of this for a d40, google hasn't highlighted anything so far, or is it likely to be a camera fault?
cheers.
Doesn't seem to make much difference what programme setting it is on, and reducing the flash intensity or manually adjusting the exposure has the result of producing grey underexposed shots.
Side by side comparisons with my D50 before I trashed it and now new D90 really highlight the problem. Anyone else had experience of this for a d40, google hasn't highlighted anything so far, or is it likely to be a camera fault?
cheers.
Onboard flash isnt great at the best of times really. You can turn it up/down though, it's possible the setting has been whacked up and left
As a test, stick it on Auto and let the camera work it out for a shot, then go back to what you were doing before and see if there's a difference
As a test, stick it on Auto and let the camera work it out for a shot, then go back to what you were doing before and see if there's a difference
Red eye depends on (a) the proximity of the flash to the lens (b) the ambient light - because if it's dim, the subject's puils will be wider (c) working distance. In short it's all to do with angles and how easily the flash light can bounce in and out of their eyes.
Not sure how it makes non-blotchy skin into blotchy skin though.
I guess the D40, D50 and D90 all have about the same distance from built-in flash to lens, so the difference must either be low ambient light or maybe the D40 is set to one of those pesky 'modes'.
Perhaps the other cameras were set to fill-flash and the D40 is trying to make the whole exposure with just flash? If you use -2 flash EV and +2 camera EV you might get a nicer result.
Not sure how it makes non-blotchy skin into blotchy skin though.
I guess the D40, D50 and D90 all have about the same distance from built-in flash to lens, so the difference must either be low ambient light or maybe the D40 is set to one of those pesky 'modes'.
Perhaps the other cameras were set to fill-flash and the D40 is trying to make the whole exposure with just flash? If you use -2 flash EV and +2 camera EV you might get a nicer result.
Simpo Two said:
Red eye depends on (a) the proximity of the flash to the lens (b) the ambient light - because if it's dim, the subject's puils will be wider (c) working distance. In short it's all to do with angles and how easily the flash light can bounce in and out of their eyes.
Not sure how it makes non-blotchy skin into blotchy skin though.
I guess the D40, D50 and D90 all have about the same distance from built-in flash to lens, so the difference must either be low ambient light or maybe the D40 is set to one of those pesky 'modes'.
Perhaps the other cameras were set to fill-flash and the D40 is trying to make the whole exposure with just flash? If you use -2 flash EV and +2 camera EV you might get a nicer result.
I'll give that a go, but the comparisons I did were resetting all cameras and shooting in the same Auto mode, so in theory they should be similar.Not sure how it makes non-blotchy skin into blotchy skin though.
I guess the D40, D50 and D90 all have about the same distance from built-in flash to lens, so the difference must either be low ambient light or maybe the D40 is set to one of those pesky 'modes'.
Perhaps the other cameras were set to fill-flash and the D40 is trying to make the whole exposure with just flash? If you use -2 flash EV and +2 camera EV you might get a nicer result.
They should, I agree. But try Program exposure because 'Auto' can invoke various settings and not tell you. Also, have you been through the menus to see if there's a fill flash option ('TTL-BL'in Nikonese)?
ETA there could also be a difference between monitors in terms of brightness and contrast, if you're judging the result by that - although red-eye is still red-eye of course.
ETA there could also be a difference between monitors in terms of brightness and contrast, if you're judging the result by that - although red-eye is still red-eye of course.
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 4th February 16:34
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff