exposure vs flash compensation

Jwar

Is there a difference between the exposure and flash compensation? Just wondering as i'm learning my sb600 on my d90. I know they both adjust the brightness in the photo, but is there a time to use one over the other? It just seems like its the same function:dunno:dunno:dunno

colourbox

Exposure compensation adjusts the entire picture. If you have a near subject and a distant background like a sunset, exposure compensation will make both darker or lighter.

Flash compensation adjusts flash output only. In the sunset example, if you only change flash compensation, the amount of light hitting the subject will change, but areas not reached by the flash can't change...you can't use flash compensation to change the distant sunset. So you can use flash compensation to adjust the ratio of the flash to ambient light levels. On my point-and-shoot I usually leave flash compensation reduced slightly to avoid the blown out look without making the background too dark.

Qarik

Jwar wrote:

Is there a difference between the exposure and flash compensation? Just wondering as i'm learning my sb600 on my d90. I know they both adjust the brightness in the photo, but is there a time to use one over the other? It just seems like its the same functiondunno

Example 1: fill flash
you will only want to use FV for this.

Example 2: if you are in a programmed mode like P,A,S then EC will actually change your shutter or aperture to adjust fo rthe EC. The FV does not change anything except your flash output strength.

Example 3: if you are in manual mode, EC does nothing to effect shutter or apeture though it will change your flash output within the range of the flash power. FV will still change your flash output strength independently on top of that.

You need to be able to adjust both independently because as a photogrpaher you want to be able to control ambient vs flash lighting ratios.

Jwar

thanks Qarik and Colourbox! Your explanations help.