Need Opinion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

Hi , i have Nikon d3100 , as you know this model have built in flash , but when i take pictures the light is not as needed, so what you prefer ? do i buy a new external flash ?

Which one company's flash light i buy ?


thank you

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

Hussy Ameer said:

Hi , i have Nikon d3100 , as you know this model have built in flash , but when i take pictures the light is not as needed, so what you prefer ? do i buy a new external flash ?

Which one company's flash light i buy ?


thank you

Click to expand...

Hello, when you say not as needed, exactly what do you mean?? not enough light, too much, bad quality light??

Upload an example and tell us what you do not like...

Pat in NH

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

RockyNH said:

Hello, when you say not as needed, exactly what do you mean?? not enough light, too much, bad quality light??

Upload an example and tell us what you do not like...

Pat in NH

Click to expand...

Hello, i want to take a pictures of jewellery, here is some picture i take , quality is fine but look dark , check this attached pictures.

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

They do not look bad... many do not even look too dark. If you want them light (more exposure), you should be able to set Flash Compensation which adjust up or down based on what the camera tells it for settings. I would try that first before spending all that money on an external.

Pat in NH

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

If you want brighter images without using flash, just adjust the exposure.
You have a white background so you need to let your camera know the scene is lighter than 18% grey.
You can use exposure compensation in P A S modes or take full control in M.

Dark pictures are NOT because of poor light, they are due to incorrect settings.
Using a tripod you always have enough light as long as you can see the scene with your eyes.

Quality of light is a whole different matter. Direct lighting, indirect lighting, multiple or single light points, diffused etc.

Scroll down to Page 81 in the user manual >>D3100 user manual<<

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

I'd either bracket the exposure, use the Exposure Value button on the '3100 or do some very minor fine tuning in post using Photoshop, Lightroom or even a free app. For better results out of the cam I'd probably turn the aperture down a notch or two, reduce the ISO to 100 if you're not already and use a tripod. Reflections need to be looked out for and eliminated before pressing the shutter, in my opinion. Best to just not have to deal with them.

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

Hussy Ameer said:

Hello, i want to take a pictures of jewellery, here is some picture i take , quality is fine but look dark , check this attached pictures.

View attachment 29435

Click to expand...

Here is a quick edit of one of your low res jpg images.



It is not perfect but details what you can do with what you have, I would maybe suggest a black background and see how that looks as well.

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

muzza22au said:

Here is a quick edit of one of your low res jpg images.

View attachment 29456

It is not perfect but details what you can do with what you have, I would maybe suggest a black background and see how that looks as well.

Click to expand...

thx muzza , i will take with black background now , will post here in few hours, i m using manual setting , F9, S= 1/60, ISO 100 , is this fine ? or i should increase the F ? and slow down the Shutter speed ?

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

Horoscope Fish said:

I'd either bracket the exposure, use the Exposure Value button on the '3100 or do some very minor fine tuning in post using Photoshop, Lightroom or even a free app. For better results out of the cam I'd probably turn the aperture down a notch or two, reduce the ISO to 100 if you're not already and use a tripod. Reflections need to be looked out for and eliminated before pressing the shutter, in my opinion. Best to just not have to deal with them.

Click to expand...

hi friend : thank you for deatil , i use manual setting to take this picture , ISO 100, F = 9. Shutter speed 160 ,
what you suggest for black background ? should i increase F and decrease the Shutter speed ?

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

Rexer John said:

If you want brighter images without using flash, just adjust the exposure.
You have a white background so you need to let your camera know the scene is lighter than 18% grey.
You can use exposure compensation in P A S modes or take full control in M.

Dark pictures are NOT because of poor light, they are due to incorrect settings.
Using a tripod you always have enough light as long as you can see the scene with your eyes.

Quality of light is a whole different matter. Direct lighting, indirect lighting, multiple or single light points, diffused etc.

Scroll down to Page 81 in the user manual >>D3100 user manual<<

Click to expand...

Hi rexer, Sorry to say i don't understand this " so you need to let your camera know the scene is lighter than 18% grey " can you please explain it again ? Will be thank you !

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

Your camera (every camera) expects to see an average 18% grey scene, don't worry about that number.
If the scene is lighter, your camera will underexpose, it doesn't know what the scene looks like.

One way to compensate is to tell your camera to "overexpose" the scene by dialing in a +EV as in the link in post #5 above, psage 81 of the user manual.
Another way is to use spot metering which will take much less, if any notice of the background.

If you use white or black background, your exposure (appereture, shutter, ISO) should be the same because you are exposing for your jewellery, not for the white or black background. You can tell the difference but your camera cant, that's why a black background tends to overexpose and a white background tends to underexpose your images.

It might all sound a bit complicated but dont worry, you just need to dial in some EV compensation or use spot meter setting.

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?



take few picture with More shutter speed, is this fine or look ugly

Re: Need Openion, I have Nikon d3100, Help me to buy a Flash for it ?

something i do use a diffuser on camera flash .. make a small box with a white paper on the front or any thing else like white cloth .. and use the flash it will be nice .. use ur imagination