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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WayneF" data-source="post: 415930" data-attributes="member: 12496">Actually, your words Canon/Nikon are the other way around.  Canon separates them, Nikon combines them (until E4 allowed separation).Speaking of the Nikon way before E4 (EC adds to FC), then EC is a good flash compensation method (more range, +1 plus +3 becomes +4, as you say, if flash has power reserve to do it), speaking of indoors with insignificant ambient.   Outdoors, it could be a problem, ambient reacts to EC either way.Nikon is not the best term.  Background or ambient only is better.True in the large direct sense, TTL BL does good automatic fill in bright sun. The compensation can be separate like that, but you said outdoors, and ambient level does affect the degree of fill flash (TTL BL).  FC should still affect whatever it does, but in strong sunlight, TTL BL is about -2 EV down from metered, Inside (darker ambient), not down much.   I don't have the E4 menu here but if separated, the two comps should still affect only ambient or only flash. But as ambient goes up or down, TTL BL can vary, since it is fill flash, oriented to the ambient. In the same fixed situation (where ambient does not vary), then separated should look like that.   Statement would be more absolutely true of TTL Spot mode, which does whatever the flash meters, regardless of ambient level.Your point though, yes, you should have individual control.E4 choices and terms should be clear about background only, or both.That would be true of Manual flash mode, aperture affects what its fixed flash level can do.Metering ambient with EC does change shutter speed or aperture, but TTL flash reacts to stay constant regardless (if it has power to do it).  The TTL flash always reacts to whatever situation it wakes up and discovers (ISO, aperture).Ideally (within limits, and in same situation), TTL flash will always do the same metered intensity goal, regardless of camera settings.  Any aperture should give the same TTL result (if power allows).  But FC changes that goal.And TTL BL flash too, but it is also set to be fill level, based on ambient, which can be changed.  But FC will individually affect what that fill result is.I think your "M mode" means camera M, when EC has no effect on settings.  Flash M mode is another possibility I considered. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />EC should always affect ambient in P mode. Something has to change.The only controls it has is shutter, aperture, and ISO.Not sure how likely, but all I can think of is that maybe you're in deep shade (dim daylight).  With flash, A and P modes enforce E2 Minimum Shutter Speed With Flash, default 1/60. If shutter is limited at 1/60 minimum, or if aperture is limited wide open maximum, then it may not be able to change, even in P mode.  Slow Sync or Rear Curtain mode could allow the shutter to go lower (and move with EC).S mode changing aperture should affect fixed  manual flash, but TTL will react with power level to try to stay constant exposure. FC should affect TTL.</blockquote>

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