Pop Up Flash Irritation

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Sandpatch

Senior Member
Sometimes when I'm shooting outdoors using the Auto setting standing 30 to 40 Feet from a somewhat dark subject on a bright day, the pop up flash jumps to attention to help. It makes me jump too, as I never expect it and it hits the bill of my ball cap! I know how to defeat the flash (and I always do so after it startles me), but why does my D5100 do this?

Does it think that it's going to provide a decent fill flash on a large object like a locomotive that's 40 Feet away? No rant; I'm just curious.

As an experiment, I've let the flash fire and then defeated the flash on the same distant subject and the shot without the flash always looks better.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Sandpatch said:
Sometimes when I'm shooting outdoors using the Auto setting standing 30 to 40 Feet from a somewhat dark subject on a bright day, the pop up flash jumps to attention to help. It makes me jump too, as I never expect it and it hits the bill of my ball cap! I know how to defeat the flash (and I always do so after it startles me), but why does my D5100 do this?

Does it think that it's going to provide a decent fill flash on a large object like a locomotive that's 40 Feet away? No rant; I'm just curious.

As an experiment, I've let the flash fire and then defeated the flash on the same distant subject and the shot without the flash always looks better.
Click to expand...

Set it to "No Flash" mode using the mode dial.




.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
You would be better off using one of the other modes like (P)rogram (A)perture or (S)hutter. With just a little work you would be able to control your camera a lot better and get better results.
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Tracsoft - Don Kuykendall said:
You would be better off using one of the other modes like (P)rogram (A)perture or (S)hutter. With just a little work you would be able to control your camera a lot better and get better results.
Click to expand...


Sandpatch - get out of your comfort zone and refrain from using Auto mode. The pop-up flash will do that almost everytime the camera thinks that the shooting condition needs it especially if your ISO is set at ISO 100.
 
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FastGlass

Senior Member
When ever you focus on a shot. The active focus point is also the point at which the light meter pays attention to. This also changes a bit depending on what type of metering you are using. So if your subject is 40' away and your active focus point is locked onto the part of your subject that is poorly lit, than yes your flash will pop up. Especially if your shooting in the auto mode. Like the previouse post said. You should try and get out of your confort zone. Theres so much more you can do creatively than your allowing both you and your camera to do. Good luck.
 
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Sandpatch

Senior Member
Thanks everyone. I'm normally shooting moving trains and always choose Shutter Priority for that work, but when shooting stationary subjects I switch to Auto (then kill the flash after it scares me!) I'll try Program Mode for stationary work. FastGlass' explanation about what my light meter is thinking is helpful as well. Again, I appreciate the guidance.
 
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