Question from a beginner.

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elrey

Senior Member
I've had my D3200 for about 5 months now and absolutely love it. I learn new things all the time about this camera. Only problem I seem to have is when I try to take a picture of my puppy, I always get the red eye on her when the flash is used. I usually have the camera set to the setting for taking pictures of kids. Not sure if 'Im doing something wrong or if I'm in the wrong setting. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I don't have my book handy, but I seem to remember there is a setting to prevent the red eye issue. It should be in your manual. :)
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
elrey said:
I've had my D3200 for about 5 months now and absolutely love it. I learn new things all the time about this camera. Only problem I seem to have is when I try to take a picture of my puppy, I always get the red eye on her when the flash is used. I usually have the camera set to the setting for taking pictures of kids. Not sure if 'Im doing something wrong or if I'm in the wrong setting. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...

There is a Red Eye Reduction feature (D3200 page 47, manual named D3200 Reference Manual).

But you will not like it. It delays the shutter for about a second while it flashes a few times, trying to reduce the diameter of the eye pupil. That is the pits, and it may not work.

What you need instead is greater separation distance between flash and lens. Off camera flash for example. Red eye is that straight-back reflection on the back of the eye... the flash lighting it, and the lens at the same angle seeing it. So a flash in a Nikon SC-28 cord, held in outstretched left hand, would be well off camera, and this "same angle" reflection would not exist. Lighting would be better too.

But if you had an external hot shoe flash, the larger sized ones with flash head maybe 5 inches above the lens (instead of 2 inches for popup flash, and 1/2 inch in compact cameras), it will help red eye considerably (but 5 inches may not be fully 100%). One old rule of thumb (not particularly accurate) says to minimize Red Eye, we need one inch of flash separation for every foot distance to the subject.

It will help much more if you aimed this hot shoe flash head up at the ceiling, and used bounce flash. Your photo lighting would be vastly better too. Bounce again needs a 'regular" full size, full powered flash. The dog is on the floor, and you're probably down there with it, so the ceiling is much higher than if all were standing. So for power too, the flash should be comparable to SB-700 size, but could be a cheaper third party brand. Then Red Eye will be only a distant memory.
 
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Jonathan

Senior Member
And if you're that way inclined you could always edit it out afterwards on your computer. But if you have a puppy (and kids?) I guess you'll have no time for that!
 
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Mark F

Senior Member
Best thing is not to use the pop up flash, or at least get some type of diffuser in front of it. Get a flash that will let you bounce flash from the ceiling or I have a Garry Fong puffer that fits on the flash shoe of the camera. I carry that in my bag when I don't want to pull out my SB600
 
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