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Anonymous
Say, I was wondering something about my diffuser. I have an external flash (Canon 580EX) and usually use a diffuser with it. It's a powerful flash, and doe a great job, but I'm wondering if I could get some better exposures by using it correctly.

I generally set the exposure down by a third ofa stop to increase shutter speed and avoid blow-outs in the whites. (More if the subject is particularly bright and dark at the same time.) My camera (350D) has a flash exposure compensation, but I just leave it at zero and get okay results. That being said, I know the diffuser knocks down the brightness of the flash.

Should I be setting the flash exposure correction to something higher? Or lower? It's just not clear to me what it's for. I usually set the flash to take TTL brightness data and set for the right power (instead of always on 100% power), but I'll admit to not knowing much more about how to use the flash than that.
>> Anonymous
If you're using the flash and camera on TTL mode, you shouldn't need any exposure compensation at all with the diffuser. You might need some to correct for specific lighting conditions, but in principle the camera will meter and automatically compensate for the diffuser.

Flash exposure compensation has basically the same end effect of regular exposure compensation, but it does it by changing flash output rather than shutter speed or aperture.

Diffusers are useful, but most people don't use them correctly. They're good when bounce flash isn't practical, but usually bounce is a better solution. If you use the diffuser and bounce the flash, sometimes you get a bit too strong of an effect because too much light is directed at the subject from the diffuser.
>> Anonymous
Flash confuses the hell out of me, but if you use flash in TTL mode, then you _don't_ need to adjust flash exposure to compensate for the diffuser. Pre-flash will take care of that. I mean, that's the whole point of TTL flash, right ?
>> Anonymous
>>33482
Yes. In theory. It doesn't always work out that way, but it's the best place to start.
>> Anonymous
TTL means through the lens metering. you just shoot the flash, and when the camera says there's enough light, the flash gets cut off. you can use exactly as much flash power as needed or more, but no less.

such diffusers kinda give a 'bare bulb' effect. light goes into all directions. I always tilt the head for about 45 degrees, so light also gets bounced off the ceiling. I use the automatic modes of the flash, because I'm on older analog cameras. I've got a second camera & flash that support TTL, but don't use it too often.

with the head tilted upwards and with a flash diffuser, photos look great... even with wideangle lenses