Video tutorial: Manual flash settings with speedlights

Video tutorial: Manual flash settings with speedlights

One advantage that the larger speedlights have over the smaller speedlights – aside from more power – is that they show the distance the flash can reach for the specific settings. This video is a continuation of the off-camera flash tutorial series. What is described in this video is also written out in more detail in this article:

The gist of this video, and this tutorial: Controls for manual flash exposure, is that the controls for flash exposure are all inter-linked. Manual flash is controlled by 4 things: Power, Aperture, ISO, Distance. (We can use the acronym ‘PAID’ to remember them.)

Now, if you have correct flash exposure, as you change one of those settings – Power, Aperture, ISO, Distance – you have to control one of the other settings to keep to correct exposure.

This video tutorial is one in a series that originally appeared on the Clickin’ Moms website in 2012, but licensing has now reverted back to me, and here we are – a tutorial that might be dated in terms of some of the gear used, but the principles remain the same. In conjunction with all the other articles about off-camera flash photography, these videos should make a good primer on the topic of off-camera flash.

[Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

Something worth adding is if you are using a zoom lens and zoom the lens after setting the power, you will need to reset the power as the flash will have also zoomed unless you have the auto zoom disabled on the flash. So, compose then adjust the flash or disable the zoom on the flash.

[MrYankee]

Another great simple video Neil..I own 2 of your flash books..invaluable stuff..thanks !

[sjcproductionsandmedia]

I'm glad I own the Godox V1C after watching this video!

[Andratos]

I do not understand a few things. I use a Nikon F3 analog camera with an SB-800 speedlite. I use a simple A-41 adapter so I do not have TTL. I only get “aperture priority non-ttl”, “distance priority” and “manual”. I do not understand in these settings how to determine my exposure time.

[MisAnkic]

How to add celing reflection into equation?

[richschmitt]

How does this all work when you’re using a flash card?

[jameswburke]

At a wedding recently, I locked my Flash in Manual mode and used the ISO to lighten / darken shots indoors. Worked great in a hurry and the flash menu was too complicated to bother with.

[saintmovies]

This is all great info. But isn’t this calculation done automatically by TTL?

[WILLIAMPERRELLI]

Neil hi. Always love your videos, over n over! My question: I hv Canon equipment but always have loved the sb900 for its fstop/distance calculator!!! So, many times, I will use the 900 on my can in manual mode. To your knowledge, are there any new Canon or third party, Canon compatible, flashes available, which will be able to to do exactly what the 900 does?? Best and a Happy Thanksgiving to you. William

[davetaylor]

Hi what about the shutter speed? Nothing is mentioned