Metering the flash in camera

[SabrinaO]

When I attach my sb600 to my d5000 the meter still shows my shots will be underexposed. How do I meter to my flash? I shoot in manual and my flash is set to TTL.

What im trying to do this this:


At 00:32 it seems he is metering his flash in camera. Maybe i just can't do this in my camera??

 

[SabrinaO]

ummm... taking a second look at the video, it looks like he's really metering and exposing to the available light, instead of the flash. I just thought he was exposing to flash because the camera allowed his shutter to be high. But lots of light coming in from a window would allow a high shutter also But this brings me on to my next question:

I shoot a lot indoors... low lighting, so i use my flash. But again... my meter shows the pics will be underexposed, so I slow the shutter to get the meter in the center. But this obviously gives me blurred shots... especially shots with my fidgety 11month old. So i just set the shutter to what I want and I fire off. Even though the meter shows it will be underexposed...with the flash the shots come out decent. Does anyone else shoot this way when theres not a lot of available light? Am I doing this correctly?

 

[SabrinaO]

anyone???

 

[Dao]

I think what other people do is using a external (flash) light meter.

For me, I just usually set the flash to manual mode. Do couple test shots by bouncing the flash off the ceiling and then adjust the shutter speed (in manual mode) and the flash power accordingly. (The beauty of DIGITAL)


After I did that few times, I roughly know what I need to set if situation is about the same.

 

[IgsEMT]

I'm in class now and can't really watch the video BUT...
Regardless of the flash (Nikon or any other manual) with digital (film was a bit different), I set my START settings:
ISO 400, 1/125sec, f/8 - take a test shot and readjust as needed.

 

[table1349]

You don't meter your flash through the camera. This will explain flash including ttl use.
The TTL Flash System
Guide to Nikon TTL Flashes - photo.net

 

[KmH]

The in-camera meter can only measure reflected light, and cannot meter strobed light.

There are 2 other catagories of light; incident (continuous) and strobed (flash).

To measure incident or strobed light requires an hand held light meter, like this: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/buy-sell/222907-fs-sekonic-l-308s-flashmate-light-meter.html

Here is a closer look: