M6TTL and SF20 in TTL Mode

[kzphoto]

I've been shooting some flash photography at parties using an M6TTL and the SF20 in TTL mode. What I'm noticing is that the flash seems to overpower the scenes I'm photographing often over-exposing by about 1/2 to a full stop. My question is thus: If I adjust the ASA dial on the back of the M6TTL, will it lower the power of the flash? I typically shoot 400 ASA color negative film.

I've used M/A mode with some success, but not enough that'd I'd be confident using only those modes. Should I just stick with the over exposure and be happy that I'm taking pictures?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I have the exact same setup. You may want to compensate the output by one stop and that may do the trick. Be ready, however, to having to use even slower shutterspeeds...

Go to the back of the flash.

Push the little button with the plus and minus signs and you'll see your compensation appear in the LCD.

BTW, I shoot in TTL, more often than not with slower than ISO 400 film.

Have fun trying out this combination. In fact, it behooves you to bracket whenever possible.

EDIT: I don't have my flash in my hands right now, but I'll check and tell you about dialing the compensation... although I'm sure you already had figured it out! 🙂

 

[akalai]

Have used the same setup (M6TTL + SF20) with Tri-X (@ 400) at night/parties and found that using the EV compensation set at -1,2/3 gave the best fill flash exposures for me.

Have also used the same flash on a Ricoh GRD and got great results with it in manual but also using the EV compensation set at around -2.

 

[Mudman]

Galen Rowell (Late Great Photographer) recommended fill flash set to -1.7 in TTL mode. I use it at -1.3 most times myself (matrix metering is a bit different) but I have to agree flash looks better toned down.

 

[kzphoto]

Okay I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one experiencing the over-exposure with the flash. Rad. So I dial it down using the little plus-minus buttons on the back and I'm good to go? Thanks!

 

[mr roberts]

-1 to -2 according to taste and you're good to go. I mostly use this setup at -1 1/3 with 400 color, -1 2/3 with HP5 at 800. Just remember that the flash loses its settings at power off, it retains them in sleep.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

First, push the button with the triangle and the +/- signs. Then, with the buttons to the left, you dial either a "+" or a "-" for your flash output. That'll do it!

Sorry about taking this long to give you a detailed reply. I know I offered it some time ago, but then... must admit that I just forgot.

Take care and take good shots too! 🙂

 

[kzphoto]

No worries. If I understand here's what I've been doing:
-incident meter subject
-adjust camera accordingly (assuming the 1/50 shutter / flash speed is always on)
-use ttl flash -1.3

and I've got fill flash? I'm developing my pictures in a few days so I'll have to get back to this thread later.

Thanks for all the responses!