AV or Program for flash

[Pick]

I am not used to using flash and was wundering what setting most people use when they are shooting likes of indoors at shopping malls.I use Canon flash and usually stick to program but i need to experiment as i have mixed results.

 

[Just Dave]

I use Manual

 

[POAH]

program will try to illuminate the subject with the flash where as AV or TV will only fill the subject in.

If you use manual the flash will try to illuminate the subject based on your exposure settings.

 

[lensflair]

I use Manual

Always manual for me with ttl flash when its on camera, manual flash when its off. If you use an auto mode in low light levels the camera tends to choose shutter speeds that are too slow. You can get away with auto modes when just doing fill flash during the day but I still prefer manual.

 

[HoppyUK]

It's not a simple question. There are numerous mode options, and different camera brands do things differently. Not to mention bounce and diffuser techniques which are integral to using flash to full advantage - if you don't do that, you might just as well use the pop-up (if you had one ).

Av is usually favourite of the auto modes, or manual, but you can use any camera mode, and with the flash in either auto (Canon E-TTL) or manual. Lots of permutations.

With Canon, the default on Av is to balance the shutter speed with the background ambient light, and the flash fills the foreground. But you can override that in custom functions. In P, the camera will allow the shutter speed to drop below the max x-sync down to 1/60sec, and then it stops, preferring to let the background go dark rather than risk background bluring.

If you want to learn how to do things properly, and really you should because it can absolutely transform your pictures, get the Speedliter's Handbook by Syl Arena, £18 Amazon. V good book