nikon d50 flash settings

[-Paul-]

quick(ish) question. if i set my camera to the manual setting then try to use the inbuilt exposure meter to adjust the settings to what the camera suggests are correct when using the onboard flash it doesn't work out to well. so my question is "whats going on?" do i ignore the cameras inbuilt meter, is it broken or are there different rules for flash? thanks for any advice!

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Ignore the meter, it's exposing for the ambient light only and doesn't take the additional input from the flash (which isn't present whilst it's taking the reading) into account.

 

[-Paul-]

thanks flash that makes a lot of sense! obvious i suppose when you think about it? it also makes me wonder i figure out the flash settings with my camera set to manual is just best guess? get a light meter? or is there some other dark art that i dont know about?