Canon® EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop

8.2. BUILT-IN FLASH TECHNIQUES

Many of the Canon dSLRs offer a pop-up, built-in flash as part of the camera body. The exceptions to this are the professional Mark II and III models, which do not have a built-in flash and require you to use an external flash. Of course, many studio photographers are also using model and flash lighting systems in addition to or separately from an on-camera flash.

The pop-up flash (see 8-4) will open and work automatically if you are using the Program setting or another automatic setting for the camera, assuming the camera has determined there is insufficient light to take an effective image based on its automatic metering. Using the camera in manual or semiautomatic (Tv or Av) mode requires you to press the flash button on the side of the camera that opens and engages the flash.

If you are using a mounted external flash (connected via the hot shoe), such as a Canon Speedlite, the camera automatically recognizes that it is attached, and overrides the use of the pop-up flash. The same is true if you attach a wireless device to your hot shoe to use the flash remotely.

At certain times the pop-up flash can be useful, and I've often wished that my Mark II had one to use in a pinch when I don't have my external Speedlite available or when I don't have time to mount it on the camera. But the pop-up flash is limited: It isn't very powerful, uses the battery, and has a very limited shooting range. For snapshots, though, it's perfect.

Figure 8-4. The pop-up ...