If you are looking for a camera that is fast and easy to use, determining aperture, f-stop, and distance to subject is probably not one of your preferences. For these situations, getting a TTL flash is probably the best option.
Nevertheless, when this is not a possibility, it’s very important to learn how to control flash functions and settings. Light conditions and flash functionality are two factors that will define the quality and fidelity of your pictures.
Of course, getting the hang of these measurements is easier with time, but with just a few pointers you can get top notch pictures that are faithful to the subject from the very start.
1) First, calculate the distance to the subject. This will indicate to the camera how powerful the flash charge needs to be. The distance to the subject is directly related to the aperture or f-stop setting that we will address later on.
2) Second, set a suitable shutter speed. The speed that it will take for the shutter covering the lens to open and close will affect the amount of light, or exposure, in your photograph. If you are looking for a strong light effect (as is the case when shooting far distance subjects), a slower shutter speed will allow the flash to fire longer. Contrastingly, for closer subjects, a faster shutter speed would be more suitable, as close-ups and short distance snaps contain the light a lot better than wide or long shots.
3) Set an aperture or f-stop. The aperture is directly proportional to the amount of light emitted. The higher the aperture setting, the more light will be admitted through and into the film. The smaller the aperture, the less light there will be entering the lens.
Even after reading these pointers, if you are still confused as to how to use the correct measures for these settings, just pay attention to your camera’s suggestions.
Once you’ve snapped a few pictures, you’ll begin to understand how each measurement affects the look of your photographs. Soon you will be able to determine the correct number for that perfect shot.