R9 and flash. Should I ever see "Hi"

[dritz]

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Just acquired a new R9 -- primarily to have TTL flash while shooting in M mode (and will soon sell an R8 chrome). However, I still get "Hi" in the viewfinder after the exposure and overexposed slides. Am I missing something here? Isn't the R9 behavior supposed to be like the M TTL? That is, set the aperture and exposure to ambient light then let the TTL flash (SF-20) do its thing (minus a stop or two)?

 

Really, with TTL should I ever see "Hi" after a TTL exposure?

 

Dean

[robsteve]

Dean:

 

If you are closer than the close working distance of the flash you will see HI. Such as shooting wide open at 800asa and up close. The range will be in the flash manual or the camera manual.

 

Also, when shooting a TtL or auto flash, do not use the F setting. It will give an error there, as it is expecting a manual flash to meter.

 

Are you using the R9 with film or digital?

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[rick_dykstra]

The R8 has TTL in manual. I use it all the time. However, the camera isn't magic and might not be able to throttle the flash quick enough if too much flash power is provided. So, consider the shooting distance and dial the flash down to a little more than that - then TTL will work - depending on the reflectivity of the subject. :-)

 

TTL also works in manual mode with the R9, though like the R8 it will still show HI if too much flash is provided.

 

The M6 TTL is particularly good at throttling flash. The R6.2 is not, even though it too has a TTL circuit.

 

Rick.

[dritz]

Dean:

 

If you are closer than the close working distance of the flash you will see HI. Such as shooting wide open at 800asa and up close. The range will be in the flash manual or the camera manual.

 

Also, when shooting a TtL or auto flash, do not use the F setting. It will give an error there, as it is expecting a manual flash to meter.

 

Are you using the R9 with film or digital?

 

I think you're right about my being too close to the subject and fast film (How did you know that I was shooting HP5 at 800 ASA?) I am using (amusing?) it in M mode, but will experiment more to understand the boundaries of the R9 with fill flash. In that way, the R9 flash is not quite as predictable as a TTL M body.

 

Thanks for your excellent points.

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[dritz]

Forgot to document that image. No flash on this one... hoping to to use the flash for such natural looking portraits when the ambient light is too contrasty.

 

R8, 80 Summilux, HP5 at ASA 800, cross processed by dr5.com. Nikon 8000 scan, no sharpening.