topic Re: Rebel T6 Flash in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Thu, 11 May 2017 14:53:39 GMT

Good afternoon.

I've just bought a Canon 1300D (I believe also known as Rebel T6) and, being a complete novice at photography, I'm using it in Auto Mode.

I'm finding that the flash pops up and fires, even in bright sunlight.

This seems all wrong to me but, as I said, I'm not an expert.

Is this correct, please, or have I got a faulty camera?

Many thanks for any advice.

Peter.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

RobertTheFat — Thu, 11 May 2017 15:08:15 GMT

@TightGit wrote:
Good afternoon.

I've just bought a Canon 1300D (I believe also known as Rebel T6) and, being a complete novice at photography, I'm using it in Auto Mode.

I'm finding that the flash pops up and fires, even in bright sunlight.

This seems all wrong to me but, as I said, I'm not an expert.

Is this correct, please, or have I got a faulty camera?

Many thanks for any advice.

Peter.

Maybe it thinks you need fill flash. (Maybe you do!)

If you switch the mode dial from Auto to "P", it should stop doing that.

For a self-confessed newbie, reading the manual is always a good option.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

diverhank — Thu, 11 May 2017 16:02:01 GMT

@TightGit wrote:
Good afternoon.

... I'm using it in Auto Mode. I'm finding that the flash pops up and fires, even in bright sunlight. This seems all wrong to me but, as I said, I'm not an expert. Is this correct, please, or have I got a faulty camera?.

I'm a bit surprised that the camera knows how to do that...if your pictures look great with the flash firing, I think you should be glad the camera has the smarts. I never shoot full auto so I simply do not know that the camera can do that.

The use of flash in bright sunlight is not a bad thing if it is used properly - mainly to fill in the shadows and to light up the subject placed against the sun which, without the flash, will be too dark because of the brighter background. I almost always mount an external flash when shooting portraits outdoors for this purpose.

Here is an example - if done properly, you shouldn't be able to tell that a flash was used...

5DMarkIII, 85mm f/1.2L II, f/1.8, 1/320, ISO 100, flash fired.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Thu, 11 May 2017 15:56:58 GMT

Thanks to both for your very quick replies, but I really need an answer from a complete novice like myself who only uses auto mode.

I find it difficult to believe that the camera thinks flash is required when taking a picture of a landscape in bright sunlight.

Unless it's faulty...

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

diverhank — Thu, 11 May 2017 16:08:57 GMT

@TightGit wrote:
Thanks to both for your very quick replies, but I really need an answer from a complete novice like myself who only uses auto mode.

I find it difficult to believe that the camera thinks flash is required when taking a picture of a landscape in bright sunlight.

Unless it's faulty...

Flash shouldn't be used for a landscape picture. Can you post a picture where the flash had fired? It might be confused to think that it needed flash. I'll check the manual to see if it's smart enough to fire the flash. I think it does. This is one of the reasons I don't use full auto because I don't have any control of the situation. You should learn to get off full auto and use Av or Tv mode (semi-automatic).

I'm emphasizing that using flash for fill is an art many accomplished photographers use daily. This should not be strange.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Thu, 11 May 2017 16:24:31 GMT

Sorry, I'm a pensioner and my computer knowledge is as limited as my photographic knowledge, so I don't know how to post pictures.

Having just bought the camera for my next holiday, I've taken a few test shots out in my nearest park.

They are "normal" pictures of fields with trees, all in bright sunshine and nothing closer than 100 yards.

Each time the flash unit pops up when I half press the shutter button and the flash fires when I take the picture.

Quite apart from looking silly to anyone nearby, this is obviously wasting battery charge.

I've read the manual (and also the "1300D for Idiots" book) and both say the flash should only pop up if the camera thinks it needs it.

Fair enough, but in bright sunlight?

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TCampbell — Thu, 11 May 2017 17:25:23 GMT

You would normally _not_ use the flash for a landscape because the subject is much too far away for the flash to do anything.

But you _should_ use the flash for a close subject - such as a person/portrait - outside during the day. The flash helps fill in the harsh shadows and results in a much better image.

In full auto-mode the camera decides when it wants the flash and pops it up. But in most other modes you get to decide.

For example, if you shoot in "P" mode (Program mode) the camera will generally use the same settings that it would use in Auto mode... EXCEPT in P mode you can actually override things (in A mode you cannot) and P mode will not automatically raise the pop-up flash. If you raise the flash (by pressing the button with the little lightning bolt on the top of the camera) then it will use the flash because you requested it. If you keep the flash lowered then it will not raise or fire the flash.)

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

diverhank — Thu, 11 May 2017 17:25:43 GMT

@diverhank wrote:
... I'll check the manual to see if it's smart enough to fire the flash. I think it does. .

I have found the answer, the Canon camera does have the smarts to do fill flash in full automatic mode. In your case, it might get confused but there should be no harm done with the flash except for a little bit of power use.

Here is a Canon link for the use of fill flash that will help explain this thing...

http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2011/fill_flash_use_EOS_article.shtml

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Thu, 11 May 2017 18:33:16 GMT

Many thanks for all your responses, but nobody seems to be answering my question.

Yes, I realise this is a quality camera and that i should be learning how to use it properly, but at my advanced years my eyesight and mental capacity will not allow me to use it to its full potential.

I just want to point and shoot!

I bought it as a replacement for my Canon 5000, which has given faultless service around the world for the last 20 years.

(It was delivered with the dial on Auto and that's where it's stayed for two decades!)

I chose the 1300D because it seemed to be the digital equivalent and I hope to use it for holiday snaps, but only in Auto.

So, I ask again:

Should the flash fire every time I use it, even in bright sunlight, or have I got a faulty unit?

Thank you.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

kvbarkley — Thu, 11 May 2017 18:35:57 GMT

It is hard for us to answer, since most of us don't use Auto mode. I can try with my T6S tonight.

ISTR that the flash popped up way more than I wanted in Auto mode, so I switched to P.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Thu, 11 May 2017 19:02:07 GMT

Thank you so much, I'll await your report.

Since it's only 10 days since purchase, I really need to know if I should return it.

BTW be careful what you wear on your head when you do the test.

Everytime I take a photo, the flash unit pops up and knocks my cap off !

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

Waddizzle — Thu, 11 May 2017 23:07:07 GMT

@TightGit wrote:
Good afternoon.

I've just bought a Canon 1300D (I believe also known as Rebel T6) and, being a complete novice at photography, I'm using it in Auto Mode.

I'm finding that the flash pops up and fires, even in bright sunlight.

This seems all wrong to me but, as I said, I'm not an expert.

Is this correct, please, or have I got a faulty camera?

Many thanks for any advice.

Peter.

Judging from what you have said, I don't think there is anything wrong with your camera. If you are using Full Auto shooting mode, which is the Green [A] setting on the mode dial on top of the camera, then camera can behave as you describe under the right circumstances.

I love to shoot outdoors, mainly because I love the outdoors. Depending upon the location, many outdoor shots may contain large dark areas within the visible frame in the viewfinder. The camera has different shooting modes, focus modes, and metering modes. So, the camera will behave differently when you change settings, even in fully automatic Green [A] mode.

In Full Auto, the camera will use all available AF, auto focus points, which are the little squares in the viewfinder, to find something to focus on. It will usually choose what winds up being the nearest thing to the camera. Frequently, the closest thing to the camera when you're shooting outdoors may be darker than the background. This is called "backlit" scenes.

The above shot is an example of what I am talking about.

If I were using a camera like yours, the camera may have focused on the steps, instead of the gazebo near the center of the frame. It may have also tried to raise a built-in flash in a vain attempt to illuminate the steps with "fill flash". I say vain attempt, because your onboard flash has a very short reach, less than 10 feet.

As it turns out, I did not have a built-in flash, and the above shot is the result. I used another technique to "light up" the stairs known as HDR photography. But, that's a story for another day.

Again, there is nothing wrong with your camera. It has different shooting modes, which you change with the dial on the top of the camera. It has different light metering modes, which I very rarely change from the default "evaluative metering" setting. It has different AF, auto focus, modes, too. All of those settings are set automatically for you in Green [A] shooting mode.

If in doubt about anything, ask lots of questions. There are folks around here who would be glad to answer anything you might want to know..

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Mon, 15 May 2017 15:39:53 GMT

Waddizzle,

Sorry I haven't thanked you before for your comments, but I've been waiting over the weekend hoping that kvbarkley would report back.

In his abscence, I wonder if any other Rebel T6 owners would lower themselves and try the auto mode when nobody is looking!

A reminder that I'm asking if it's possible to take a picture in auto without the flash popping up as mine does it everytime.

Thank you.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

kvbarkley — Mon, 15 May 2017 16:08:24 GMT

Sorry, I did not get a chance.

Note, though that I have a T6S, not a T6.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Mon, 15 May 2017 17:10:04 GMT

Thanks and sorry to chase you up !

I'm in the UK and have a 1300D, so I'm not sure what the difference is.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

kvbarkley — Mon, 15 May 2017 18:32:09 GMT

Mine is the 760D. As for Canon, the fewer the number of digits, the better the camera. 8^)

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

Waddizzle — Tue, 16 May 2017 01:38:23 GMT

@TightGit wrote:
Waddizzle,

Sorry I haven't thanked you before for your comments, but I've been waiting over the weekend hoping that kvbarkley would report back.

In his abscence, I wonder if any other Rebel T6 owners would lower themselves and try the auto mode when nobody is looking!

A reminder that I'm asking if it's possible to take a picture in auto without the flash popping up as mine does it everytime.

Thank you.

Yes, the settings on either side of the Green [A] behave like that. You have to manually raise the flash, either by pressing the lighning bolt button on top of the camera near the Main Wheel, or by selecting a similar icon in the [Q], Quick Menu.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

TightGit — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:54:18 GMT

Sorry, but for some reason, I'm still not getting an answer to my query.

It's probably my fault , for not being clear, so let's try once more.

This is what my new Canon 1300D does when the main dial is on the green "Auto" position:

The flash unit on the top pops up when I half press the button, and the flash fires when I take the picture.

This happens EVERY time I take a picture, yes EVERY time (sorry for the capitals), in fact it seems it's impossible to take a picture in Auto, without the flash firing.

Is this normal behaviour for the 1300D, or have I got a faulty one, please?

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

kvbarkley — Wed, 17 May 2017 19:08:51 GMT

You are much more likely to get a direct answer if you call Canon.

You are looking for a small subset of people on these boards:

Those that have a T6.

Those that use green square mode.

Re: Rebel T6 Flash

diverhank — Wed, 17 May 2017 19:35:17 GMT

@TightGit wrote:

This happens EVERY time I take a picture, yes EVERY time (sorry for the capitals), in fact it seems it's impossible to take a picture in Auto, without the flash firing.

Is this normal behaviour for the 1300D, or have I got a faulty one, please?

You were not being very clear until this message. Return it. It is not right that the flash fires everytime even when there's enough light and there is not a backlit situation.