Built-in flash overexposes

[rolymartin]

OK, I am not yet fully conversant with my new S2 but I managed to take several shots (in various written formats) at around a distance of 1 metre to judge resolution caputered for each... the results were reasonably illuminated and so I ignored the flash function accordingly. However, I have just tried a second round of test with the SAME subject (a lithographically printed bottle label, in order to capture the half tone dot structure if poss) and all results are WOEFULLY overexposed!

I have spent the last 2 hours trying everything that entered my head, to no avail...

I am fully aware of photographic principles but am obviously missing something in the flash functionality. The results are the same in the standard 'P' (program) mode. I have a D-series Nikon lens (24-85mm) which is supposed to give me ALL possible functionality - i.e. the whole 3D shabang).

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers

[memobug]

Why don't you post a picture of your setup? There are so many variables and types of metering that its difficult to suggest what might have happened.

If you shoot on manual mode you will have full control of exposure (shutter speed and aperture). And you can also adjust flash compensation. If you shoot on program mode without slow sync active, you give up a lot of flexibility, and the camera will default to a shutter of 1/125 or 1/90.

3D matrix is really a fill flash mode. It may not work very well if flash is your primary means of illumination (it probably is at 1/125 indoors). Metering may depend on subject color and distance and the color and position of the backdrop, so if you can, it's best to take control of it

Regards,

Matt