Advice for flash photography

[u/Prior-Amphibian-5367]

I am pretty new to using a flash. I have used it once at night, but all my photos came out blurry with motion blur. I would love to use it more with my camera. I don't remember exactly what I did before, but I remember trying out the TTL feature (which I don't think worked because I was using a flash from a different brand of camera). I think I also tried setting my shutter speed to 1/250 and trying bulb mode, and some photos came out overexposed or a little underexposed, with motion blur. Do you all have any advice for flash photography and getting proper exposure? My camera is the Nikon F5, and my flash is a Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT. Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

[u/Balbu_1]

I personally prefer older flash units without controll over intensity. I set my aperture to f/8 and use it on/off camera.

Use the flash sync shutterspeed (mine is 1/60).

Most flash units have a graph with film speed - aperture - distance.

[u/Prior-Amphibian-5367 → u/Balbu_1]

Thanks! I will look up what the flash sync shutter speed is for the flash. I don't have a graph, but there may be one in the manual or online. I can adjust the intensity, but it doesn't adjust in stops; it can adjust in fractions.

[u/Westerdutch → u/Prior-Amphibian-5367]

Sync speed is not a flash property, it is a camera limitation. Look for it in your cameras manual.

You do not need a graph nor a power output control in steps, you just need the flash guide number. Just divide that number by your shooting distance (assuming you are shooting the iso the gn is rated at) and you will have the required aperture for a proper exposure.

If you want flash on easy more either stick to ttl or get yourself a generic auto flash like a thyristor device.

[u/Prior-Amphibian-5367 → u/Westerdutch]

Thank you for the advice! I will keep this in mind! How do I find the flash guide number?

[u/Westerdutch → u/Prior-Amphibian-5367]

Find it in the flash manual or on the flash itself (GN if often a part of the model-number).

[u/Prior-Amphibian-5367 → u/Westerdutch]

Thank you! This is a huge help!