Thread: Flash, low light & long DoF question

I was given a used (but basically new) Canon 420EX speedlite which I've hardly used. But of course Xmas day came around and all of a sudden I'm under enormous pressure to take some good, indoor pics

Our table set up was ~ 7m long and I wanted to capture everyone, shooting down the length of the table. So standing 1.5m back from one end I wanted a DoF of say 7m+ using a 500D @ 18mm.

P mode locked the shutter speed to 60 and the aperture to f4, thus killing the DoF and blurring everyone at the end of the table.

Av mode at f11 for the DoF drove the shutter speed down too low and all I got was camera shake.

I did manage to get some half decent shots but it was luck and the camera's IS system, not skill. Practising yesterday I found that I could take the perfect shot in M mode at ISO Auto (400), 1/60, f11 and let the flash sort it's levels out. Bounce off the ceiling seemed best.

So in this situation, is M mode the way to go?
Also, should ISO be on auto?

Cheers.

Not familiar with the Canon Flash. I think it's about the same as the Nikon SB600, so if you can boost the flash by a couple of EV it can help but also look at the ceiling and if it's nice and white, bounce the flash off that. Check the camera/flash settings to make sure everything is TTL.