Flash light for avian photos

[Johan-c]

Hi all, I have attempted take photos of birds in bush/shrub condition, but can't get the light/shutter speed ratio right. I am considering a flash to assist in the light problem. Would a flash be effective at 300mm zoom and is it a good option?

[Geurt]

Johan,
In 99.9% of the cases, flash photography with avian, is fill flash. In such a case you normally expose for ambient conditions and you set the flash to about -1.3 f-stops. In the case of using a 300mm, most avian photogs will start to use a flash extender (a unit that attaches to the flash and it has a Fresnel lens that intensifies the flash by around 2-f-stops. See here for a link to extenders. There are a EOS flash site that discuss flash use intensively, search for it with google..

[Johan-c]

Thanks Geurt I'll have a look.

[Geurt]

Johan, here is the best link for EOS flash use.