Mounting a flash on your Rebel XSi allow you take pictures in almost any setting.
The Rebel SII is an advanced film SLR from Canon. Compatible external flashes are available for the camera model to provide more shooting options for photographers. Flashes like the Speedlight 430 EX and the Speedlight 580 EX are available from Canon and are ideal for the Rebel SII. Other third party flashes are available, but using an off-brand flash may not provide you with all of the features that come with a manufacturer's flash.
Instructions
1. Set the flash to either ETTL mode or Manual mode by pressing the "Mode" button on the Canon flash. ETTL stands for "evaluate through the lens" and allows the camera to take over the flash settings. When the flash is in ETTL mode, the LCD on the back of the flash will read "ETTL" in the top-left corner. Manual mode is marked on the screen with an "M." Beside the "M" will be a fraction that notes how much of the maximum power the flash is using. Toggle the power by pressing the "Set" button below the LCD and pressing the plus or minus buttons.
2. Mount an external flash on the Canon SII and point it straight forward to create a basic strobe setup. Pointing the flash straight forward may not return the best artist results for your pictures, but the simplicity of the setup makes it convenient for photographers who are on the move or do not want to be hassled by a complicated lighting scheme. Use the straight flash in any of the SII's modes, but make sure the flash reads "ETTL" if you do not want to adjust the flash settings yourself.
3. Turn the swiveling flash head backwards or to the side for more flattering lighting. Bouncing the flash from the another direction will soften the light and also add some tonal variation to your subject. Bouncing the light from the flash off the ceiling works well is you need a way to quickly raise the light levels of an entire room. Bouncing light from a wall to the side works well for photos of a few people while turning the flash head all the way around works great for group shots.
4. Add an 80/20 bounce card if you want to have your flash multitask for you. An 80/20 bounce card could simply be an index card taped to the back of the flash head while it is pointed upward. Using an 80/20 card allows the flash to bounce most of its light off of the ceiling and bounce a smaller portion of light forward, illuminating subjects in front of the camera.
Tags: flash head, back flash, bounce card, Bouncing light, Bouncing light from, ETTL mode
