Trying to balance int/ext lighting with 40D

[Gekko4321]

I recently stepped up to the DSLR world and I have a metering/lighting question. When I had used a friends DSLR once before, I loved how when one took a picture inside a room without flash, it not only took a nicely lit shot inside but I could see what was outside the window as well. All balanced nicely. With my new Canon 40D, I cannot seem to figure out how to take the same shot. I either get a nice interior with blown out windows or I get a dark interior with nice window view. I have played with the metering, using flash, center point focus, and cannot seem to figure this out. I have been using a 17-55 IS 2.8 lens also. Any advice?? Thanks!

[Rooz]

if the lighting/ exposure differences between outside and inside are drastically different then there no way to capture it all in one exposure if you dont use a flash.

ie: if you need f2.8, 1/30s to expose the inside right and f8, 1/100s to expose the outside right then theres far too much dfference and the dynamic range of the camera cant cope. (any camera).

the only way to do it right is to use flash or combine exposures.

[24Peter]

Very tough to do. You'll have to post the original photo so we can get a better idea of what your friend was doing, but generally speaking it is not possible to do what you suggest - not without adding lots of light inside (on or off camera flash) or cutting down on the light coming in from the window (shooting in the evening or covering the windows with ND gels). The difference between the dark and light values in the photo you describe are just too great for your 40D and most DSLR's (and film cameras too). Even your eye can't see detail in both the shadows and highlights in such a situation esp. if it is bright daylight outside the window.

[cdifoto]

Unless it was late evening (ie damn near dark) and/or an overcast day and/or the room is lit up like Yankee Stadium, what you're saying isn't possible.

[TheWengler]

Here's an example (http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/9-more-examples/) of what you're trying to do (the first example on the page). However, it's clearly not that bright outside.

[faisal]

to properly expose the outside and inside during bright daylight is if you've got tinted windows..apart from that, I agree with the above!!!!

[cdifoto]

Here's an example (http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/9-more-examples/) of what you're trying to do (the first example on the page). However, it's clearly not that bright outside.
Yeah, and he still had to use flash. :D

[michaelb]

the only way to do it right is to use flash or combine exposures.

If its bright outside, these are the only ways that I know of to do this. Blending multiple exposures manually or using HDR is becoming more and more popular. If there are any people in your scene though HDR would be very difficult due to subject movement - best to learn to use flash well - see some of cdifoto's s or cwphoto's work here.

[Gekko4321]

Thanks for the great replies. I did not know that was not possible. It must not have been an extreme contrast when I saw my friends camera do it prior. Thanks for the link Lukas that showed me the examples of how to use fill flash. Here is another 101 question I suppose. There are references to bouncing the flash into various directions which I did not know was possible (such as behind??). I assume this is with an attached Speedlite or something similar and not the built in flash? Is the accessory flash multi directional?? It hurts to even ask this question! Thanks again.

[herc182]

something that I dont think has been mentioned is the fact that the photo you are talking about could have had lights on inside. If the lights are on inside, then it could allow you to get close to the exposure outside.

In answer to your bouncing flash question (behind), its referring to a speedlite yes. You can rotate the speedlite up/down and around. The built in flash is fixed

[Rooz]

Thanks for the great replies. I did not know that was not possible. It must not have been an extreme contrast when I saw my friends camera do it prior. Thanks for the link Lukas that showed me the examples of how to use fill flash. Here is another 101 question I suppose. There are references to bouncing the flash into various directions which I did not know was possible (such as behind??). I assume this is with an attached Speedlite or something similar and not the built in flash? Is the accessory flash multi directional?? It hurts to even ask this question! Thanks again.

430EX
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=11923

or if you have the cash there is also the bigger 580ex.