How to Take Portraits With the Fill Flash on an Alpha 100

The digital Sony Alpha 100 is an SLR with many auto features to help the user take perfect photos. The Portrait Mode is one of those features;
combine a Fill Flash with the Portrait Mode when you have low lighting conditions. Fill Flash is when you force the auto flash to operate in non-dark conditions. The Fill Flash will add extra light to your portraits to avoid under exposing the subject.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Activate the Alpha 100's built-in flash by lifting it up. When the green "lighting bolt" icon appears in the view screen's lower left corner, the flash is ready.

2. 

   Set the camera to Portrait Mode by turning the Mode Dial on the right-hand top of the camera body to "Portrait" (the head icon). The A100's Portrait mode will automatically select larger aperture to blur out the background. You can shoot portraits without using this function if you want a sharp background.

3. 

   Set the Alpha 100's flash mode to "Fill Flash." Rotate the Function Dial on the left-hand top of the camera body to the "lighting bolt" icon. Push the "Fn" button on the middle of the dial. Next, select the "lighting bolt" on the display screen with the left/right buttons. The screen will read "Fill-flash." Your flash will now fire each time you take a photo.

4. 

   Experiment with the Slow Sync function as a Fill Flash while taking portraits. Slow Sync will select a slower shutter speed, which will light up more of the background. Push the Slow Sync button on the right-hand side of the camera body while taking the photo to use this feature.

5. The A100 will return to Autoflash mode when it is powered off.

Tips & Warnings

• The camera will return to Autoflash mode when it is powered off.

Resources

• Camera Modes
• Portrait Tips