430EX wont flash most times, please help

projektsolprojektsol Registered Users Posts: 22 Big grins
edited February 9, 2009 in Technique
ok so have a 40d with the 430ex
i tried to shoot some pictures at my friends birthday dinner in a restaurant.
Problem, most of the time the flash wont fire which results in dark pictures
it was like a 2/10 pictures that the flash would work.
sometimes it wants to but mostly it doesnt want to

can some please help me out.
am i suppse to be on a special mode on the camera or flash? i am really lost and frustrated that i didnt get to take the pictures that i wanted.
__________________
flickr.com/rtranphotography

Comments

  • tongtong Registered Users Posts: 15 Big grins
    edited February 8, 2009
    projektsol wrote:
    ok so have a 40d with the 430ex
    i tried to shoot some pictures at my friends birthday dinner in a restaurant.
    Problem, most of the time the flash wont fire which results in dark pictures
    it was like a 2/10 pictures that the flash would work.
    sometimes it wants to but mostly it doesnt want to

    can some please help me out.
    am i suppse to be on a special mode on the camera or flash? i am really lost and frustrated that i didnt get to take the pictures that i wanted.
    __________________

    Do you notice the "flash ready" light before you shoot? Maybe your batteries are not cycling fast enough?
  • iotashaniotashan Registered Users Posts: 68 Big grins
    edited February 8, 2009
    It sounds like the batteries are getting low.
  • projektsolprojektsol Registered Users Posts: 22 Big grins
    edited February 9, 2009
    is there a way i can shoot on continous mode with my flash?
    flickr.com/rtranphotography
  • Scott_QuierScott_Quier Registered Users Posts: 6,524 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2009
    projektsol wrote:
    is there a way i can shoot on continous mode with my flash?
    Only if the required flash output is very low. The problem is that technology isn't perfect. It takes time to move the energy from the batteries to the capacitors and, as the battery charge declines, the time required increases.

    The lower the flash output, the better the chance the flash won't need to go back to the batteries to accumulate enough charge in the capacitors for the next exposure before you give the flash a chance to catch up. Of course, this can't go on forever. Eventually, the flash will have to stop to get more energy before it will have enough for another flash.
    Scott
    My Photos
    Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
    Equipment List - Check my profile
  • aj986saj986s Registered Users Posts: 1,100 Major grins
    edited February 9, 2009
    FWIW, I've also encountered similarly strange behavior with my 580EXII when using bounce flash while in Program mode. I've read about this elsewhere, too. Switching over to Aperture or Shutter priority seems to resolve most of the time.
    Tony P.
    Canon 50D, 30D and Digital Rebel (plus some old friends - FTB and AE1)
    Long-time amateur.....wishing for more time to play
    Autocross and Track junkie
    tonyp.smugmug.com
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