Canon 5D MkII External Flash Puzzle

Digic

I am using a new Canon 5D MkII with 580EX II and 430EX MkII strobes. I also use Bowens 400w studio flash heads, sometimes on their own and sometimes in conjunction with the Canon strobes. I meter with either the camera or a Sekonic Flashmate.
I am trying to familiarize myself with all the various settings available and have pretty much mastered everything using both the on-flash controls and the 5D MkII's menu driven external flash functions.

What is puzzling me though is when going into the 5D's menu... "External Speedlite Control" - "Flash C.Fn settings" what exactly is the difference between "2:External Metering: Auto" and "3:External Metering: Manual"? And when exactly would one option be chosen over the other? And what exactly are Canon referring to when they say "External Metering"?

These settings coincide with the menu settings "Ext Speedlite Control/ Flash Function Settings/Flash Mode/followed by "Auto Ext Flash or Man Ext Flash". The latter prompts adjustable ISO and fixed f5.6 settings on the strobe display... what's that all about?

I can get good results using all the settings but I'd like to fully understand these settings mentioned! Can anyone give an example of when these would be used?

Thanks in advance!

ziggy53

I'm a little busy just now but see if the following page gives some insight:

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=946

Note that some functions are flash specific. (Not all functions in the menu are available on all flashes.)

Digic

Ziggy... You are priceless!
The link showed me EVERYTHING I needed to know and all is now clear! I've been searching and Googling for this information for ages without even getting close to the answer, yet this simple information page covers EXACTLY the details I wanted... I wonder why Google didn't find it though?

Many thanks,
Simon.

Digic

Btw, just for your future reference the External Flash control menus and functions as described for the 1Ds Mk3 are exactly the same as the 5D Mk2.

Thanks again!
Simon.

ziggy53

Digic wrote: »

Btw, just for your future reference the External Flash control menus and functions as described for the 1Ds Mk3 are exactly the same as the 5D Mk2.

Thanks again!
Simon.

Good to know.

NeilL

Digic wrote: »

Btw, just for your future reference the External Flash control menus and functions as described for the 1Ds Mk3 are exactly the same as the 5D Mk2.

Thanks again!
Simon.

And the 40D, I think.

Neil

gryphonslair99

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/