Flash behaving badly - help?

SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
edited January 29, 2011 in Accessories
Last Saturday I dropped by 580EXII. Not from a great height, but still... It seems to be working - but not really.

If I'm in the wrong forum, mods please move - I wasn't sure.

I was playing around with some photos and got some really bizarre results - so I'm looking for suggestions / comments. Please ignore the quality of the photos - just look at the weirdness with the flash. And incidentally - all my EXIF data says the flash did not fire - but it did in all but the one dark photo - ??

#1 ISO 100 f/4 1/200
1170134020_SR7HL-M.jpg

#2 ISO100 F/8 1/500 Why would it cut off the bottom half of the photo?
1170134095_KTZa5-M.jpg

#3 ISO 100 f/8 1/250
1170134147_iBKKa-M.jpg

#4 ISO 100 f/8 1/320 only one where the flash really did not fire
1170134277_dE6Yi-M.jpg

#5 ISO 100 f/8 1/320 picture beginning to get cut off at the bottom
1170134400_LVc2W-M.jpg

#6 IS 100 f/8 1/500 Again photo cut off mid-way
1170134491_HcRzK-M.jpg


#7 IS 100 f/8 1/400
1170134587_XLvtU-M.jpg


Any comments or suggestions as to what I am doing wrong - or could it be related to having dropped my flash?

Thanks.:dunno
Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
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Picadilly, NB, Canada

Comments

  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited January 28, 2011
    Are you using the high-speed sync setting? The problem seems to be when your shutter is above 1/250, which I believe is the maximum sync available on EOS systems.
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  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    Richard wrote: »
    Are you using the high-speed sync setting? The problem seems to be when your shutter is above 1/250, which I believe is the maximum sync available on EOS systems.

    Hi Richard. Yes, it is set for high-speed sync. Should it not be?

    I'm just learning flash so this was an experimental shoot.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited January 28, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    Hi Richard. Yes, it is set for high-speed sync. Should it not be?

    I'm just learning flash so this was an experimental shoot.

    It should be. It does look like you're getting the shutter curtain in there, though. ne_nau.gif
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  • zoomerzoomer Registered Users Posts: 3,688 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    I always use high speed sync.
    The half frames would not be a flash problem, as Richard said that is a flash/shutter sync problem, double check your settings.
    You may find your flash works fine after you get the sync problem sorted out.

    See how the slower your shutter speed is the more of the subject shows, sync issue.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
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  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    zoomer wrote: »
    I always use high speed sync.
    The half frames would not be a flash problem, as Richard said that is a flash/shutter sync problem, double check your settings.
    You may find your flash works fine after you get the sync problem sorted out.

    See how the slower your shutter speed is the more of the subject shows, sync issue.

    OK, so it is a sync problem (which is a relief). That said, I do have it set on high speed sync so what else should I be looking for?
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • zoomerzoomer Registered Users Posts: 3,688 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    OK, so it is a sync problem (which is a relief). That said, I do have it set on high speed sync so what else should I be looking for?

    Have you had this problem before?
    If you do in fact have your camera set on high speed sync and this is happening you may need a trip to the local camera shop to have them check your camera and/or flash.

    I always have my camera on high speed sync and this never happens...and really can't if the camera/flash are functioning properly.

    You checked your menu setting?

    Try setting it to 250 sync and then put your camera on S priority at a shutter speed of 500 and see what you get, you should see your shutter in the frame, just like these.

    Your flash is probably damaged, something not allowing it to function in the high speed sync mode.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
    http://500px.com/Shockey
    alloutdoor.smugmug.com
    http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
  • run_kmcrun_kmc Registered Users Posts: 263 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    Your EXIF says your flash did not fire, and you are hitting the 1/250 limit even with high speed sync on...

    It sounds like there is a communication problem between the camera and the flash. The hotshoe on the camera is firing, there isn't any sophisticated communication needed there. Any dumb flash with a safe voltage can be used there, but things like high speed sync, some TTL function require further communication between camera and flash.

    Do any TTL modes work?
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  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    run_kmc wrote: »
    Your EXIF says your flash did not fire, and you are hitting the 1/250 limit even with high speed sync on...

    It sounds like there is a communication problem between the camera and the flash. The hotshoe on the camera is firing, there isn't any sophisticated communication needed there. Any dumb flash with a safe voltage can be used there, but things like high speed sync, some TTL function require further communication between camera and flash.

    Do any TTL modes work?

    I will experiment more tomorrow. I was using Cactus triggers so the flash was off camera and not on the hot shoe.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • run_kmcrun_kmc Registered Users Posts: 263 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2011
    Snowgirl wrote: »
    I will experiment more tomorrow. I was using Cactus triggers so the flash was off camera and not on the hot shoe.

    Ah. In that case, no experimentation necessary. If you're using cactus triggers, then setting high speed sync on your camera won't matter, as the camera can't communicate that to the flash. For your setup, eveything in your pictures is 100% normal.

    Just stay under 1/250 and you'll be fine with your setup.
    photos | twitter
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    run_kmc wrote: »
    Ah. In that case, no experimentation necessary. If you're using cactus triggers, then setting high speed sync on your camera won't matter, as the camera can't communicate that to the flash. For your setup, eveything in your pictures is 100% normal.

    Just stay under 1/250 and you'll be fine with your setup.

    Thank you. That was something I did not know. In other words, when the bank account allows I should up grade my triggers if I want to use faster shutter speeds with an off-camera flashmwink.gif

    Gracias!
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
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