Canon 5D and 580EX Problem
I just purchased a 5D about 2 weeks ago and was trying to use it last night with my 580EX (not 580EX II) flash. The flash works fine on my 10D in all AE modes. When I try to use the flash with my 5D here are the problems I am having:
No custom functions on either camera or flash.
Program AE - constant under exposure of 3+ stops
Tv AE - under exposure of 3+ stops with shutter speeds below 1/200s
Av AE - works correctly at any f /stop
Manual - under exposure of 3+ stops with shutter speeds below 1/200s
Tried several ISO settings.
The flash must be in high speed for it to work as above. If I turn off high speed the shots are all under exposed no matter what the settings. With high speed on the flash does work in Tv AE at shutter speeds above 1/200s. The 5D does recognize the flash is in high speed as it displays the "H" at shutter speeds above 1/200 in Tv AE.
I did notice that on the 5D the Auto Zoom symbol in the upper right corner is displayed but it is not displayed when attached to my 10D. Also the 10D does not require the high speed mode and will work at any shutter speed.
Any ideas on what might be causing this? I have double checked all the settings on both the camera and flash. I do not have a second flash to try.
Thanks,
Joe
No custom functions on either camera or flash.
Program AE - constant under exposure of 3+ stops
Tv AE - under exposure of 3+ stops with shutter speeds below 1/200s
Av AE - works correctly at any f /stop
Manual - under exposure of 3+ stops with shutter speeds below 1/200s
Tried several ISO settings.
The flash must be in high speed for it to work as above. If I turn off high speed the shots are all under exposed no matter what the settings. With high speed on the flash does work in Tv AE at shutter speeds above 1/200s. The 5D does recognize the flash is in high speed as it displays the "H" at shutter speeds above 1/200 in Tv AE.
I did notice that on the 5D the Auto Zoom symbol in the upper right corner is displayed but it is not displayed when attached to my 10D. Also the 10D does not require the high speed mode and will work at any shutter speed.
Any ideas on what might be causing this? I have double checked all the settings on both the camera and flash. I do not have a second flash to try.
Thanks,
Joe
0
Comments
Cameras that use a focal plane shutter have a maximum flash sync, except for HSS/FP mode (called HS in the case of the 580EX flash). On the Canon 5D that maximum sync is 1/200th. On the Canon 10D it is also 1/200th.
HSS/FP mode allows the flash to operate at higher shutter speeds by srobing the flash at a very high rate (around 50KHz) during the duration of the shutter travel.
In other words, I believe you are decribing perfectly normal operation for your equipment (except for the 10D operating beyond 1/200th without intervention. That is not likely.)
More information here:
Our own Pathfinder has an excellent thread:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=70330
... and do spend some time reading:
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/flashfaq.htm
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Hi Ziggy,
I know that 1/200s is the maximum non-high speed shutter speed. My problem is that the flash consistantly underexposes if I use any shutter speed under 1/200s. On my 10D I can use any shutter speed and the shots come out with the correct exposure. On my 5D any shutter speed slower than 1/200 results in very underexposed shots. This does not seem normal to me. I would have expected to be able to put the camera in Tv AE mode and set the shutter speed to 1/100 and have the photo exposed correctly with the 580EX attached.
Joe
OK, I gotcha now.
You are correct that at 1/100th shutter speed with flash should not darken or underexpose the image compared to 1/200th. If anything, it should allow more ambient light to contribute to the exposure.
If you have a couple of JPGs that show the problem that also have an attached EXIF we might be able to spot something unusual.
What is Custom Function 14 set to?
What happens if you set CF 15 to "2nd Curtain"?
With CF 04 set to setting "0", what happens when you press the "AE/FE Lock" button and then take a shot. (Do you get a pre-flash when you press the AE/FE Lock button and then does the main flash fire when you take the shot?)
Also try to gently clean the hot shoe contacts on the camera with a pink pencil eraser, just in case there is a contact with some goop on it.
Maybe there's and answer in here somewhere.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Ok, I finally had a chance to upload some shots from the camera and flash combination. I first cleaned the contacts on both the flash and the camera.
This shot was taken in Tv AE mode 1/160s with flash on and not in high speed mode
http://www.geocities.com/scubabuzz/IMG_0220.JPG
This shot was taken in Tv AE mode 1/200s with flash on and not in high speed mode
http://www.geocities.com/scubabuzz/IMG_0221.JPG
This shot was taken in Manual mode 1/200s with flash on and not in high speed mode
http://www.geocities.com/scubabuzz/IMG_0226.JPG
This shot was taken in Manual mode 1/200s with flash on and in high speed mode
http://www.geocities.com/scubabuzz/IMG_0227.JPG
This shot was taken in Manual mode 1/250s with flash on and in high speed mode
http://www.geocities.com/scubabuzz/IMG_0228.JPG
I am trying to figure out if this is a camera or flash problem. I am not sure why it works in high speed mode and not normal mode but the camera does recognise the flash is in high speed mode because it displays the H in the viewfinder for the shot at 1/250s.
Any help is appreciated,
Joe
The shots have the EXIF info so you can see what my settings were.
Joe
Twice I've tried to look at the images and both times I got "Sorry, Service Temporarily Unavailable."
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Sorry, my Geocities site locked up from the hits. Here are new links:
http://scubabuzz1.home.comcast.net/~scubabuzz1/IMG_0220.JPG
http://scubabuzz1.home.comcast.net/~scubabuzz1/IMG_0221.JPG
http://scubabuzz1.home.comcast.net/~scubabuzz1/IMG_0226.JPG
http://scubabuzz1.home.comcast.net/~scubabuzz1/IMG_0227.JPG
http://scubabuzz1.home.comcast.net/~scubabuzz1/IMG_0228.JPG
The basic exposure and EC and FEC are all recorded and demonstrate what you described in the odd behavior.
If you wouldn't mind doing the few additional things I suggested previously:
What is Custom Function 14 set to?
What happens if you set CF 15 to "2nd Curtain"?
With CF 04 set to setting "0", what happens when you press the "AE/FE Lock" button and then take a shot. (Do you get a pre-flash when you press the AE/FE Lock button and then does the main flash fire when you take the shot?)
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
All my Custom Functions were set to 0.
I have Custom Function 14 set to 0:Evaluative but I tried it on 1:Average with the same results. I tried CF15 set to 2nd Curtain with the same results.
I checked CF04 which is set to 0. I pressed the "AE/FE Lock" and received a pre-flash. I tried several configurations show below:
Camera set to Manual.
1/100s f/2.8 Flash - ETTL, No HS, pre-flash fired -- shot underexposed
1/200s f/2.8 Flash - ETTL, No HS, pre-flash fired -- shot underexposed
1/200s f/2.8 Flash - ETTL, HS on, pre-flash fired -- shot exposed correctly
On all the shots that are underexposed I get either the focus assist light or the pre-flash (if I hit the AE/FE Lock) before the shot but the main flash does not fire during the shot. With the shutter set to 1/200 and the flash in HS the main fires resulting in correct exposure. I checked the flash and all CF on the flash are set to 0.
I do suggest taking the main battery and the backup battery out for around 15 minutes to reset the camera, reinsert the batteries again and then try a couple of the basic tests again, just to rule out a logic problem with the camera.
If that doesn't seem to help, I think the 5D needs to be returned/repaired/replaced.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Ziggy53,
Thanks for the help. I finally had a chance and also finally found a local dealer that had a 5D and a 580EX II to try. My 580EX works on the stores 5D and the 580EX II doesn't work on mine so it is taking a trip to Canon for repair.
Joe
Just recevied the camera back from Canon NJ and everything seems to be working as expected this time. They replaced the CPU PCB, the LCD and the top cover. Flash works in all modes now. Thanks for all the help.
Joe