Canon 10d conflicts

[barney9304]

Please can anybody help? I have just bought a 420ex for my 10D, roughly about every fourth shot I compose will not focus to enable me to shoot. This can last for just that shot or for the next 5 shots. I am at my wits end, I am shooting a christening ayt the weekend as a favour to a mate nothing fancy just a couple of shots of the happy day. What d I do?????

[robertwgross]

Barney, tell us everything you can see on the camera and also on the flash. For example, start with the camera's shooting mode. Autofocus mode might be important. Tell us what you see in the viewfinder display numbers. What is selected on the flash?

If you go around and look toward the 420EX's red lens area, do you see anything happening?

---Bob Gross---

[barney9304]

I have tried the camera on "AV" setting and "P" setting, both centre and all 7 zones of focus. The infra red from the flash is firing I can see it on the things I am aiming on. The viewfinder looks like this

flash symbol, 60,4.0,9 focus dot flashing.

[robertwgross]

There is one more question to answer.

---Bob Gross---

[barney9304]

Selected on the flash is
on, flash symbol and h and the slave setting is off

[robertwgross]

Hmmm.

Just for grins, try flipping the switch away from flash-H and flip it to the Green dot.

Your camera is telling you 1/60 second shutter, so there should be no need for flash-High Speed sync. Generally, you only go there if your shutter is fast, like faster than 1/200.

---Bob Gross---

[barney9304]

Just tried that No difference at all

[barney9304]

Hi
It will not focus on any blank light coloured wall, with or without the flash. Is this the infamous focus problem with the 10D. This has just started to happen tonight.

[GenEOS]

I can only off simplistic possible problems, other than there is a problem with either piece of equipment that would require service. But, I have had a similiar problem with my D60, but it was caused by me, not properly inserting the flash into the hot-shoe all the way and it was not making good contact. Please don't think I am implying you are an idiot. I am not.

[robertwgross]

If there were an intermittent connection at the hot shoe, would that inhibit the camera from getting a focus lock?

We should try the experiment of removing the 420EX and testing how the camera operates with its internal flash. Then put the 420EX back on and see if anything changes.

For some new users, it might be difficult to "feel" if the 420EX is normally locked in place.

---Bob Gross---

[barney9304]

barney9304 wrote:
Hi
It will not focus on any blank light coloured wall, with or without the flash. Is this the infamous focus problem with the 10D. This has just started to happen tonight.

Hi Rob
It looks like the problem could be with the 10d.

[nucki]

well, have you ever tried an other lens? maybe there is the conflict? switch is on AF i guess and hope! ;-)

I also use a 10D and the 420 EX and have absolutelly no problem!

best regards
Peter

[Tom W]

Its just a shot in the dark, but try removing and re-mounting the lens. Then, move the auto/man switch on the lens back and forth a couple of times, making sure to rest on the "auto" position.

Blank, light colored walls aren't as easy for the camera to focus on when compared to surfaces that present some contrast - at least that is true with my older AF camera. Is it even trying to focus (In other words, is the lens motor operating and is the focus changing?).

[PacAce]

barney9304 wrote:
barney9304 wrote:
Hi
It will not focus on any blank light coloured wall, with or without the flash. Is this the infamous focus problem with the 10D. This has just started to happen tonight.

Hi Rob
It looks like the problem could be with the 10d.

Well, looks like that's your problem right there. The 10D (or any AF camera for that matter unless it's using a sonar like the old polaroid cameras) will have a heck of a time trying to focus on a blank wall since there's nothing to lock in on.

It's not your equipment. It's the subject your trying to focus on, ie that blank wall. :)