Digital Rebel Focus Assist

[drisley]

I am contemplating getting a Digital Rebel to replace my G3.
However there are 2 features (or lack thereof) that bother me.

1. No flash exposure compensation on DRebel!

2. Whenever focus assist lamp used, flash picture is ALWAYS taken!

Curious, how big of an issue is #1 , and what are some workarounds.
I think I would primarily use FEC when using the flash as a fill light for backlit items (people outside especially).

If you have a 420ex flash on your camera, can the DRebel use the 420ex assist lamp and not force the flash.

Also, how well does the DRebel focus in low light normally (say compared to the G3 which actually does a decent job (and it's focus assist lamp is often to weak to help much)

Thanks in advance.

PS. Love the speed of the new Forum!

[xxlt]

drisley~~Hello :D
I've had my DRebel since it was first released. To be very honest I just bought the 550EX and I am going to keep my 420EX 2 use as a slave. I tried all the workarounds, but I didn't care for the results.
That was my solution..I use the flash a lot and the on board and the 420 flash just didn't make the grade. I be a happy camper now.
*The 300D works very well in low light..and it just gets better depending on the lens you use.

bill from Ohio w/DRebel

[drisley]

Thanks for the info.
I didnt think there was that much diff between the 420ex and 550ex other than the slight improvement in power with the 550ex.?

What diff helped the 550ex "make the grade"?

[Guillermo Freige]

I am contemplating getting a Digital Rebel to replace my G3.
2. Whenever focus assist lamp used, flash picture is ALWAYS taken!


Not true.
At least in Creative modes, you can use the flash as an AF Asist, and then close it during shutter halfpress after AF lock and before the actual taking to shoot only with available light. The camera will recalculate the exposure using ambient ligth.

Regarding how good the AF is, using flash as assist as good as my EOS 5 one, and WAY better than my S50 (even if AF assist is not used) so probably it's also much better than you G3 AF. AF also improves using luminous lenses. Using my 50/1.8 I was able to focus in very low light situations during a show I shooted using available light and ISO 1600 using the lens wideopen, without using the flash as AF assist.

[defordphoto]

And there's FEC hacks all over the place.

[drisley]

Thanks guys!
That is really good to know.
If the DRebel AF is much better in low light than the G3, then I'm happy (as the G3 is already decent).

RFMSports, I've never seen FEC hacks before.
Are they actual firmware hacks?
Or just jusing programs to hook up to your computer to permanently alter the Flash output (which seems kind of useless).

THanks again guys!

[defordphoto]

Disley: Software hacks. Hook up camera to computer and then control FEC. I agree it's semi-useful if not at all. There are have been no firmware hacks that I have heard of.

[drisley]

I did some reading about the FEC hacks and the DRebel.
Apparently the DRebel tends to really underexpose flash shots.
The hack is helpful in this situation since an increase of +2/3 stop FEC is about right.

Again, I think a real FEC would be usefull for fill flash.

[Andy_T]

... However, an external flash (550EX) would be better, anyway. With this, you can set the FEC (and most likely 2nd curtain sync) on the flash.

Once you've used a good external flash on your camery, you don't want to miss it...

Regards,
Andy