A couple of 550EX questions

[surfmonkey89]

I just got this and after reading the user manual I have a couple of questions.

First, in the manual is differentiates between "Type A" and "Type B" cameras. I don't see the 10D in the Type A list, but I can't believe that would be the case since I'd assume that a camera as advanced as the 10D would support the entire 550EX feature set. Also, the 10D is basically the digital equivalent of the Elan7, which is listed as Type A. Is this a typo, or is the 10D really a Type B camera?

Second, I'm taking a lighting class and one of the requirements is a non-dedicated flash. I don't see that mentioned one way or another in the manual. Can the 550EX be used as a non-dedicated flash?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[robertwgross]

Canon 10D is a Type A flash.

I suspect the class wants you to use a non-ETTL, non-automatic flash. They want you to do the manual calculations for the camera in manual mode. You can use your 550EX for this, but it is overkill.

E-TTL is good for when you are moving, or your subject is moving around in range, and you don't have time or interest in doing the manual calculations.

---Bob Gross---

[PacAce]

I just got this and after reading the user manual I have a couple of questions.

First, in the manual is differentiates between "Type A" and "Type B" cameras. I don't see the 10D in the Type A list, but I can't believe that would be the case since I'd assume that a camera as advanced as the 10D would support the entire 550EX feature set. Also, the 10D is basically the digital equivalent of the Elan7, which is listed as Type A. Is this a typo, or is the 10D really a Type B camera?

Second, I'm taking a lighting class and one of the requirements is a non-dedicated flash. I don't see that mentioned one way or another in the manual. Can the 550EX be used as a non-dedicated flash?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

Yes, the 10D is a type A camera. There reason it's not listed in the manual is because the manual was published before the 10D came out.

Also, the 550EX is a dedicated flash because it can only be used on Canon cameras. If it were non-dedicated, you'd be able to use it on a Nikon or any other camera as well. I'm not sure why there's a requirement for a non-dedicated flash when I presume you're going to be using it with your own camera and not somebody elses but you can set it to manual. However, you still won't be able to use it on any other camera but a Canon.

[PacAce]

Oops! Sorry, Bob. Didn't mean to step on your toes there. :)

[surfmonkey89]

I suspected that the manual might be out of date because the Digital Rebel isn't listed either. Forgot to mention that in my original post.

Not quite what to make of either of your comments about using a non-dedicated flash. I seem to remember one of the other students saying they had a flash that they could use in manual mode, and the teacher claimed that wasn't good enough. Hmm....

thanks again.

[PacAce]

I suspected that the manual might be out of date because the Digital Rebel isn't listed either. Forgot to mention that in my original post.

Not quite what to make of either of your comments about using a non-dedicated flash. I seem to remember one of the other students saying they had a flash that they could use in manual mode, and the teacher claimed that wasn't good enough. Hmm....

thanks again.

I think you should get a clarification from your instructor about the reason for the non-dedicated flash requirement. As Bob stated earlier, a dedicated flash usually works in conjunction with the camera (TTL or some derivitive of it) to arrive at the proper shutter/aperture setting automatically.

With a non-dedicated automatic flash set to auto, then you have to manually set the camera to the shutter needed for flash photography (usually between 1/60 to 1/250) and then the aperture is determined by what the flash tells you to set it to.

And then there's the manual setting where you set the shutter (as above) and the aperture is determined by referencing a table on the back of the flash. The value you select from the table (which is the aperture value) is based on the flash-to-subject distance (and, of course, the ISO being used).

So, if the instructor says that a manual flash is not "good enough" and he doesn't want a dedicated flash, then I guess he's looking for a automatic non-dedicated flash so that you can shoot with the camera set to manual and the flash set to either auto or manual.

[surfmonkey89]

I'll verify and post the answer for others who may search on this topic.

[ootsk]

Be careful though with non-dedicated flashes. The sync voltages on some flashes is very high. My d30 is supposed to use only 6v or less, and I'm assuming a 10d is the same. I have a vivitar flash from a K-1000 that put out over 30 volts at the connections. If in doubt, put a meter on the two flash terminals. You may need to use a paperclip to get to the one on the side of the shoe.