550EX Question

[playinhockey]

I just received my new 550EX for my Drebel. I have a 17-40 L on the camera. With the flash turned on ETTL and the camera set to TV no matter where I set the shutter speed the F4 blinks on the viewfinder. The pictures seem to come out properly exposed. I just was wondering if this is normal or if I'm doing something wrong. It seems like the camera dosn't know the flash is on but the flash knows where the camera is set.

[Morden]

It is normal in most of the cameras modes. The camera is trying to expose correctly for the background, which it assumes will not be illuminated by the flash. In effect, it is 'ignoring' the presence of the flash when metering. This confused me utterly when I first got my D60 and a 420EX.

[playinhockey]

Thanks, It sure didn't seem right to me!

[maderito]

I just received my new 550EX for my Drebel. I have a 17-40 L on the camera. With the flash turned on ETTL and the camera set to TV no matter where I set the shutter speed the F4 blinks on the viewfinder. The pictures seem to come out properly exposed. I just was wondering if this is normal or if I'm doing something wrong. It seems like the camera dosn't know the flash is on but the flash knows where the camera is set.

As stated, it is normal - but the blinking does indicate that the canon metering system judges your background (as opposed to subject) to be under/overexposed.

The following link has been provided countless times on the forum for a comprehensive overview of Canon flashes:

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

and this subsection zooms in on your question:

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/index2.html#confusion

[playinhockey]

Thanks for the links. They sure explain a lot more than the instrustions that come with the camera!

[rodbunn]

When shooting with a flash ( on the 10D ) the Shutter speed determines the amount of light (or darkness) the BACKGROUND will have and the Apateur determines the exposure of the SUBJECT.
Put the camera in MANUAL and try shooting a subject and keep the apateur at 5.6 and just change the shutter and watch how the background changes! That's the way it is with my A2 and my 10D with the 550EX.

ps. On the 10D CF-14 has to be set to "1"

My point here is the Drebel is the same. Put it in manual and you can set the Apateur to whatever you want, the subject will expose to that F-stop.

Good luck, Rod

[figment]

I looked for the canon 550 manual on their web site (in PDF) like they provide for the 10d. I could not find it. Anyone know if an online version is available?

[slin100]

It's not available as a free download. You can order one from Canon by calling their support center at 1 (800) 828-4040. You can also obtain a version online by purchasing it from a 3rd-party vendor. Do a google search on "550ex user manual".

IMO, you don't really need it. You should be able to get any question answered, here or by searching the web.

[Update]
Well, guess what. Looky what I found. http://www.pbase.com/canon550ex/550ex_manual
:D

[Jim Larson]

Mostly correct!

For "4.0" to flash, that implies camera is set to Tv mode? And it implies that the camera "wants" a larger aperture for correct ambient exposure, but the "flash" does it's thing and your subject is exposed!

To keep "4.0" from flashing, set camera to "P", "M", or "Av" (although, in Av, the shutter speed will be too slow!)

[kufel]

If I don't care about te background I always use M, set the speed to anyting <=200, aperture to the required DOF and off you go, ETTL does the rest. If you need a fill-in - use Av and of course for high speed mode set the flash to H and any shutter speed that suits the action.