Another 430 Question

[shaunknee]

When I switch to Manual mode on the flash, at any power, in TV the aperture stays at f22. In Av the shutter stays at 250. Nothing seems to change these numbers - ISO or flash power.

Any ideas

Thanks

[Curtis N]

It's normal. I have no idea why Canon designed the system to work that way, but it does.

If you want to use manual flash, you need to use manual mode on the camera also.

[PacAce]

Don't use the flash in manual mode unless the camera is set to manual mode, too. In Tv mode, your flash should be set to ETTL mode. If you want to use a shutter speed other than 1/250 in Av mode, you should also use the flash in ETTL mode.

[shaunknee]

Thanks for the responses. 1/250 seems ok but f/22 in manual is definitely strange. It is a very nice flash but I don’t understand why it renders “P” mode inoperatable.
I’ll go through the flash guides and bible again.

[Curtis N]

It is a very nice flash but I don’t understand why it renders “P” mode inoperatable. I’ll go through the flash guides and bible again.I don't think this specific issue is addressed in the various guides I have read. It will work fine in "P" mode if the flash is in E-TTL mode. The weird behavior only occurs when the flash is in manual mode.

[chris clements]

With the flash set to manual and the camera in either Tv or Av mode, the camera must fix one variable; Canon have arbitrarily chosen f22 and 1/250.
* what are you trying to acheive with this strange combination of modes? As has been said, with the flash in manual, the camera really ought to be in manual as well to put you in total control.

[René Damkot]

Well, I for one would like to be able to still use Av with the flash on Manual.
I regularly encouter a situation where I want just a *bit* of fill (say a sparkle in the eye), and ETTL doesn't allow enough -EC. Now I have to use 'M' on the camera, which is not always ideal in fast changing light...

[shaunknee]

With the flash set to manual and the camera in either Tv or Av mode, the camera must fix one variable; Canon have arbitrarily chosen f22 and 1/250.

* what are you trying to acheive with this strange combination of modes? As has been said, with the flash in manual, the camera really ought to be in manual as well to put you in total control.

I was looking for semi-automatic exposure control. I wanted to shoot at a set speed, and let the camera set the aperture according to the exposure.
I wanted to add a small amount of fill flash to my shots while shooting as I normally would in Tv.
I’m gathering from my reading however ETTL is the only way, and better way.

I don't think this specific issue is addressed in the various guides I have read. It will work fine in "P" mode if the flash is in E-TTL mode. The weird behavior only occurs when the flash is in manual mode.

When my 30D is in "P" mode and the flash is ETTL I don’t seem to have control over the aperture or shutter. They change depending on incoming light.
I hope this is normal too.

[Curtis N]

When my 30D is in "P" mode and the flash is ETTL I don’t seem to have control over the aperture or shutter. They change depending on incoming light. I hope this is normal too.Yeah, it's normal. P mode is hard to figure out sometimes, especially with flash, so I generally avoid it.