Help.... 550ex and EOS 10D question

[dynesaur]

Is it normal for the 10D at P mode to fix the aperture at f22 and shutter speed at 1/180 when you set the 550ex to manual setting?

here are my custom function settings for my 10D:

CFn 16 = Av or Tv Shift disabled
CFn 14 = auto reduction of fill flash disabled
CFn 03 = Flash sync speed in Av mode auto

I bought my 550ex used so i'm kinda worried that i may have bought a defective unit.

[scottbergerphoto]

Is it normal for the 10D at P mode to fix the aperture at f22 and shutter speed at 1/180 when you set the 550ex to manual setting?

here are my custom function settings for my 10D:

CFn 16 = Av or Tv Shift disabled
CFn 14 = auto reduction of fill flash disabled
CFn 03 = Flash sync speed in Av mode auto

I bought my 550ex used so i'm kinda worried that i may have bought a defective unit.
No. That isn't normal. In P mode, the camera should try to meter the ambient light for a proper exposure, with a max shutter speed of 1/200 sec. The settings aren't fixed. If you go into a dimly lit room, the aperture should open up and the shutter speed should drop to a minimum of I think 1/60 sec. If your settings aren't changeing with the lighting there's something wrong with your camera.
Scott

[dynesaur]

The problem (aperture stuck at 22 and shutter speed stuck at 1/180) only happens when a Speedlite 550ex is attached to my 10D and the flash is set to manual mode.

[scottbergerphoto]

The problem (aperture stuck at 22 and shutter speed stuck at 1/180) only happens when a Speedlite 550ex is attached to my 10D and the flash is set to manual mode.
As I said above, that shouldn't happen. What happens when you put the camera into Manual mode?
Scott

[MediaMagic]

Interesting.

My 550ex/10D exhibits this same condition with the 550ex in M mode whether the 550ex is mounted on the camera shoe or bracket mounted using the off camera shoe cord II, and whether in Flash = M or Multi. Makes no difference to the angle of the flash. Batteries are new/fresh.

Here's what I have found so far.

Flash in M mode, HS synch off (or on, doesn't matter), output 1/1 (doesn't matter)

10D Cfn.03=0 (auto) changing this to 1 (1/200) makes no difference in Av mode of course, as the shutter is locked at 1/200 anyway.

camera mode
P = Tv 1/200 and Av f22, both locked
Tv = Av locked at f22, Tv changeable
Av = Tv locked at 1/200, Av changeable
M = Tv and Av are both adjustable

I hadn't noticed it before because when I've shot in Flash = M mode, I've always had the camera in manual mode also.

When using P, Tv, or Av mode, the compensation dial will shift the exposure indicators back and forth (indicating increments over/under/correct), but no actual change of the Tv or Av numeric values occur.

Seems there must be something very simple causing this, but I don't see anything in the CFn's for the camera or flash which would appear to be the culprit.

The flash wants me to use ETTL or put the camera in manual mode, which isn't a big deal for the way I use the flash, but it certainly doesn't seem to me that this *should* be the case. With the camera in manual mode, all works exactly as one would expect. Hmmmmmmmmm.

edit: camera firmware version is 2.0.1

[rodbunn]

What is CF14 at, shoulf be a "1" all the time.....

[dynesaur]

When I put my camera into manual mode and the 550ex is in manual mode also, everything seems normal.

I tried reading the manual again and found out that if the 550ex is in manual mode you can set the camera to AV, TV and manual mode without any ill effect. It's not mentioned however that you can set the camera to 'P' mode and use manual mode with the 550ex.

[dynesaur]

I think media magic is right about the firmware causing all this glitch w/ the 10D/550ex combo. I'm using firmware version 2.0.1.

Scott, what's the version of the firmware that you're using?

[MediaMagic]

When I put my camera into manual mode and the 550ex is in manual mode also, everything seems normal.

I tried reading the manual again and found out that if the 550ex is in manual mode you can set the camera to AV, TV and manual mode without any ill effect. It's not mentioned however that you can set the camera to 'P' mode and use manual mode with the 550ex.

In the 10D manual, p81, it contrasts the difference between P and AUTO. One of the options listed for P mode under EX-Series Speedlite Functions is "Manual/Multi Speedlite flash". So it's supposed to work.

Obviously something is amiss. I've gone through about every setting on the camera to see if I can find a connection. Nada so far. For some reason it locking the shutter at 1/200 or the Aperture at f22, or both depending on the mode as listed in my above post.

On hold with Canon Tech Support as I type, I'll let you know what they say.

[MediaMagic]

"You have a Type A camera which is meant to be used with the flash in ETTL mode. "

Duh... okay there's a good start.. after having to prove I'm not an idiot for about 5 minutes, the tech support representative got out his 10D and 550ex and tried it in P mode as I suggested... voila, the shutter locked at 1/200 aperture locked at f22. After screwing with it for a few minutes verifying everything I was saying (Av, Tv, and M modes), and dealing with his initial surprise that his camera was locking exactly the same way mine is, he then put me on hold again. I waited for approximately 10 minutes.. final answer as follows:

"If you want to shoot with the Flash in M mode, you must also have the camera in M mode because the flash cannot communicate with the camera if the flash is in manual mode".

So there you have Canon's Tech Support Representative's answer..

Either the manual is incorrect, the Tech guy has a defective flash also, or there is a glitch in the firmware that they are not recognizing. Multi mode flash also requires the camera to be in M mode.

[dynesaur]

Media Magic,

I tried my 550ex (manual mode) on my Canon Powershot G2 (in 'P' mode) and it worked just fine. Maybe it's the firmware version that we're both using that's defective. I'll try to re-install firmware version 2.0.0 and see how it will go.

Dino

[scottbergerphoto]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all, I was away from my stuff for the last two days. I am eating crow as I type. Last weekend, I was experimenting with my 10D, 550EX, Quantum QFlash T2 ,Pocket Wizard Plus set up and umbrellas. I had the flashes on manual mode and used the camera in M and P. I didn't have any problems with the 10D in P and the 550EX in M. This morning I tested again, first with the Pocket Wizard transmitter in the hot shoe and then with the 550 EX (10D in P mode). Well, you guys are obviously correct. For some reason, with the PW transmitter in the hot shoe, P mode works normally, aperture and shutter vary normally. But with the 550Ex in the hot shoe, it locked at 1/200 and f/22. The 550 EX obviously is sending some information to the camera that the PW doesn't. So, if you want to use the 550EX in M, with the camera in P mode, you need to go to some sort of wireless system. I wonder what happens if you attempt this with an STE2?
Once again, sorry about the confusion.
Regards,
Scott

[RichardtheSane]

Mine does the same, howeve rit lock the aperture as high as it will go. With my 100-400 @ 100mm if locks to f32!