Help with speedlight 430EX and XTI

[RLipp69]

hello i am trying to figure out my 430ex flash. i put the camera (XTI) in P mode and the flash in ETTL mode. on the screen of the flash it shows ETTL ZOOM 24mm and when i zoom the numbers will match my focal range but when i move my flash other then straite forward like 45 degree angle i lose the numbered focal range info all it says is ETTL ZOOM --mm.Is there something wrong with it or the camera?Does any 1 have any pointers for using this flash.Do i need to change camera settings in the camera itself?What is the easyest way to use this?Thanks for reading any help with this would be great! also can someone explaine why the flash all of a sudden will flash for like a seconed (strobe affect) without doing anything :confused:

[DDCSD]

The reason you lose the zoom is that your flash is no longer zooming to cover the focal length of your lens. When you are bouncing there is no need for the flash to automatically match your focal length. In short, when it is at 50mm the flash will cover what the lens can see. It you go to 100mm, it will narrow the beam so as not to "waste" the light from the flash. This results in great distance for longer focal length as the beam is diffused less.

Start here for tips on using the flash:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907

Pay special attention to the EOS flash bible:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46599

[arrgeebee]

RLipp69,

When bouncing the flash, the zoom range is lost. It's the in the manual. If you really want to understand he 430 on the xti, check this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907)out. Great material!

[DDCSD]

also can someone explaine why the flash all of a sudden will flash for like a seconed (strobe affect) without doing anything :confused:

You are more than likely hitting your depth-of-field preview button. This is the small button below your lens release button. This causes the flash to emit "modeling light" so you can what your flash is going to cover and do. You can turn off this function, don't remember, but I think it may be in your camera settings.


EDIT: Found it, its on the 430EX it is C.Fn-05: 0 enables it and 1 disables.

[DDCSD]

Oh, and I wouldn't use the flash in P mode. Get the book "Understanding Exposure". You'll be shooting in M mode in no time and will get much better and consistent results.

[RLipp69]

You are more than likely hitting your depth-of-field preview button. This is the small button below your lens release button. This causes the flash to emit "modeling light" so you can what your flash is going to cover and do. You can turn off this function, don't remember, but I think it may be in your camera settings.


EDIT: Found it, its on the 430EX it is C.Fn-05: 0 enables it and 1 disables.
Yes you are right i was hiiting the button with my finger.Reading thru the manual when i put the camera in auto it should fire a preflash. this is not happening. when i try high-speed sync option the manual also says that the icon should be in my viewfinder and all that is there is the lightning bolt icon but the icon for the high speed sync is on in the lcd screen of the flash.The more i read the more its confusing.:confused:

[DDCSD]

Yes you are right i was hiiting the button with my finger.Reading thru the manual when i put the camera in auto it should fire a preflash. this is not happening. when i try high-speed sync option the manual also says that the icon should be in my viewfinder and all that is there is the lightning bolt icon but the icon for the high speed sync is on in the lcd screen of the flash.The more i read the more its confusing.:confused:

You will not be able to see the pre-flash, it happens at a fraction of a second before the full flash.
The H will only come on when your shutter speed is faster then your sync speed. For my 20D this is at 1/320s and faster shutter speeds. If I stay at or below 1/250s it does not light up, as HSS is not actually on when the shutter speeds are at or slower than your sync speed.

[DDCSD]

If you are in the auto modes or in P, the camera will try and keep your shutter speed at your sync speed. I highly recommend going through the EOS flash bible in the links above, it takes a while to get through, but is well worth it an will save you a lot of frustration.

[elwood58]

Even if you are in manual mode, if the flash is not set to the high speed sync mode, you camera will automatically step your shutter speed down to 1/200. Even if you dial it back up, the next half press will reset shutter speed.