Disable 550EX without turning the unit off?

[sparty314]

I don't have much experience with flash photography, so go easy on me... When using my 550EX on my 10D, I often find myself wanting to disable the flash for a few frames, but I know that I will need it later. Is there a better way to (temporarily) disable it than simply turning the flash's power switch off? If I actually turn the 550 off, then it recharges whenever it is turned back on, and I'd like to not have to wait and listen to the noise.

[tim]

If you turn it off then back on a few seconds later it seems to be mostly charged, to me. I don't know if there's a disable button on it, i've not found one.

[tpinchback]

custon function, to turn the flash off.

[slin100]

The only other alternative I can think of is to enable C.Fn 5-3. That's definitely not as convenient as switching the flash off. Like Tim, I find that the flash retains its charge while off.

[tim]

Or just cover the flash with something, like your hand. That's going to make it do a full power flash though, and have a long recharge time.

[robertwgross]

The 550EX can be disabled for flash and still remain ON and still remain a Master.

Page 57 in the manual.

---Bob Gross---

[PacAce]

I don't have much experience with flash photography, so go easy on me... When using my 550EX on my 10D, I often find myself wanting to disable the flash for a few frames, but I know that I will need it later. Is there a better way to (temporarily) disable it than simply turning the flash's power switch off? If I actually turn the 550 off, then it recharges whenever it is turned back on, and I'd like to not have to wait and listen to the noise.

There is a custom function to turn it off as others have said but it's not as convenient as just using the power on/off switch. If the flash is turned off when it's fully charged, it'll retain the charge for a while and I doubt you'll have to wait for it to charge up again when you turn it back on. You'll probably spend more time setting up for the next shot after you turn the flash back on again. By the time you're all set to shoot, the flash will be ready for you.

[mr.photoguy]

Read the manual.. There is a option in the flash's menu that will not let the flash fire, while the flash is still on.

I know I read it this weekend .. I worked an overnight and read through the manual ..

[redbutt]

Read the manual.. There is a option in the flash's menu that will not let the flash fire, while the flash is still on......

It's a function of the Master/Slave capability of the flash. When the flash is a master, one of the settings allows it to be the controller without emitting a flash. But, I have to aggree with others on this. I turn it off all the time and don't loose charge for quite a while. If your batterys are good, the recycle time is minimal anyway.

[mr.photoguy]

It's a function of the Master/Slave capability of the flash. When the flash is a master, one of the settings allows it to be the controller without emitting a flash. But, I have to aggree with others on this. I turn it off all the time and don't loose charge for quite a while. If your batterys are good, the recycle time is minimal anyway.


oh ok cool..
Yeah may as well just flip the switch then.

[billsh]

I like just turning the flash off and on as needed. That way if you look at the light and its charged your ready to go. If I get too cute, I'll forget to flip the switch and end up with no flash. If you watching your histo, I guess it's not as likely, but I've missed a few good shots before because I thought the flash was firing and it wasn't. Maybe I'm the only one who has to keep it simple. But, " A man's got to know his limations"

[sparty314]

Thanks to all that replied. I did get out my manual (thanks, Bob) and I see that I can disable the flash from firing while it is in master mode. I experimented a little, and I was surprized to find out that a visible preflash is still fired even in this mode. (It must turn off before the shutter is opened.)

All along, I have been just switching the unit off with its main switch. I noticed a couple of drawback to doing this:

1) If the flash is off for a minute or so, it must recharge. When it recharges, I hear a quiet but anoying, high-pitched squeal.

2) The AF-assist feature of the flash obviously doesn't work

3) If I have changed the focal length of a zoom lens since the flash was turned off, the flash head has to zoom when it is turned on.

I know these aren't major concerns and I will continue to make do. Actually, I never even thought about it until I read a thread on this forum a few weeks ago. It was something about "how well do you know your camera." (Sorry, I've searched and can't seem to relocate it.) The thread contained a list of of things to be able to do "without looking at the buttons" or something like that. For example, one of them was "change the AF point." I think I remember reading one of the items as "disable the flash," and that's what got me started thinking about that feature.