flashing exposure time - what does it mean

[tim]

What does it mean when the exposure length (eg 125 aka 1/125th of a second) blinks in the viewfinder? I don't remember seeing it before but it just started doing it while I took a few test shots inside. I have a hacked 300D.

Bob - i'm sure it's in the manual but if you can give me the page number that'd be great :p Seriously I looked (quickly) and can't see it anywhere.

[alan sh]

It means the time is too small for a correct exposure. I assume you are in Tv mode and have set the time. The camera tried to set the correct aperture, but couldn't. So, it is telling you to set a lower speed.

Alan

[tim]

I had set Av mode, but it's possible I moved the dial by mistake - i'll check when I go downstairs. Thanks for the help :)

[PacAce]

Maybe it means that there is a problem with the hack firmware (or the camera itself?). In Av mode, the shutter speed that should blink when the camera can't set the shutter speed is either 30" or 4000, not 125. However, if you had the flash on and the ambient light is too high for the flash synch speed, then I would expect 200 (the highest flash sync speed) to blink, although it could be possible that it flashes the 125 instead.

BTW, FYI, if the camera were in Tv mode, it would be the aperture values that would blink if that right aperture could not be set.

[robertwgross]

Bob - i'm sure it's in the manual but if you can give me the page number that'd be great :p Seriously I looked (quickly) and can't see it anywhere.

If the camera is in Av mode, then I would expect to look in the section for Av mode (around pages 70-71). This is a trick question, right?

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

What you both said is correct, and Pacace it could have been 200 blinking, I just used 1/125 as an example. Nope, not a trick question, but one I should have been able to solve myself. I guess with the flash on and the camera in Av mode it was going to underexpose, because it's not smart enough to know the flash adds light to the scene.'

Thanks :)

[slin100]

What you both said is correct, and Pacace it could have been 200 blinking, I just used 1/125 as an example. Nope, not a trick question, but one I should have been able to solve myself. I guess with the flash on and the camera in Av mode it was going to underexpose, because it's not smart enough to know the flash adds light to the scene.'

Thanks :)
If 200 is flashing, then that means the camera cannot shorten the shutter speed anymore to avoid overexposure, not underexposure.

If you have a 550EX, 580EX or, I think, a 420EX, you can enable high-speed sync mode and this will unlock faster shutter speeds on the camera. High-speed sync mode reduces the effective range of the flash, so be sure the subject is within the reduced range. Some people always enable high-speed sync mode on their flashes to avoid getting caught in this situation.

[robertwgross]

If you have a 550EX, 580EX or, I think, a 420EX, you can enable high-speed sync mode and this will unlock faster shutter speeds on the camera.

Yes, 420EX does high-speed sync.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

I was just mucking around, it's not important, I just wondered what it was in case it happens when I take proper photos. Thanks everyone :)