help with flash and TV-AV-M modes 20D

[jaisai01]

i need help with the flash when i am in programmable modes. for some reason i can get the flash to trigger at all unless im in auto mode or portrait. can someone please help me . thanks
arul

this is on the 20D with a 550ex flash. thanks

[tim]

I have that same setup, it works fine for me.

The rules around flash are different between auto and manual modes, but since i've not used the auto modes since I got the 20D I don't remember what they are. Try putting your camera in M mode, 1/80th and F8, and take a photo. Then try Av. Report back findings.

Tip: don't look directly at the flash when it fires, eyes hurty otherwise.

[robertwgross]

First of all, by programmable modes, you mean the camera's Creative modes, like Av, Tv, P, etc.? I would not exactly think of M mode as being programmable.

By "trigger the flash," I guess you are only trying to trigger the 550EX flash? Right? Or, is it triggering the flash to fire, but the synchronization is not correct?

Tell us what your shutter speed is set for. For a test, set it to 1/60th.

Tell us how your 550EX is set up. You switch its power on, let it wind up until the red light is on, and what shows up in the display panel? You probably want E-TTL. If that does not show, then you'll want to jog its mode until E-TTL shows.

Any progress?

If nothing goes at all, then there might be a bad contact right where the 550EX fits the hot shoe. It's possible that something got burned up in the camera's flash sync circuit, but that is unlikely.

---Bob Gross---

[jaisai01]

i am such a dummie. i forgot to put the 550ex into Manual mode instead of normal mode. now everything works fine. most of my shooting is sports for Purdue so i cant use flash at all.
thanks
arul

[tim]

You don't really want the flash in manual, you want it in ETTL, unless you really know what you're doing.

[jaisai01]

thanks guys appreciate all the help
arul