Using 580II?

[dredwings3119]

I recently started to use the 580II flash for my photography.. I've noticed that in all of my flash pictures I seem to lose quality "compared to photographs without flash".. I really have no clue why this is.. They seem to be not as sharp and kind of grainyish?.. just not as smooth as I would like them to be or as I think they should be.. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Heres an example of a pic I just shot

ISO 200, F13, 1/160

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/dredwings3119/IMG_4403.jpg

[D Thompson]

I had the same problem with my first 580 exii. Returned it and the 2nd one is fine. See this thread - http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6033250&postcount=15

[dredwings3119]

:( so I have a bad flash for sure?.. I bought it off this site.. but I didn't really use it until just recently.. and its not under warrenty or anything:S... What am I gonna do?.. It seems like you didn't have this problem OFF camera so maybe I could just use this flash for that?

[D Thompson]

:( so I have a bad flash for sure?.. I bought it off this site.. but I didn't really use it until just recently.. and its not under warrenty or anything:S... What am I gonna do?.. It seems like you didn't have this problem OFF camera so maybe I could just use this flash for that?
No, I'm not saying its for sure a bad flash, only my experience. I didn't use the flash off camera so can't comment on that. If the flash was mounted on camera, then it didn't matter whether the flash was turned on/off, shots were soft/oof. Mine was brand new and it was replaced.

[dredwings3119]

No, I'm not saying its for sure a bad flash, only my experience. I didn't use the flash off camera so can't comment on that. If the flash was mounted on camera, then it didn't matter whether the flash was turned on/off, shots were soft/oof. Mine was brand new and it was replaced.

hmm well it sounds like Im having the same problem.. thanks for responding appreciate it :).. Anyone else know what might be going on?

[CliveyBoy]

Presumably, the 580EXII was on the 40D shoe and in E-TTL mode. Although the EXIF data says that the flash fired, the image suggests that there was no contribution by the flash.

Was the pilot lamp ready? Freshly-charged batteries? Try with and without flash to see the exposure difference. Have you checked all the settings using the on-camera menu controls for the flash?

The flash may not be outputting the expected output, but there are other possibilities to check first. Like cleaning thoroughly the shoe rails and the five pins, and the matching contacts on the flash.

[dredwings3119]

Yes the 580EXII was on the hotshoe of the 40D.. I THINK I had it set in manual mode at either 1/1 or 1/2 power ..

The batteries were freshly charged, not sure about the pilot lamp as I can't really see that when Im shooting but I do know that it works because I've seen it before.. I havn't checked all the settings on the on camera menu controls for the flash is there something in particular I should be looking for?..

[GerBee]

F13 is probably your problem. This aperture is out of range in programmed modes.

A 580EXII on 1:1 would totally blow out you subject, so it almost certainly did not fire.

To check the range, see the tech sheet for the flash or do a few experiments and you'll see everything works well to about F11 and suddenly there is a massive flash fall off [underexposure] as the programmed modes have effective ranges and cut off suddenly.
You may get better results by using HSS and 1/500 sec [or faster] and a wider aperture, say F4.

[dredwings3119]

F13 is probably your problem. This aperture is out of range in programmed modes.

A 580EXII on 1:1 would totally blow out you subject, so it almost certainly did not fire.

To check the range, see the tech sheet for the flash or do a few experiments and you'll see everything works well to about F11 and suddenly there is a massive flash fall off [underexposure] as the programmed modes have effective ranges and cut off suddenly.
You may get better results by using HSS and 1/500 sec [or faster] and a wider aperture, say F4.


But then wouldn't that blow out the background? I was trying to expose for the background and then use fill flash for the model.. My flash power settings might not be correct it could have been 1/8 or something..

[GerBee]

But then wouldn't that blow out the background? I was trying to expose for the background and then use fill flash for the model.. My flash power settings might not be correct it could have been 1/8 or something..

Yes, F4 might, but you can use high shutter speeds to bring the background back, 1/500 sec @ F8 would probably be close to what you have and the important part is the flash is now within the program specifications and should be more predictable.

The shutter speed will have more effect on your background and the aperture more effect on your flash, once you have a usable aperture and using HSS you should be able to find a good shutter speed.

I often use AV mode minus 1 Stop to get nice backgrounds and leave the flash on ETTL/HSS and dial that up or down as necessary, but taking manual control does have advantages. My shutter speed is often 1/1,600 or higher.

[dredwings3119]

Yes, F4 might, but you can use high shutter speeds to bring the background back, 1/500 sec @ F8 would probably be close to what you have and the important part is the flash is now within the program specifications and should be more predictable.

The shutter speed will have more effect on your background and the aperture more effect on your flash, once you have a usable aperture and using HSS you should be able to find a good shutter speed.

I often use AV mode minus 1 Stop to get nice backgrounds and leave the flash on ETTL/HSS and dial that up or down as necessary, but taking manual control does have advantages. My shutter speed is often 1/1,600 or higher.


Hmmm that makes sense.. I'll try that out and hopefully I'll get a better result :) .. Thanks so much for the help!!