Flash in M mode

[vickie.james]

Just bought a 5D Mark II. When I add my flash, which is a Canon 580 EX II, I can't make changes in M mode. What am I doing wrong?

[FlyingPhotog]

Just bought a 5D Mark II. When I add my flash, which is a Canon 580 EX II, I can't make changes in M mode. What am I doing wrong?

Changes on the camera or changes on the flash?

[vickie.james]

Sorry..... changes on the camera.

[FlyingPhotog]

Ok, so you're aware that in Manual, the large dial on the back changes your aperture and the small wheel up by your shutter button changes your shutter speed, right?

(Apologies if I'm going way too basic on you...)

Check your custom functions to see if your shutter speed is locked at 1/200(?) for flash use.

[vickie.james]

Yes, I am aware of that. When I try to change them nothing happens. I shoot in M mode a good bit, but when I add that flash it's like it freezes up.

[Quizzical_Squirrel]

Do you mean you can't increase the shutter speed beyond 1/200?
(or is it 1/250 on the 5D2, I forget)

[FlyingPhotog]

Flash is in ETTL...?

[FlyingPhotog]

Do you mean you can't increase the shutter speed beyond 1/200?
(or is it 1/250 on the 5D2, I forget)

Isn't there a Cf that can set a fixed shutter speed for flash?

[vickie.james]

Do you mean you can't increase the shutter speed beyond 1/200?
(or is it 1/250 on the 5D2, I forget)

Yes, I think it is 200. Is that supposed to be like that? Like I said I just bought that camera. I also have a 50D and I have never had this happen.

[vickie.james]

Flash is in ETTL...?

Yes, flash is ETTL.

[FlyingPhotog]

Yes, I think it is 200. Is that supposed to be like that? Like I said I just bought that camera. I also have a 50D and I have never had this happen.

I think you need to disable that so your shutter speed returns to fully variable...

Otherwise, I think you're locked into your max sync speed.

[vickie.james]

I think you need to disable that so your shutter speed returns to fully variable...

Otherwise, I think you're locked into your max sync speed.

How would I disable it?

[tkbslc]

If your flash isn't set to High Speed Sync, you are stuck below max sync speed, which is probably 1/200.

Read up on high speed sync though before you enable it.

[FlyingPhotog]

How would I disable it?

Via your Custom Function settings. Can't tell you exactly which one though, sorry.

Consult your local manual. ;)

[tkbslc]

I am pretty sure the custom function is only for Av mode and you can pick 1/60 or max sync speed. I don't think there is one that would apply for M mode.

[apersson850]

No, there isn't. That's only to direct the Av mode into which shutter speeds are acceptable, when using flash.

In any mode, the shutter speed will not be faster than the flash sync speed, if the flash is used normally (not in high speed sync mode). But that doesn't imply that "you can't make changes in M mode". You can do a lot of changes, since you can select shutter speeds in the range 30s - 1/250s (or 1/200 on a slower camera) and you can select any aperture you like.

So if the OP by "can't make changes" just mean "can't go beyond 1/200s", then it's normal. Otherwise, something is wrong.

[Csae]

So, i have a 5dmk2 with a 580ex I.

CFn 1 - Exposure : n7 is "flash sync speed in Av mode."

in M, with the flash set to ETTL, the shutter will not go beyond 1/200th, unless the flash is set to HighSpeed Sync.

So you have two options :

1) Set the flash to high speed sync.

2) Set the flash to manual.

Hope that helps.

[apersson850]

Setting the flash to manual doesn't change the properties of the shutter in the camera, and that's what dictates the shortest flash sync time.
It's not only when the camera is set to M this applies - it's the same for all modes. It's a physical constraint of the camera.

The two options listed above is actually only one, since the second doesn't make any difference.