7D and 430EX and 550EX issues

Hi All,

I recently got a 7D and have a few flash questions.

1) Does the 7D and 430EX and 550EX fully integrate with the 7D? The reason I ask is that I can't get to the flash custom functions when the camera is on, or off the hotshoe. Also, when the camera is off the hotshoe, I am unable to even see the settings for either of the above flashes.

2) With this combination, it looks like the only thing that triggers the flash is the flash of the 7D actually going off itself. Isn't this more like the ST-E2 using some sort of red light to communicate? Apparently this sort of thing works regardless of what E-TTL flash you are using.

3) What does it mean when the display on the 550EX is flashing?

Thanks

I can pretty much answer question 2 & 3.....

The camera as well as the flashes communicate with each other using a series of "flash pulses" (white light) not via infrared signals like the ST-E2. So that is the reason why you see the 7d flash. And depending on how you set it up, the "Pre-Flash" (which is the set of pulsating flashes that sends the signal to the other flashes) happens before the camera even opens the aperture to expose for the scene. Now, you should be able to set in the camera menu that you also want the 7D's flash to help with the exposure, in other words, once the pre-flash finishes sending it's signal to the other flashes, then the 7D on-board Flash will also flash will also "flash" to help with the final exposure. Or you can have it only send the signals to the other flashes and it NOT help with the final exposure.....

Regarding why the flash is blinking, that typically happens when you have the wide-angle diffuser pulled into place over the flash. Slide the wide angle diffuser back into place and the blinking should stop.....

To use the in-camera control menu you need the II versions of the 430ex. The older flashes were built before such foolishness was invented All the controls are still available on the flash itself. They will still work with the wireless system, and yes its visible light pulses that control the flashes not infrared.

For 1)

The in-camera flash menu is only supported by 430EX II and 580EX II. Any flash before that does not allow you to see the custom functions in the camera.

Thanks for all of the help everyone! That answers all of my questions! I'm looking forward to doing some off camera flash work. I have had an umbrella setup for a while that I've used only a handful of times (with good results though). I hope to use all of that stuff more!